Diagnosis

Lymphoma subtyping is very important as the often predicts the biology and clinical disease course. For example most follicular lymphomas tend to be very slow growing or “indolent”. This means that patients with enlarged nodes who are asymptomatic may not necessarily need urgent treatment. On the other hand Burkitt’s type lymphoma is fast growing, leading rapidly to symptoms and requires urgent chemotherapy to obtain disease control. The subtype also indicates the type of chemotherapy to be used when treatment is initiated.

Patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkins lymphoma can have an excellent prognosis, but it depends on a number of factors. The most important piece of information is to obtain an adequate biopsy so that a correct diagnosis can be made. Small needle or fine needle aspiration biopsies are inadequate and it is strongly recommended than a excisional biopsy be obtained. Second, is to complete staging to determine the extent of disease. This includes CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis and more frequently, a PET scan. Bone marrow aspiration, blood and urine tests are require to judge the extent of disease. Once these tests are obtained, it will be possible to develop a treatment plan based on lymphoma type, staging of disease, prognosis and the patients symptoms. The treatment could range from watchful waiting without immediate treatment to aggressive chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant.

Uterine cancer is a type of tumor that develops in the area of uterus. This cancer kills more than 40,000 people every year in America. This cancer is also known as endometrial cancer. Symptoms of this tumor are very difficult to detect. This tumor usually gets diagnosed in the advanced stages and tends to develop at a rapid rate. If proper preventive steps are taken the occurrence of this tumor can be avoided. Uterine cancer diagnosis includes all the techniques that are conducted to detect the location of the tumor and its widespread throughout the body. Uterine cancer detection done at early stages helps to start the treatment within proper time and thus prevents the spread of the tumor.

Uterine Cancer Diagnosis:-

Uterine cancer detections are done by conducting several tests. These tests include:-

• Endometrial Biopsy
  
• Dilation and Curettage
  
• Positron Emission Tomography
  
• Magnetic Resource Imaging
  
• Blood Tests

Explanation of Uterine cancer diagnosis:-

• Endometrial Biopsy :-
  
  This test is known for giving an accurate diagnosis of this tumor. In this test a small cut is made in the area of uterus. Then a small tube is inserted in the area of uterus and the samples of malignant cells are taken out. Later this sample is examined with the help of several tests and the type of tumor and its widespread throughout the body is detected. This tumor is later removed with the help of surgery.
  
  
• Dilation and Curettage :-
  
  Dilation and Curettage is considered as one of the finest test for diagnosing this tumor. A local anaesthesia is given before conducting this test. Later the cervix area is widened and a small part of the tumor is removed. This part is later examined by conducting several tests. If the tumor is of small type it is removed with the help of surgery and if the size of the tumor is big, Chemotherapy or radiation therapy are performed.
  
  
• Positron Emission Tomography :-
  
  This technique is considered as the latest breakthrough in the diagnosis department. This technique involves the use of radioactive glucose for detecting the tumor. The malignant cells of this tumor tend to consume more glucose than the normal ones. So in this procedure more amount of glucose is injected into the body. The malignant cells near the tumor area try to cosume a large amount of this glucose. Later radioactive waves are passed throughout the body and the spread of these malignant cells throughout the body is detected. This procedure helps to give an accurate diagnosis of the tumor but is generally avoided if the patient is found to be diabetic.
  
  
• Magnetic Resource Imaging :-
  
  This test is considered as the common technique for diagnose the tumor. In this technique highly transmissible radioactive waves are used. These waves travel throughout the area of the location and magnetic substances give a graphical analysis of the area of tumor, tumor type and the widespread of the malignant cells. These graphs are later examined and the type of treatment to be undertaken is decided.
  
  
• Transvaginal Ultrasound :-
  
  This test involves the use of sound waves for the detection of the tumor. This test is considered as the most common test conducted for uterine cancer detection. In this test certain sound waves are releases at the location of the tumor in a typical manner. When these waves travel throughout the location a graphical picture of the tumor gets developed. Later these pictures are examined and the type of tumor is diagnosed.

Uterine cancer diagnosis has to done as soon as the symptoms of this tumor are observed. Early Uterine cancer detection helps to cure the tumor successfully. Consultation of a reputed surgeon is recommended for the diagnosis of this tumor.

Read more on http://www.cancer8.com/endometrial-cancer/diagnosis.html

Unfortunately there is no easy and reliable way to diagnose ovarian cancer early. When the cancer is far enough along to start causing symptoms of pelvic pressure, urinary frequency, feeling full after eating small quantities of food, and tummy enlargement from fluid in the abdomen and pelvis, it is almost always at least Stage lll and easily seen with a sonogram or CAT scan or MRI. The symptoms of early ovarian cancer are subtle and often misconstrued as bowel problems. They are sometimes called the ovarian cancer "whisper" because they aren't easily heard. Burping or excess flatulence more than half the time, should prompt a visit to be checked. Most gynecologists will perform a pelvic exam. I would suggest a transvaginal sonogram (TVU) to look for cysts and fluid. If there is fluid in the pelvis that can be sampled with a needle, the diagnosis can be made from finding ovarian cancer cells in the fluid. Usually the TVU is diagnostic at that point anyway and sampling the fluid is just confirming the diagnosis. Sadly, the TVU may not show anything worrisome in the earliest stages of ovarian cancer. Often patients with and without symptoms ask for a CA 125 blood test or the newer OVA1 test to look for cancer. These tests are not good for screening because of the high false positive rate. In my experience they often come back high when there is no obvious abnormality. Then what? The patient undergoes surgery because they get nervous. Hopefully the answer to the dilemma of diagnosing ovarian cancer is right around corner.

A stereotactic biopsy is a form of needle biopsy. "Stereotactic" refers to method in which we will image the finding, in order to guide the needle. A stereotactic biopsy is the way we biopsy a mammogram finding, it is not used for ultrasound or MRI findings. If the finding is a cluster of calcifications found on mammography, this will be the preferable mode of biopsy. Nodules are often seen both on mammography and sonography and then an ultrasound guided biopsy is faster, cheaper, and more comfortable for the patient. When we refer to a stereotactic biopsy most facilities are using a vacuum-assisted devise (needle) but this is not part of the definition of stereotactic. A vacuum-assisted devise is particularly beneficial when sampling calcifications, as quantity of tissue retrieved will contribute to accuracy of the diagnosis. This is not necessarily the case for masses.

Inflammatory breast cancer is suspected when you have a very red breast, the breast will become big, and this will happen within one to two month. Sometime it could be faster. You do not have to feel a mass. Therefore, it is commonly misdiagnosed as mastitis (infection of the breast). The only way to make the diagnosis of the IBC is to have a biopsy and look under the microscope. Combination of the biopsy and clinical presentation confirms the diagnosis of IBC.

Hmmm, interesting Murray...that is the question that I was posing on an earlier date. Where are the oncologists in the decision making progress PRIOR to surgery???? Interesting that you are taking up that question now.

My first signs of breast cancer was feeling bloated all the time, and SERIOUS pain in my back that came and went to the point where I could barely walk and needed a wheelchair. But still the surgeon did not pick up on this and the ONCOLOGIST DID. IMPORTANT: YES

I find Attai's very interesting. I was referred to a breast surgeon by a Dr of Radiology. My breast surgeon told me flat out "you will need surgery for sure" and then she did the surgery. She is a past President of ACS in my area and one of the doctors on the board of directors at the hospital I had the surgery at. It confuses me to see a statement "Once cancer is diagnosed, the breast surgeon will work with the medical oncologist and radiation oncologist as a team to decide in a multidisciplinary fashion what the best treatment is. " It makes me feel that I am having treatment done backward. I don't know. I return to the surgeon on the 30th (my lumpectomy was done on the 19th). The tumor is stage 2A. No spread to the nodes. I have to wonder how my treatment is going to be handled. I don't think the surgeon will be dishing out what a radiology oncologist is supposed to be doing. This surgeon also said she believes I will NEED chemo. I am not accepting that yet. I did find out about Oncotype DX which will help with MY decision to go ahead with chemo or not. I am just confused about what Dr Attai says here. I need to know that I am on the right road to recovery.

To me, depression is the result of sadness that is not grieved, released. Sadness is often related to loss. Long term sadness leads to depression and hopelessness. Depression is statistically related to the incidence of cancer. What is happening at the emotional level is reflected at the physical level. A depressed person has a depressed immune system. DRJK at http://DrJayKantor.Com .

Yeast infections (also referred to as a fungal infection of the skin) typically occur in the armpits, under the breasts, or in the groin. A yeast infection is a superficial growth of fungus on the skin.

Common symptoms of yeast infection include:
- redness and swelling of the skin
- rash and itchiness
- sometimes a faint white substance appears on the skin and oozing may occur
- pimple like pumps

After a biopsy, there are 4 potential results:
- Everything is normal - Even with this result though, it is important to continue with monthly self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms.
- Not cancer, but you should be rechecked in 4 to 6 months to look for changes. In the mean time, you should also be looking for changes on your own.
- Abnormal but not necessarily cancerous - Sometimes tests may reveal a higher risk for breast cancer, which may result in more frequent testing or consideration of options to prevent breast cancer (i.e. preventative mastectomy, hormonal therapy).
- Cancer - If cancer is diagnosed, next steps are further tests to learn more about the cancer to determine stage, prognosis, and treatment options.

Your physician will perform several tests to distinguish if the lump is normal or abnormal.
- Feeling the lump (palpation) to determine how hard and if the lump moves around. Cancerous lumps many times are hard and do not move.
- Diagnostic mammogram to determine size and location of the lump as well as learn more about the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.
- Ultrasound test to determine if the lump is sold or filled with fluid.
- Thermal imaging (not common) measures shifts in physiological and metabolic activity.

If the lump appears suspicious, the next step is to have a biopsy and analyze cells from the lump.