Early Detection of Cancer Using High-End Technology

Most cancers are curable if detected early. In fact, early detection is the only option currently to reduce deaths from cancer substantially. Recognizing possible warning signs of cancer and taking prompt action leads to early diagnosis. Increased awareness of possible warning signs of cancer, among physicians, nurses and other health care providers as well as among the general public, can have a great impact on the disease. Often a doctor can find early cancer during a physical exam or with routine tests, even if a person has no symptoms. The doctor may suggest other exams for people who are at increased risk for cancer.


Cancer screening

Cancer screening aims to detect cancer before symptoms appear. This may involve blood tests, urine tests, other tests, or medical imaging. Screening tests must be effective, safe, well-tolerated with acceptably low rates of false positive and false negative results. If signs of cancer are detected, more definitive and invasive follow-up tests are performed to reach a diagnosis. Screening for cancer can lead to cancer prevention and earlier diagnosis. However, it may also falsely appear to increase the time to death through lead time bias or length time bias. Cancer screening is not indicated unless life expectancy is greater than five years and the benefit is uncertain over the age of 70.

When to use PET scans and how they work

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging procedure that can provide information about how an organ or system in the body is working and it can reveal changes in metabolism. PET scans can detect cancer in its early stages, help to monitor cancer treatment and check if the cancer is coming back.

CT and MRI images provide information such as size, shape and location of physical structures in the body while PET monitors body functioning.  PET scans are different than CT scans in that they detect the metabolic processes of cancer cells. Cancer cells tend to have a higher metabolism than normal cells, and therefore absorb sugar faster. During a PET scan, radioisotopes are attached to a sugar-like solution and the images produced by the PET scan capture the increased metabolic activity, representing areas of cancer.

A PET scan involves the painless injection of a small amount of a „positron-emitting” radioactive material (called a radiopharmaceutical). Images of the body are then taken using a PET scanner. The camera detects emissions coming from the injected radiopharmaceutical and the computer attached to the camera creates two and three-dimensional images of the area being examined. The injection of the radioactive material does not make you feel any different or drowsy. There are no sedative drugs or anaesthesia used during this procedure. The PET scan is considered to be a safe procedure that exposes you to around the same amount of radiation that you would receive from the general environment over about three years.


CT Scans for Cancer Detection

The Computed Tomography (CT) scan is an x-ray procedure that produces detailed cross-sectional images of your body. Instead of taking one picture, like a conventional x-ray, a CT scanner takes many pictures as it rotates around you; it creates a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body and a computer then combines these images into a detailed, cross-sectional view that shows any abnormalities. CT scans are not painful and the examination will generally last up to an hour, although the scanning itself takes only 10 to 15 minutes or less.


Read more @ https://www.placidway.com/article/1653/Early-Detection-of-Cancer-Using-High-End-Technology

If you want more information about cancer detection and treatments, Contact us!




PlacidWay Medical Tourism
+1.303.500.3821
info@placidway.com

How to Spot Cancerous Moles

Throughout the years, moles have been regarded as either ugly and disgraceful or extremely hot and beautiful. However, the important thing is that the moles can become cancerous and thus hazardous to your health.

Fact: Those of us who sunbathe without any sunscreen or rip their moles can get skin cancer. 90 percent of the skin cancer cases are caused by sun exposure.

A mole that poses no threat is flat and its surface is tender.

Those who have many moles on their skin should avoid prolonged sun exposure. The most threatened areas are the chest in men and the legs in women.

Be advised when choosing the sunscreen: it should protect you from the B type rays but also from the A type rays, because the last penetrate the skin deeper.

How does one see the cancerous moles?

Regular moles are symmetric and the cancerous moles are not, they are rather atypical.

  When you examine a mole, draw an imaginary line across its middle and compare the two halves. If they are not the same, ask for a dermatology consult.

  A mole that poses no threat is flat and tender. Usually, the mole is round or oval and has no more than 6 mm diameter.

  Most moles occur in children and young people. It is unusual for moles to appear after the individual has reached 40.

  Equally dangerous are the mole lesions.  If you have scratched it by accident or you have accidentally torn a mole, see a dermatologist within 2 or 3 days.

The ABCD of the melanoma and spotting the cancer moles

A – Asymmetry

B – Borders: irregular mole borders

C – Color change or different shades in the same atypical mole.

D – Diameter: any mole that exceeds 6 mm in diameter

“An imaginary ailment is worse than a disease.”  ~Yiddish Proverb

- See more at: http://www.placidblog.com/blog/2013/06/19/how-to-spot-cancerous-moles/#sthash.d2B4CgXw.dpuf