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Diagnosing cancer

Many cancers can be cured if they are detected and treated early enough. But one of the problems is that many cancers are slow growing and have very few symptoms in those early stages.

It’s important for you to be in tune with your body and see your doctor if you do notice changes such as a lump on your skin or persistent changes in body functions and routines.

Always take part in regular screening programs such a mammograms for breast cancer, a Pap smear for cervical cancer and rectal examinations for colon and prostate cancers.

There is not a single test to determine if you have cancer or not. Different cancers are diagnosed in different ways but usually your doctor will ask you about your medical history to find out if you have any cancer risk factors such as a family history or signs or symptoms of disease such as bleeding, fever, fatigue or a change in body routines. This will be followed by a physical examination.

If there is a suspicion that there is cancer, your doctor will organise for a serious of tests to be done where blood or tissue samples will be taken (called a biopsy) and examined under a microscope by a pathologist to determine what type of cancer it is and it’s extent.

The biopsy is often done by your doctor either in his surgery or in a hospital depending on what needs to be examined. Extra tests may be needed such as urine or sputum tests, x-rays, ultra sound, spinal tap, CT scans and MRIs and sometimes exploratory surgery is required such as when bone marrow is needed for testing.