Patients suspected of cancer symptoms need to be diagnosed by a cancer specialist which requires in-depth study of the patient's as well as his family medical history. Besides the physical examination, an oncologist also recommends diagnosis and imaging scans to understand the targeted area of cancer and the extent of harm it has caused in the body.
A cancer specialist in Siliguri generally recommends biopsy as the first step to the diagnosing cancer, which involves the sample testing of a tissue or body fluid.
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing involves testing for a disease to assess the presence of a tumor in the body, its location, the extent to which it has spread, and the stage to which it has deteriorated. Oncologists use some of the most medically advanced imaging and diagnostic machines to get the best possible image of cancer coverage.
How is Cancer Tested?
Depending upon the type of cancer and its extent diagnostic evaluation is done in three ways- Diagnostic Image Tests, Laboratory and Blood Tests, and Genetic and Genomic Testing. Each of the above ways is discussed in detail below.
Diagnostic Imaging Tests
Using imaging techniques, the location of cancer is detected in the body through one or more of the following tests:
- Barium swallow or barium enema
- Bone scan
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Mammography
- Nuclear Medicine Imaging
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
The following tests are used to detect cancer based on samples of tissue or through blood samples.
- Anoscopy to detect the abnormalities suspected in the rectum and anus region
- Biopsy is done through tissue samples or samples of body fluid
- Bronchoscopy to detect cancers of the lung and esophagus
- Colonoscopy to detect the cancers of the colon and rectum
- Lumbar puncture to detect cancer of the brain, spine, or leukemia
- Pap test to detect cervical cancer
Laboratory & Blood Tests
These tests performed in the laboratory examine blood, urine, and other body fluids to detect abnormal cells in the body. Some of the major lab and blood tests to diagnose cancer are:
- Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Test
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test
- Flow Cytometry
- MammaPrint+BluePrint Test
- Oncotype DX Test
- Tumor Marker Tests
- Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test
Genetic & Genomic Testing
Gene mutations or changes in the DNA increase the risk of cancer. Abnormal DNA patterns may either be acquired through the lifetime or inherited from the family. The following two genomic tests indicate the possibilities of developing certain cancers based on the study of genetics and DNA:
- Advanced genomic testing
- Genetic testing
Once cancer is diagnosed in a patient based on the above tests, your cancer specialist in Siliguri starts treatment by assessing the size of the tumor, the spread of the disease, and the line of treatment adopted to combat the disease.
Cancer is no doubt a fatal disease if left untreated or diagnosed, therefore it is vital to look for symptoms early on and seek medical diagnosis to detect its progression and start the treatment. Over some time, doctors also study the patient's response to the treatment and the stages of recovery.
Comments