Cancer
Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by
the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the
ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer often has the
ability to spread throughout your body. Cancer is the second-leading
cause of death in the United States. But survival rates are improving for
many types of cancer, thanks to improvements in cancer screening and
cancer treatment. Signs and symptoms caused by cancer will vary
depending on what part of the body is affected.
Cancer screening
Diagnosing cancer at its earliest stages often provides the best chance for
a cure. With this in mind, talk with your doctor about what types of cancer
screening may be appropriate for you. For a few cancers, studies show
screening tests can save lives by diagnosing cancer early. For other
cancers, screening tests are recommended only for people with increased
risk.
A variety of medical organizations and patient-advocacy groups have
recommendations and guidelines for cancer screening. Review the various
guidelines with your doctor and together you can determine what's best
for you based on your own risk factors for cancer.
Cancer diagnosis
Your doctor may use one or more approaches to diagnose cancer:
⚫ Physical exam. Your doctor may feel areas of your body for lumps that
may indicate a tumour.
During a physical exam, he or she may look for abnormalities, such as
changes in skin color or enlargement of an organ that may indicate the
presence of cancer.
• Laboratory tests. Laboratory tests, such as urine and blood tests, may
help your doctor identify abnormalities that can be caused by cancer.
For instance, in people with leukemia, a common blood test called
complete blood count may reveal an unusual number or type of white
blood cells.
⚫ Imaging tests. Imaging tests allow your doctor to examine your bones
and internal organs in a noninvasive way.
Imaging tests used in diagnosing cancer may include a computerized
tomography (CT) scan, bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
positron emission tomography (PET) scan, ultrasound and X-ray, among
others.
Gloss
Computerized tomography (CT) التصوير المقطعي
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) الرنين المغناطيسي
Positron emission tomography (PET( التصوير المقطعي بإلصدار البوزيترونی