Symptoms of Cancer

Remember one word: CAUTION

•      Changes in bowel or bladder habits.

•      A sore that will not heal.

•      Unusual bleeding or discharge

•      Thickening or lump in any part of the body.

•      Indigestion or difficulty swallowing.

•      Obvious change in any wart or mole

•      Nagging cough or hoarseness.

Diagnosis of Cancer

•      Biopsy- Collection of some cells from the tumor and looking at them under microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer.

•      Endoscopy- a flexible plastic tube with a tiny camera is inserted into any organ to look for benign or malignant tumor.

•      Diagnostic Imaging- x rays

•      CT scan- more precise than standard x-ray.

•      MRI- uses a powerful magnetic field, very accurate but expensive.

•      Blood Tests- some tumors release substances called tumor markers which can be found in the blood.

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

In both CT and MRI, patients lie on a narrow table that slides into a tunnel where images are taken in two-dimensional slices, which are sometimes reconstructed into three-dimensional images of the brain or cerebral blood vessels.

CT Scan

Less expensive
More available in emergency rooms
X ray is used
Not indicated during pregnancy

 

MRI

More expensive
Less available in emergency rooms
Magnetic field is used
Not indicated in patients with metal inside body e.g. pace maker