Investigations	Potential results	Clinical management plan: abnormal results
Neurological examination (including perianal sensation)	Abnormal examination (eg, suspected spinal cord compression)	*This is an emergency* Discuss immediately with an oncology or neurology team.
Symptom assessment	Pain over the renal angle	Consider pyelonephritis kidney infection/stone/urinary tract infection. Urine dip stick and urine sample for culture and sensitivity. Consider renal ultrasound.
	Pain in the lower flank	Consider constipation, faecal loading and faecal impaction (page 6).
	Pain in the lower back	Consider lower back fracture. Request a spinal (thoracic/lumbar) X-ray. Consider MRI.
	Bone pain	Consider a bone scan and myeloma screen.
Routine blood screen and additional blood screen	Abnormal results suggesting cancer relapse	Discuss immediately with supervising clinician.
CT/MRI/PET scan abdomen and pelvis	Colonic faecal loading	See ‘constipation’ (page 6).
	Acute bowel obstruction	*This is an emergency* Discuss immediately with a GI surgeon.
	Spinal fracture	Discuss immediately with supervising clinician.

GI, gastrointestinal; PET, position emission tomography.