Cancer

Diagnosing cancer

There are a number of tests that can help in the diagnosis of cancer, including blood tests, physical examination and a variety of imaging techniques including X-rays (e.g., chest X-rays and mammograms); computed tomography (CT); magnetic resonance (MR), ultrasound anc nuclear medicine. Usually, however, the final diagnosis cannot be made until a biopsy, where a sample of tissue from the tumour or other abnormality is obtained and examined by a pathologist, is done. Surgery is also sometimes necessary to obtain a tissue sample for biopsy.

Treatment

Cancer treatment depends on a number of factors, including the type of cancer, how advanced the disease is, other health problems that the patient may have and the preference of the patient.

Common cancer treatment include:
  • surgery to remove the cancer
  • the administration of cancer-killing drugs (chemotherapy)
  • radiation therapy, which kills cancer cells with doses of radiation

Interventional radiology procedures can sometimes be used to deliver cancer-fighting therapy directly to the site of the tumour. Using images to guide them, interventional radiologists insert catheters carrying medications into blood vessels or other body parts through a small nick in the skin and guide them to the site of the cancer. Cancer-killing therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, heat and cold, are then delivered to the tumour.

Interventional radiology's role in diagnosis and treatment of cancer?
Many interventional radiology procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can be performed on an outpatient basis or during a short hospital stay. In many cases, the procedures:

  • offer new cancer treatment options
  • are less painful and debilitating for patients
  • result in quicker recoveries
  • have fewer side effects and complications.


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