Cancer treatments are continuously evolving and new, improved and better-targeted treatments are available. As treatments become more effective, the outcomes improve too. The fact still remains that, earlier the cancer is detected, the better the chance of it being cured.
Diagnosis of cancer
Most of the cancers are detected and diagnosed after a tumor can be felt or when the symptoms develop. Sometimes, however, it is diagnosed accident as a result of evaluating or treating other medical conditions. Some other types of cancer such as skin, mouth, breast or prostate may be detected by routine self-examination. Most of them are detected when a tumor can be felt or some of the other symptoms develop. Screening regularly at a cancer care center or a cancer hospital could be a wise choice.
To begin cancer diagnosis, a complete medical history is required. The first step is usually a thorough physical exam. After the physical examination, laboratory tests for blood, urine and stool can detect any kind of abnormalities that could point out to cancer. In order to confirm the tests and to take a closer look, imaging tests such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), ultrasound, and fiber-optic endoscopy enable doctors to determine the tumor’s exact location and size.
The final step includes a biopsy, in which a tissue sample is removed from the suspected tumor and studied under a microscope to detect cancer cells.
Now, after all this, if the cancer is detected as positive, other tests need to be performed in order to gain specific information about the cancer. This is an important follow up phase and is called as staging. It is important for the doctors to know whether the cancer has spread from one area of the body to the other. Based on all this information, the course of treatment is decided.
Treatments and options
Understanding the type of cancer will help determine the course of treatment. The most common types of treatment for cancer are a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
Combination therapy: This includes combined use of many treatment forms such as radiotherapy, surgery, and drugs. This helps to increase the patient’s scope of recovery.
Adjuvant therapy: This therapy is used as a supplement to surgery. It ensures that the cancer cells are destroyed and hence improves the patient’s prognosis.
Supportive therapy: This helps alleviate the patient’s symptoms that are caused by cancer and helps improve the patient’s well-being during and after the treatment.
Palliative care: Palliative care helps alleviate the patient’s physical and psychological symptoms to improve the quality of life after treatment.
Cancer care requires specialization and the quality of treatment you receive depends on the hospital you select. So, do your homework, make a list of some of the best cancer hospitals in Mumbai, understand their specialties and then select one for your treatment!
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