Cancer

Diagnosis

Cancer screening

The best opportunity for a cure is frequently found in early cancer diagnosis. Talk to your doctor about the many cancer screening options that might be suitable for you in light of this.

Studies reveal that by detecting some cancers early, screening tests can save lives. Screening tests for various types of cancers are advised exclusively for individuals with heightened risk factors.

Recommendations and guidelines for cancer screening have been developed by numerous medical organizations and patient advocacy organizations. Together, you and your doctor may decide which recommendations are appropriate for you based on your individual cancer risk factors after reviewing the various guidelines.

Cancer diagnosis

To diagnose cancer, your doctor might employ one or more of the following methods:

• Physical exam. Your doctor might check several parts of your body for lumps that could be cancerous. Your doctor may check for abnormalities during a physical examination, such as skin color changes or organ enlargements that could be signs of cancer.
• Laboratory tests. Your doctor may employ laboratory testing, such as blood and urine tests, to find abnormalities that could be brought on by cancer. For instance, a routine blood test called a complete blood count may detect an unusually high or particular kind of white blood cell in leukemia patients.
• Imaging tests. Your doctor can inspect your internal organs and bones by using noninvasive imaging scans. A Computed Tomography (CT) scan, a bone scan, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, an ultrasound, and an X-ray are a few examples of imaging procedures that can be used to diagnose cancer.
• Biopsy. Your doctor takes a sample of cells during a biopsy to examine in a lab. There are numerous approaches to sample collection. The sort of cancer you have and where it is located will determine which form of biopsy is best for you. Most of the time, a biopsy is required to make a certain cancer diagnosis.

Doctors examine cell samples under a microscope in a laboratory setting. Normal cells have a consistent appearance, similar sizes, and a well-organized layout. Cancer cells appear less organized, with a range of sizes and no discernible organization.

Cancer stages

Your doctor will attempt to ascertain the extent (stage) of your cancer after a diagnosis has been made. The stage of your cancer is used by your doctor to determine your treatment options and prospects of recovery.

Imaging examinations, including bone scans or X-rays, are sometimes used as staging tests and procedures to determine whether cancer has spread to other body areas.

The numbers 0 through 4, which are sometimes expressed as the Roman numerals 0 through IV, represent the various stages of cancer. A more advanced cancer is indicated by higher numbers. The cancer stage for several types of cancer is denoted by letters or phrases.

Treatment

There are numerous cancer therapies available. Your cancer’s type and stage, overall health, and personal preferences are just a few of the variables that will affect your treatment options. You can assess the advantages and disadvantages of each cancer treatment with the help of your doctor to decide which is best for you.

Goals of cancer treatment

Different goals for cancer therapy include:

• Cure. The purpose of treatment is to eradicate your cancer and restore your ability to lead a normal life. Depending on your particular circumstances, this might or might not be doable.
• Primary treatment. A primary treatment aims to eradicate the cancer from the body entirely or to destroy the cancer cells.

Any cancer treatment can be employed as the first line of treatment, however surgery is the most common initial cancer treatment for the most prevalent cancers. You might get one of those treatments as your main course of treatment if your cancer is highly susceptible to radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

• Adjuvant treatment. Adjuvant therapy aims to eliminate any cancer cells that might still exist after primary treatment to lessen the likelihood that the disease will return.

Adjuvant therapy can be applied to any cancer treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy are examples of common adjuvant treatments.

Cancer treatments

When it comes to treating cancer, doctors have a variety of options. Options for cancer treatment include:

• Surgery. Surgery’s main objective is to completely remove the malignancy, if possible.
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy use medication to destroy cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy. High-powered energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, are used in radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be administered inside the body (brachytherapy) or from a machine outside the body (external beam radiation).
• Bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant). The substance that produces blood cells in your bones is called bone marrow. Either your own cells or cells from a donor can be used in a bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant enables doctors to administer higher doses of chemotherapy for cancer treatment and can also serve as a method to replace diseased bone marrow.
• Immunotherapy. The biological therapy known as immunotherapy makes use of the immune system to treat cancer. Because your immune system does not detect cancer as an outside invader, it can thrive unchecked inside your body. Your immune system can see the cancer and fight it with the aid of immunotherapy.
• Hormone therapy. Your body’s hormones can fuel certain cancers. Breast cancer and prostate cancer are two examples. It may be possible to inhibit the growth of the cancer cells by eliminating those hormones from the body or by blocking their effects.
• Targeted drug therapy. Targeted medication therapy focuses on particular cancer cell defects that enable cancer cells to survive.

Depending on the type of cancer you have, you might be eligible for other therapies.