thickening or lump in any part of the
bodyDiagnosing Cancer
There are quite a wide variety of signs and symptoms of cancer depending on the type of cancer present.
Some of these may include:
thickening or lump in any part of the
body
an obvious change in warts or moles
a sore that will not heal
a persistent cough
changes in bowel or bladder habits
having difficulty swallowing
unexplained weight changes
unusual bleeding
These symptoms are common in many different diseases. Just because these are present does not automatically mean cancer is the cause. A person should always see a doctor about these or any other physical changes.
The doctor will first ask about the patient's medical history and will then perform a physical exam.
He or she will order various tests including blood tests and urine tests to look for special tumor markers that can exist there if cancer is present.
If the doctor notices an unusual lump of any sort, he or she will order a biopsy for the patient. A biopsy is the removal of a sample of tissue from the abnormal area. The sample is then examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
The doctor may order various other tests to get a better look at the abnormal areas including:
X-rays: to view organs and
bones - This is the most common imaging technique.
CT(CAT) scans: computed
tomography - This technique uses a computer linked to an x-ray
machine to make a series of pictures.
Radionuclide scans: For
this test, the patient swallows or receives an injection of a
radioactive substance - a scanner then measures the radioactivity
level in certain organs and prints pictures of the organs. The
doctor can detect abnormal areas by looking at the amount of
radioactivity in the organs.
Ultrasonograms: This
imaging technique is used to view internal areas of the body.
High frequency sound waves enter the body and bounce back. Their
echos produce pictures called sonograms.
MRIs: This imaging
technique utilizes magnets linked to a computer to make detailed
pictures of areas in the body.
Once a patient is diagnosed, the doctor needs to stage the cancer to tell the extent of the disease. He or she will find out if it has spread and what parts of the body are affected.