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Treatments, Tests, and Procedures
Learn more about the specific medical tests and procedures used to diagnose and treat cancer.
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February 25, 2011
This article is part of a series on common diagnostic tests that tells you how to prepare for the procedure, what happens during the examination, and what to expect after the test is done. Ultrasound, also called sonography or ultrasonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to create a picture of internal organs. A tumor generates different echoes of the sound waves than normal tissue does, so when the waves are bounced back to a computer and changed into images, the doctor can locate a tumor inside the body.
February 25, 2011
A barium enema is an x-ray examination of the colon and rectum. The colon and rectum make up the large intestine, which plays an important role in the body's ability to process waste. A barium enema outlines the colon and rectum and shows abnormalities, such as inflammation, polyps, and colon cancer.
February 25, 2011
This article is part of a series on common diagnostic tests that tells you how to prepare for the procedure, what happens during the examination, and what to expect after the test is done. A digital rectal exam (DRE) is a screening test that allows a doctor to check for abnormalities and cancer of the prostate gland or lower colon/rectum for men and abnormalities of the lower colon/rectum in women.
February 25, 2011
This article is part of a series on common diagnostic tests that tells you how to prepare for the procedure, what happens during the examination, and what to expect after the test is done. A bone scan is a diagnostic imaging test used to determine if your bone is damaged, either from cancer or from some other cause. The scan will detect cancer that has started in your bones, as well as cancer that has metastasized (spread) to the bone from other areas of your body. It can also track how cancer in the bone is responding to treatment.
February 25, 2011
This article is part of a series on common diagnostic tests that tells you how to prepare for the procedure, what happens during the examination, and what to expect after the test is done. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic examination that uses magnetic fields to create detailed, computer-generated pictures of internal organs and tissue, including the brain and spinal column. An MRI scan is often used to diagnose and evaluate tumors in the chest and abdomen.
February 23, 2011
This article is part of a series on common diagnostic tests that tells you how to prepare for the procedure, what happens during the examination, and what to expect after the test is done. A Pap test, also called a Pap smear, detects cervical cancer and can also find early changes in the cells of a woman's cervix that, if left untreated, could turn into cancer. If a doctor treats these irregular cells, the patient has an almost 100% chance of being cured.
February 23, 2011
This article is part of a series on common diagnostic tests that tells you how to prepare for the procedure, what happens during the examination, and what to expect after the test is done. Mammography is a type of x-ray specifically designed to view the breast. The x-ray films produced by mammography, called mammograms, can find small tumors or irregularities in the breast.
February 23, 2011
This article is part of a series on common diagnostic tests that tells you how to prepare for the procedure, what happens during the examination, and what to expect after the test is done. An upper endoscopy allows a doctor to examine the upper portion of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, and duodenum (the top of the small intestine). It is also called upper GI endoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
February 3, 2011
One of the most important medical advances in the past century was the development of the endoscope. This tool, which in its simplest form is a slim tube with a light source and a camera or video camera at its end, enables a doctor to view certain organs or areas inside of a person's body. Prior to the development of endoscopes, people often had to undergo exploratory surgery to determine the cause of their problem.
November 1, 2010
This article is the second in a two-part series designed to help you better understand cancer research. It outlines various types of study designs and provides tips for evaluating study results. Part I describes the publishing process, the format that journals and other scientific publications use to share findings, and how to find studies of interest to you.