subject: Accurate Testing for Different Types Of Cancers [print this page] Accurate Testing for Different Types Of Cancers
It is your doctor's responsibility to order the necessary tests to accurately and quickly diagnose your cancer if cancer is a possibility. The earlier your cancer is diagnosed, the more quickly you can begin treatment and increase your chance of survival. Here are some tests that should be run if you suspect cancer.Skin cancer: If your doctor thinks you have melanoma, he or she should take a biopsy from the area around the melanoma and send it to a pathology lab for analysis. If your biopsy shows melanoma, you may need to have more tests, like another biopsy or a lymph node dissection to determine whether the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes.
Breast cancer: If you discover changes in your breast, and are over age 40 you should have a breast cancer test, or otherwise known as a mammograman x-ray of your breasts. If you are under 40, an ultrasound is usually better for detecting cancer. A doctor may also take a biopsy for a more accurate breast cancer risk assessment.
If cancer is found, there are many different tests a doctor can use to find out if the breast cancer has spread. The tests vary depending on where the doctor suspects the cancer might have spread to. You may need a whole body CT scan, since the bones, liver and lungs are the most common places for secondary breast cancer, you are most likely to have tests for cancer spread to these parts of the body.
Prostate cancer: in conducting a proper prostate cancer risk assessment, your doctor must first examine your prostate by examining your rectum to feel your prostate gland. If there are hard spots on the prostate, your doctor should recommend additional testing, such as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This blood test measures the amount of PSA in your system. A high level of PSA can indicate cancer. Other tests that can detect cancer include: urine tests (to check for blood or infection), prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) blood test, ultrasound, transrectal ultrasonography, intravenous pyelogram, cystoscopy, biopsy, pathology analysis, kidney cancer.
Kidney cancer can be difficult to diagnose. Many kidney tumors are found when X-rays are taken for other reasons. Kidney tumors are felt during an abdominal exam about 20 percent of the time. Because of this, other tests should be conducted. These include: blood tests to check for infection, anemia, and kidney function, urine tests to check kidney function , Intravenous pyelogram (a kidneys x-ray study), ultrasound of the kidneys , CT scan of the kidneys , arteriogram (a special x-ray of the arteries and veins of the kidney), chest X-ray to determine possible spread, cervical cancer.
The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is where cervical cells are collected and smeared on a slide for microscopic examination. It is an effective screen for precancerous or cancerous changes in cervical cells. If these cells are evident, other tests should be conducted such as: HPV DNA test - to detect the presence of the most common high-risk HPV types, colposcopy - a follow-up test that involves putting a vinegar-like solution on the cervix to check for abnormalities, Schiller test - a test where iodine is placed on the cervix, causing normal cells to turn brown and abnormal cells to show up as white or yellow, biopsy - if abnormal areas are found on the cervix, small pieces of tissue should be removed for examination. For additional information on colon cancer tests and other cancer risk assessment, please visit www.youtestyou.com to learn more
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