All About Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: An Oncology Guide

​Understanding Cancer Diagnosis

Science continues working on opening doors to cancer treatment. With the rising treatment options, it has become possible to beat cancer. In some cases, due to some false diagnosis reports, treatment and further procedures become problematic. For better and more effective treatment, it is crucial to diagnose cancer well. Whenever there is any disturbing activity in our body, it gives us signs and symptoms of that. Based on these signs, our body is being further diagnosed. When it comes to cancer, sometimes it does not even show any signs or symptoms. If a person has any history of cancer in the bloodline, the doctor suggests screening at regular intervals. For further and more specific detection, there are various diagnosis methods discussed below:

Clinical Evaluation

The clinical evaluation of cancer is a combined process that works to recognize, detect, and identify the extent of cancer cells. Whenever abnormal cells start growing within the body, it shows some early signs of cancer. Sometimes, our body doesn't show any cancer symptoms. But if it does, the doctor prescribes for clinical evaluation for cancer. It comprises a physical examination and diagnostic assessment.

● Medical History: For further clinical evaluation for cancer, doctor considers detailed medical history of the patients, which is important to identify early signs of cancer. The healthcare provider asks about the patient’s current symptoms, duration, any progression if any, family history of cancer, lifestyle habits (such as smoking, alcohol), and any prior medical conditions.

● Physical Examination: Physical examination is a throughout inspection of the body. Physicians look for physical signs of cancer growth, such as any lump or any abnormal mass. Further, he will also check for specific pain, change in skin, abnormal findings on specific organ.

Imaging scans (CT, MRI, & PET)

After clinical evaluation of the cancer, if doctor suspects the presence of cancer. He prescribes further imaging scans to detect and monitor cancer. The type and stage of the cancer can also be determined with the use of these scans. The three most commonly used image scan techniques are CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and PET (Positron Emission Tomography).

● CT Scan (Computed Tomography)
○ Uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images.
○ Provide tumor images in the lungs, liver, and pancreas.
○ A CT scan for cancer also helps in identifying its size, shape, and location, as well as its extent (up to which organ it has spread)
○ Often used in the evaluation of treatment.
​
● MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
○ MRI in oncology uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the body.
○ Provide high-resolution images
○ Specifically, it works better in soft tissues, such as the brain, spinal cord, and breast.
○ Give better access to detect tumors, their size, and spread.
○ In the evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment

● PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography)
○ Uses nuclear medicine imaging techniques to visualize the metabolic activity of cancer cells in tissues.
○ PET scan benefits more to know more accurately about cancer location, when it is combined with CT or MRI (PET/CT or PET/MRI)

Biopsy & Lab Tests

After scanning for the presence of tumor cells in the body, the next step in diagnosing cancer is its biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure that involves the removal of tissue used to confirm the presence of cancer. Sample tissue must be extracted from the suspected area for microscopic examination by a pathologist. Here are a few examples of frequent biopsy types:

● Needle Biopsy: It is a minimal biopsy procedure in which a sample of tissue is extracted from the organ and further examined under a microscope. It is done with different types listed below:

○ Fine-needle aspiration:
▪ A tiny amount of fluid or cells is extracted using a fine needle.
▪ Frequently applied to the breast, lymph nodes, and thyroid.

○ Core needle Biopsy:
▪ A large needle is used to remove a core of tissue.
▪ It is used to examine breast, prostate, liver, and soft tissue masses.

○ Vacuum-assisted Biopsy:
▪ A vacuum needle is inserted and rotated to extract multiple samples.
▪ Gives a more accurate sample

○ Image-guided Biopsy:
▪ It uses the imaging scan report to locate the suspected area and extract tissue more accurately.
▪ Used in the lungs, brain, and breast

● Surgical Biopsy: A surgeon performs a surgical biopsy. He will make an incision to extract the sample from the organs. It is typically carried out when a needle biopsy yields imprecise results.

● Endoscopic Biopsy: This biopsy uses an endoscope to draw out the cells from the suspected area. It is used in cancer diagnosis in respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts.

● Skin Biopsy: It is used to remove a small sample of skin tissue for microscopic examination. It is carried out starting with the earliest indications of cancer, such as abnormal skin growths and mole alterations.

○ Shave Biopsy:
▪ A razor-like tool is used to shave off the top layers of skin.
▪ Used when melanoma is suspected.

○ Punch Biopsy
▪ A circular blade is used to remove a cylindrical core of skin.
▪ It diagnoses deeper skin cancers.

○ Incisional Biopsy
▪ The skin lesion is surgically removed with normal tissue.
▪ It is done when melanoma is suspected.

○ Excisional Biopsy
▪ Only a part of the skin lesion is removed.

● Bone marrow biopsy: The purpose of the procedure is to obtain a tiny sample of bone marrow tissue. This procedure is commonly performed when there is a need to diagnose or stage cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.

Lab Tests

Lab tests for cancer are prescribed by healthcare professionals to detect the disease, monitor its progression, and also to evaluate how treatment is working on cancer cells. These tests involve blood tests, tumor marker tests, urine tests, and other pathological tests.

Genetic Testing

Whenever there is a history of cancer in the family or bloodline, the doctor recommends genetic testing for cancer. Some of them are explained as follows:

● BRCA1 and BRCA2:
○ It is used to detect the risk of breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
○ Usually, samples are blood or saliva.
○ Individuals with mutations in these genes have a lifetime risk of developing cancer.
● EGFR:
○ discovered when non-small cell lung cancer was detected
○ Common in non-smokers.
○ Mutations lead to activation of the receptor, promoting cancer cell growth and survival.
● ALK:
○ Involves a gene fusion that leads to abnormal ALK activity.
○ Common in younger non-smoking NSCLC patients.
​
● KRAS:
○ Frequently found in NSCLC, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.

Exploring Cancer Treatment Options

Surgery

Surgery is the most common and effective option for a first-line therapeutic approach in cancer treatment. Surgeons remove the body section affected by cancer during this surgery. This procedure can be painful and take time to heal. Surgery works better when solid tumors or location-based tumors are present. The doctor prefers to diagnose cancer before surgery. He may give chemotherapy before surgery to neutralize the rapid growth of cancer cells. Depending on the type and stage of the disease, there are several choices for cancer surgery. Some of tumor removal procedures are discussed below:

● Curative Surgery: This surgical procedure focuses on removal of cancerous cell from the targeted organs. In the treatment of local cancer, it is one of the often used tumor removal techniques. In this surgery, cancer cells are detached from the target organ with some healthy cells around them. Cancer cells are stopped from spreading to other organs.
● Palliative Surgery: The goals of this kind of surgery are to reduce symptoms and enhance the patients' general quality of life. When cancer cells are removed in this way, the procedure is called cancer-directed surgery. Usually, this operation is done to prevent the nerves from communicating pain to the brain. This operation helps the patients more comfortable, and lengthen their life.

Chemotherapy

The most widely used and effective cancer treatment is chemotherapy. It kills the targeted cancer cells and stops them from spreading to other body regions by using strong, toxic, and heavy medications. In order to reduce the size of the tumor and manage symptoms, doctors also recommend chemotherapy to their patients. Depending on a number of variables, such as the cancer stage, medical history, and the body's reaction to the medications, patients have had one to several cycles. To improve the efficacy of treatment, it is also administered either by itself or in conjunction with other therapies.
These strong medications are prescribed by doctors either prior to or following surgery, depending on the patient's health. It can be administered as an injection, intravenous (IV), pill, or capsule. This medication kills cancer cells by entering the body through the veins. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells in this way.

● Systemic Chemotherapy: It is simply chemotherapy in which anticancer drugs are injected into veins and kill cancer cells throughout the body. It is typically administrated via IV infusion.
● Localized Chemotherapy: It is a specific type of chemotherapy. In this procedure, medicines are delivered directly to the tumor cell by targeting specific tissue. It is usually given orally, direct injection into the tumor, or intra-arterial delivery.

There are numerous chemotherapy medications on the market. Online pharmacies are the best way to purchase anticancer drugs due to brand value and discounts. Anticancer medications are most cheaply priced at Magicine Pharma, an online pharmacy company. A certain form of cancer can have its malignant cells destroyed by Paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic salt compound.

Radiation Therapy

This treatment uses a high-frequency radiation beam. These high-frequency rays damage the DNA of the cancer cells and stop their further proliferation. The most often used radiation is X-ray. Both internal and external administration are possible. In consideration of this, the types of radiation therapy are addressed below:

● External Beam Radiation: This therapy focuses radiation on the outer part of the body. It is the most widely used and highly targeted treatment. This therapy involves the radiation from liner radiation accelerator.
● Brachytherapy: This kind of treatment involves internal radiation. To eliminate the tumor, radioactive sources are positioned close by. This treatment works effectively for ovarian, thyroid, and head and neck cancers.

Cisplatin is a drug that is used to increase the radio sensitivity of cancer cells during therapy.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted gene therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets specific genes or proteins that are responsible for the growth and proliferation of cancer. This therapy kills cancer cells without harming healthy cells and is less painful than conventional chemotherapy.

● Monoclonal Antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic proteins that bind to specific antigens on the outside of cancer cells; they are an effective treatment for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and lymphoma.
● Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: They are used in cancer treatment to inhibit the proliferation and spread of cancerous cells. They work by interfering with the signal transduction pathways that tyrosine kinases control, ultimately disrupting the cell's ability to grow and divide. Targeted cancer therapy is an effective treatment for cervical, colorectal, glioblastoma, and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. One of the target gene therapy medications that precisely destroys cancer cells is Bevacizumab.

Immunotherapy

In immunotherapy for cancer, specific drugs that trigger the immune system to destroy cancerous cells are used. This methods activate the immunity so that it can recognize and damage the cancer cells itself. Some drugs, such as Pembrolizumab, are immunotherapy drugs.

● Checkpoint Inhibitors: The particular proteins (such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4) that block immune cells from attacking tumors are blocked by this kind of immunotherapy. Blocking causes the immune systems to get active and start destroying the cancer cells. This medicine is effective in treating bladder cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma.
● CAR T-Cell Therapy: It is a Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy which is used to treat cancer via specific lab-made antibody. Increased potential of healthy cells for long-term remission is the main benefit of CAR-T cell therapy.

​Hormone Therapy

This hormonal therapy is given in cancer that uses hormonal support to grow. Hormonal therapy uses drugs that help to control hormones. That's how they slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells. Such as prostate and breast cancer. An injection of hormone treatment called Fulvestrant is used to treat cancer.

Why choose us

There are various pharmacies that provide anticancer drugs. But when it comes to trusted brands and discount options, online pharmacies are the best option to purchase cancer drugs. Magicine Pharma is the world's top online pharmacy offering original brand anticancer medications. Also, we offer a heavy discount on every purchase and fast delivery to your doorstep.
With perfect medicine description, our experts will solve all your concerns related to medicines. We offer 24/7 customer care service on our website so that you can reach them whenever you needed. Whether you need branded medicine or a generic one, we are working on increasing convenience, allowing patients to get their medications quickly with less time and money by reducing the medication cost.

FAQ

Why is early detection of cancer important?
If cancer is detected at a very early stage, there are various less invasive and more effective treatments options available. Early detection increases the survival rate of patient and may possible for complete cure. That’s why early detection is important to combat cancer.

What lifestyle changes help the patients to deal with Chemotherapy?
Proper rest, a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and exercise will support the pain while on chemotherapy.

Why is screening for cancer done even when there are no symptoms?
Cancer screening is performed even without symptoms to enable early detection. If there is a history of cancer in the family or bloodline, the doctor prescribes for cancer screening at regular intervals.

What is the difference between hormonal therapy and chemotherapy?
Hormonal therapy uses drugs to control the secretion of hormones that are essential for cancer growth, while chemotherapy uses heavy drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.

Conclusion

Improvements in cancer detection and treatment have led to better patient outcomes and more efficient and individualized care. When it comes to beating down cancer, true diagnosis and treatment options are crucial. True Diagnosis is important to know exactly about the types and stages of cancer cells. Once it gets detected, cancer becomes treatable. Through correct detection, the doctor further prescribes a reliable and effective treatment option. Targeted treatments and immunotherapies are revolutionizing the way we treat different types of cancer, while early detection with imaging and genetic testing allows for immediate action. Combining personalized medicine with standard care has the potential to increase cancer patients' quality of life and survival rates as research advances. In the battle against cancer, being proactive and knowledgeable is still crucial.

Reference

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370594
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/diagnosis
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types.html