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Many types of cancer do not exhibit conspicuous symptoms or cause
pain until well advanced. Since early-stage cancer symptoms
tend to be subtle, they are often disregarded for something less serious.
Sometimes, cancer can be found before the disease causes symptoms.
Checking for cancer (or for conditions that may lead to cancer)
in a person who does not have any symptoms of the disease is called screening.
In routine physical exams, the doctor looks for anything unusual and feels
for any lumps or growths. Specific screening tests, such as lab
tests, x-rays, or other procedures, are used routinely for only a few
types of cancer, like those of the breast, cervix, colon and rectum.
Cancer can cause a variety of symptoms:
• Thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body
• Changes in bowel or bladder habits
• Obvious change in a wart or mole
• A sore that does not heal
• Nagging cough or hoarseness
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• Unexplained changes in weight
• Unusual bleeding or discharge
When these or other symptoms occur, they are not always caused by cancer.
Infections, benign tumors, or other problems may also cause them.
It is important to see the doctor about any of these symptoms or about
other physical changes. Some symptoms are specific to certain types of
cancer, such as difficult urination for prostrate cancer,
or flu-like symptoms for acute leukemias. Diagnostic tests are available
for most common cancers. If diagnosed early, chances of surviving
cancer are greatly increased. One should not wait to feel pain:
Early cancer usually does not cause pain.
If symptoms are present, the doctor asks about the person's medical
history and performs a physical exam. In addition to checking general
signs of health, the doctor may order various tests and exams.
No matter who makes the diagnosis, a second opinion by a cancer
expert is strongly recommended. These may include laboratory tests and
imaging procedures. A biopsy is usually necessary to determine whether
cancer is present. Accurate identification of cancer allows
oncologists to choose the most effective treatment. The most common
diagnostic methods include:
A small tissue sample is surgically removed and examined under a microscope
for the presence of cancer cells. If cancer is present,
the entire tumor may be removed immediately or during another operation.
A flexible plastic tube with a tiny camera on the end is inserted
into body cavities and designed to view the suspicious area.
Blood and urine tests give important information about a person's
health. In some cases, special tests are used to measure the amount
of certain substances, called tumor markers, in the blood, urine,
or certain tissues. Tumor marker levels may be abnormal if certain
types of cancer are present. However, lab tests alone cannot be
used to diagnose cancer.
Several techniques are used to produce an internal picture of the body.
Types of imaging methods include: X-rays, CAT scan (computerized axial tomography),
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound.
When cancer is diagnosed, the doctor will want to learn the stage
or extent of the disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether
the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Treatment
decisions depend on the results of staging. The doctor may order more
laboratory tests and imaging studies or additional biopsies to find out
whether the cancer has spread. An operation called a laparotomy
can help the doctor find out whether cancer has spread within the
abdomen. During this operation, a surgeon makes an incision into the abdomen
and removes samples of tissue.
