Know How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed

The diagnosis of prostrate cancer is done by doing a biopsy of the prostrate gland. The PSA test is performed and if the test is found to be abnormal, the cancer test is positive. The biopsy of the prostrate gland is done transrectally and the signs are obtained by ultrasound images. A needle is used to cut a small portion of the prostate gland. Normally, portions are taken from the base, apex and mid area of the prostrate gland. Sometimes, a large number of samples are taken to gain more efficiency. This happens normally in glands which are larger in size. The cut portion is further examined under a microscope by a pathologist, who then identifies the cancerous cells in the tissue.

Once the prostrate cancer is diagnosed, the pathologist further examines the pieces on a Gleason scale. The scale determines the characteristics of cancerous cells and thus detects the aggressiveness of the prostrate cancer. Based on the scores given by the scale, a proper treatment is suggested depending upon the intensity of the cancer. The main objective of this test is to determine the intensity of the risk of the prostrate cancer. A higher score suggests that the cancer has infected the lymph node and has resulted in metastases or secondary growth. People having a moderate score have a very little risk from the cancer while those who get a high score face a tremendous risk of cancer.

For proper diagnosis of cancer, early symptoms of cancer should be reported like abnormal bowel or bladder habits, a wound that does not heal, an unusual bleeding or discharge, lump in the breast or other parts of the body, indigestion or difficulty in swallowing, cough or sore throat. The doctor physically examines the patient and checks his medical and family history. He also tells various tests to be done. The tests include imaging in which pictures of the internal body parts are visible. This is also called as endoscopy. In this, the doctor can examine the internal organs directly through some laboratory tests. In imaging, the doctor is able to exactly tell where the cancer is present. Many times, the doctor uses special dyes because of which some organs get highlighted on a film. The dye can be injected in the body with the help of a needle or a tube.

X-Rays are the most common routes through which the doctor can see inside the body. In this kind of imaging, a CT or CAT scan is used in which the computer is connected to a x-ray machine, giving pictures as an output.

In radionuclide scanning, a mild radioactive substance is injected inside the body. The patient can also swallow it. Further, a scanner measures the radioactivity taking place inside the internal organs. Finally, a picture is printed on a paper or a film. The doctor can detect the abnormal areas in the body due to the intensity of the radioactivity in the body.

Ultrasonography also can be used to view the internal body organs. In this, high frequency sound waves are allowed to enter the body. These waves bounce back and produce a sonogram. The sonogram which is a picture is produced on a monitor of a TV screen.

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Symptoms Of The Common Cancers

Each year statistics show that the number of cancer cases newly diagnosed continues to rise however advances in diagnostic procedures and treatments means that more and more lives are being saved. Not surprisingly, even more people could survive cancer if they knew the common signs and symptoms to look for because the earlier that cancer is diagnosed the better the chance of curing it.

This article will outline the main symptoms that are often experienced by sufferers of the most common forms of cancer. These symptoms can vary between people and so it may be that while some people experience all of the symptoms others may only have one or two.

Most common cancer in males

· Prostate cancer

Most common cancer in females

· Breast cancer

Most prevalent cancers common to both males and females

· Lung cancer

· Colon/rectal cancer

Below are the most common symptoms that a sufferer of these cancers may experience and which may help to secure an early diagnosis:

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

The early symptoms of prostate cancer are often ignored until they start to become a nuisance.
These symptoms include:

· An inability to urinate even though the sufferer has an urge to go

· Prolonged urination that may take longer than normal to complete

· Frequent urination that gets worse during the night hours

· The feeling of needing to pass more urine even though there is none left

· Slight incontinence caused by the bladder failing to release the last drops of urine

Unfortunately the same set of symptoms can be caused by at least two other prostate complaints and so a diagnosis of prostate cancer is often delayed i.e. it is masked by one of the other two conditions.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

It is very rare for breast cancer symptoms to become apparent in the diseases early stages. When symptoms do occur they usually only affect one breast and may include:

· A lump in the breast which is usually painless and may be located deep within the breast tissue or just under the skin

· Dimpling of the skin in the area of the lump, or swelling of the skin with an 'orange peel' appearance

· Inversion of the nipple

· A bloodstained nipple discharge

If breast cancer is not treated it can quickly spread to the nearby lymph nodes and then to other organs, such as the lungs, liver and bones where it causes additional symptoms. Breast cancer statistics suggest that the number of newly diagnosed cases remains steady however the number of deaths is falling. This may be because of advances in treatment however it may also be because breast cancer awareness is now one of the major subjects in the public eye.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms of lung cancer depend on how far advanced the tumour is however the initial symptoms may include:

· A new persistent cough, or a change in a long standing cough, sometimes with blood-streaked sputum

· Chest pain which may be felt as a dull ache or as a sharp pain that is worse on inhaling
· Shortness of breath

· Wheezing if the tumour is blocking an airway

· Abnormal curvature of the finger nails, known as clubbing

Secondary lung cancer i.e. cancer that originates elsewhere in the body and travels to the lungs, may not cause any symptoms or alternatively very mild symptoms and so anybody experiencing even slight symptoms should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Colon Cancer Symptoms

Again colon cancer can remain undetected for a number of years and any early symptoms are attributed to other less serious conditions. The symptoms to look out for include:

· The presence of blood in the stools

· Anaemia i.e. pale skin, tiredness etc.

· A change in normal bowel movements that last longer than a few days

· A feeling of needing another bowel movement even though you have just been

· Other digestive symptoms i.e. nausea, vomiting, bloatedness, stomach cramps or a constant stomach ache, trapped gas.

Even though these symptoms are described as early symptoms they are in reality late symptoms and more often than not the cancer is in a late stage when it is finally diagnosed. In some cases the primary tumour i.e. that in the colon, fails to exhibit any symptoms at all and the sufferer only realizes they are ill when the cancer spreads to other areas of the body and secondary symptoms are felt there.

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5 Early Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Some statistics indicate that the survival rate of prostate cancer can be as high as 98 percent if the disease is caught in its early stages. But, how can one go about ensuring their prostate cancer gets diagnosed in time? Even with regular prostate screenings, the tumors have to be big enough to be noticeable. Well, you might not be able to catch prostate cancer at Stage 1, but if you pay attention to your body and let your doctor aware of anything unusual during your check-ups, you increase your chances of catching it as it goes into Stage 2. To appropriately do this, you need to be aware of the 5 early symptoms of prostate cancer. They are explained in greater detail below.

1. Urinary Difficulties

The first symptoms of prostate cancer are urinary difficulties. You may be wondering why urinary difficulties in this list of prostate cancer symptoms if the bladder is not the prostate gland? It's simple; as the tumors grow they press up against the organ, which is still very close to the prostate. When this happens a man will experience incontinence, trouble urinating at all, (despite incontinence) and a very low urine flow.

2. The Presence of Blood

Symptom 2 s even more alarming than urinary incontinence. It involves the presence of blood in a man's urine and/or semen.

3. Erectile Dysfunction

Of the symptoms listed in the here, erectile dysfunction makes the most sense, since the prostate gland is a sexual organ. However, erectile dysfunction is such a common problem among older men, they may not even suspect prostate cancer. They may think they are experiencing a psychological problem, or perhaps that they just need a dose of Viagra. Either way, it's not worth the risk. If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, discuss it with your doctor to make sure prostate cancer can be fully ruled out.

4. Swelling in the Legs

How can swelling in the legs be on the list of the 5 early symptoms of prostate cancer? It's because when the disease starts to metastasize, it will spread into the lymph nodes. As a consequence the unhealthy lymph nodes will start to accumulate in the legs, resulting in swelling.

5. Pelvic Discomfort

Pelvic discomfort is on the list of the symptoms of prostate cancer because when the disease affects the lymph nodes, it can cause them to press up against the nerves in the pelvis, resulting in pain.

In conclusion, pay attention to the list of the 5 early symptoms of prostate cancer. If you are experiencing any of them, discuss the situation with your doctor. If he or she suspects you have prostate cancer, they will perform a series of tests including a general rectal exam, an ultrasound and blood tests. Should a tumor be found, they perform a biopsy to determine if it is prostate cancer.

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Colonoscopy Information 101

What exactly is a colonoscopy? It was built as a thorough examination which takes a deep look inside or endoscopic test is defined in the large intestine and part of the small bowel using a camera that is passed through the anus. Colonoscopies are advantageous because they are in the detection of ulcers and polyps may help that can be performed for the diagnosis and treatment. Medical imaging technology has contributed greatly to this form of the procedure.

Colonoscopies are generally neededif a person gastrointestinal problems, as have bleeding, changes in bowel habit, or they suspect they might malignancies. The method can detect colon cancer is present in the body.

There are certain conditions that exist must be done for colonoscopy. For example, the colon must be free of feces. That means no toxic deposits on the walls of the colon. The person in treatment is based on a one share, consisting of three day diet, consisting of low fiberand / or clear liquids, including water, apple juice, broth, and sports drinks. In addition, aspirin should not, or drink beverages with color.

Recovery time is often necessary after a colonoscopy, usually so that the sedative wear off. Colonoscopies range between 20 minutes and half an hour on average. Common side effects include bloating and wind, according to the procedure pain that is caused by the air that goes into the colon during the procedure. Colonoscopies can be seen asbetter than X-rays, because therapeutic interventions can be made during the procedure.

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