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| Credit: www.atharvaayurvedindia.com |
Cancer, also
called malignancy, is an abnormal growth of cells. There are more than 100
types of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon
cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma. Symptoms vary depending on the type.
Cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery.
Understanding
Cancer -- Diagnosis and Treatment
How Is
Cancer Diagnosed?
The earlier
cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of its being cured. Some
types of cancer -- such as those of the skin, breast, mouth, testicles,
prostate, and rectum -- may be detected by routine self-exam or other screening
measures before the symptoms become serious. Most cases of cancer are detected
and diagnosed after a tumor can be felt or when other symptoms develop. In a
few cases, cancer is diagnosed incidentally as a result of evaluating or
treating other medical conditions.
Cancer
diagnosis begins with a thorough physical exam and a complete medical history.
Laboratory studies of blood, urine, and stool can detect abnormalities that may
indicate cancer. When a tumor is suspected, imaging tests such as X-rays,
computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and
fiber-optic endoscopy examinations help doctors determine the cancer's location
and size. To confirm the diagnosis of most cancers , a biopsy needs to be
performed in which a tissue sample is removed from the suspected tumor and
studied under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
If the
diagnosis is positive (cancer is present), other tests are performed to provide
specific information about the cancer. This essential follow-up phase of
diagnosis is called staging. The most important thing doctors need to know is
whether cancer has spread from one area of the body to another. If the initial
diagnosis is negative for cancer and symptoms persist, further tests may be
needed. If the biopsy is positive for cancer, be sure to seek a confirming
opinion by a doctor who specializes in cancer
treatment before any treatment is started.
What Are the Treatments for Cancer?
Depending on
the type and stage of cancer, treatments to eradicate the tumor or slow its
growth may include some combination of surgery,radiation
therapy, chemotherapy,
hormone therapy or immunotherapy.
Supportive
care from nurses and other professionals should accompany cancer treatment. The
goal is to relieve pain and other symptoms, maintain general health, improve
quality of life, and provide emotional, psychological, and logistical support
to patients and their families. Similar supportive treatment is available to
rehabilitate patients after curative treatment. Supportive therapy such as hospice care for
cancer patients nearing the end of their lives provides relief from pain and
other irreversible symptoms. Most mainstream care is geared toward providing
supportive treatment through the broad resources of a cancer treatment center.
Complementary cancer therapies, which are generally provided outside a
hospital, can also provide supportive care. Read more >>
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