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Cancer diagnosis and treatment review

Detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
This article offers an overview of the following aspects of cancer:
  • causes,
  • detection and diagnosis,
  • and treatment.
Key terms
TermMeaning
CancerDisease caused by uncontrolled cell growth and division
TumorMass of tissue caused by abnormal cell growth
CarcinogenAgent that causes cancer
BenignRelatively harmless tumor that does not spread
MalignantTumor that grows and can spread to other parts
ChemotherapyUse of drugs to treat cancer
RadiotherapyUse of radiation to treat cancer
ImmunotherapyTreatment that activates the immune system to fight cancer

What is cancer?

Cancer is a term used to describe diseases caused by uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. Normally, cells stop growing when they come into contact with each other - a property known as contact inhibition. Cancer cells, however, seem to lose this property, and keep multiplying to form masses called tumors. These tumors can be relatively harmless (benign), or can rapidly grow, invade other tissues, and spread (malignant).
Carcinogens, or agents that cause cancer, can be physical, chemical, or biological. For example, certain types of radiation, substances like nicotine, and some viruses can all cause cancer.

Detection and diagnosis

Early detection of cancer can increase chances of curing the disease. Regular health checkups are a good way to keep an eye out for any potential problems. Some of the tools doctors use to detect and diagnose cancer are listed below.
  • Physical examinations : The doctor will physically check for lumps or other abnormalities that might point towards the presence of cancer.
  • Biopsy : A small amount of tissue is taken from the body, and checked under the microscope for signs of cancer.
  • Genetic screening : This method checks if an individual has inherited genes that are known to cause cancer, or if they carry any mutations that might increase their chances of developing the disease.
  • Imaging : Images of the body and organs inside it can be obtained using different techniques like CT, MRI, ultrasound, and nuclear scans. This lets doctors check for the presence of hidden tumors.
  • Lab tests : Blood and urine tests can be used to detect and measure levels of substances, including blood cells, antigens, antibodies, and tumor markers.
check your understanding
A young woman is asked for her family history as part of her health checkup. She reports that her mother, aunt, and sister have all been diagnosed with breast cancer.
What diagnostic method should the doctor use to check if the young woman is at risk of developing cancer?
Choose 1 answer:

check your understanding
A pathologist is someone who studies tissues and cells for abnormalities.
Which of the following diagnostic methods would need the expertise of a pathologist?
Choose 1 answer:

Treatment

Treatment can vary depending on the type and stage of cancer, as well as the patient's age and health. The next few points detail some common types of treatments.
  • Surgery : Surgeons try to extract the cancer from the body by removing tumors and surrounding tissue.
  • Radiation therapy : High-energy beams are targeted towards specific region to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
  • Chemotherapy : Anti-cancer drugs are used to kill rapidly growing cancer cells and shrink tumors.
  • Immunotherapy/Biological response therapy : The immune system is given a boost to help it fight cancer cells. Substances like α-interferon, called biological response modifiers (BRM), are used to prevent tumor cells from multiplying.
check your understanding
X-rays can be used for both diagnosing and treating cancer. The power of the beam used is different for the two methods, since killing cancer cells requires much higher energy than detection.
Which of the following treatment methods can use X-rays to kill cancer cells?
Choose 1 answer:

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