| Methods of Screening and Diagnosis
Select from the list below for an overview
of common screening and diagnosistic procedures used to detect cancer and
numerous other diseases.
The barium enema is used with x-ray to visualize the colon. Barium sulfate is given in the form of an enema to define the lining of the colon and rectum. The barium appears white on an x-ray and abnormalities appear dark. This procedure may be used to check for colon and rectum tumors, polyps, and other abnormalities. Your doctor may recommend this procedure rather than a colonoscopy, once every 5-10 years from the age of 50, or you may begin this screening process earlier if you have a personal or family history of polyps or colon cancer. A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of tissue or cells are collected and then examined in a laboratory. Biopsies are used to diagnose cancer and in some cases to determine if cancer has spread to tissue surrounding the affected area. Different types of biopsies include:
The bone scan is an imaging technique that uses specialized equipment and radiation to identify unusual cell activity in the bones, which could indicate cancer, trauma, or other problems. During the procedure, radioactive chemicals are injected into the blood stream. As the chemical travels through the blood, it sends out gamma rays which are recorded by a computer and then analyzed to form an image of the bone. This type of diagnostic procedure is often used to determine if cancer has spread, to check for bone cancer, or other noncancerous problem of the bones. One of the first steps to good breast health is doing a monthly breast self-examination. Performing this monthly exam helps you become familiar with your own breasts and may enable you to identify an unusual lump that appears. Clincal breast examinations by your primary care physician or another health care professional are another important screening tool for breast cancer. Your doctor will examine your breasts and under arms for lumps or unusual signs during regular annual physical examinations. A colonoscopy is a screening and diagnostic procedure used to examine the colon. It utilizes a flexible viewing tube with a small camera and lighted end to visualize the inside of the colon. The images are seen on a television screen. The colonoscopy is used to check for colon cancer, bleeding in the colon, ulcers, and polyps. Often, the colonoscopy is done as a followup to a possitive fecal occult blood test. It is recommended that everyone 50 and older should have a colonoscopy every 10 years. Colonoscopy may be recommended earlier and more frequently if you have a family or personal history of polyps, colorectal cancer, and certain other conditions. Talk with your doctor about when you should schedule a colonoscopy. A colposcopy is a procedure in which a colposcope is used to visualize the vagina and cervix. Most often, this technique will be used after a pap smear has indicated there are abnormal cells present that may soon become cancerous. A biopsy of the suspected area can be taken during the procedure. Computed tomography is a special x-ray technique that produces computer generated cross-sectional images of the body. It takes a series of x-rays or "slices" of the body and then produces an image compiling those slices. CT can detect abnormal masses in the body that could be tumors. This precise imaging technique shows the exact location and size of the mass, and can be used in guided needle biopsy. This physical examination is used as a screening procedure for rectal cancer. It may also be used in combination with the Prostate-Specific Antigen Blood Tests to diagnose prostate cancer. During this exam, the doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the anus to examine the lower areas of the digestive tract. The American Cancer Society recommends everyone 40 or over be given a digital rectal examination each year. Your doctor may recommend this examination become a part of your health care routine earlier if you have a family or personal history of polyps, irritable bowel disease, or colorectal cancer. The endoscopy procedure utilizes a flexible tube equipped with a small camera and lighted end to visualize the inside of the body. There are many different types of procedures that use this technique. A special tool may be attached to the end of the endoscope to sample tissue and fluid. The fecal occult blood test is used to detect the presence of blood in stool samples. The test is used to screen for colorectal cancer in its early stages. An annual fecal occult blood test is recommended for everyone beginning at the age of 50. Your doctor may discuss adding this screening test to your health care schedule earlier if you have a family or personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a procedure in which a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. During an MRI the body is exposed to a strong magnetic field which causes the body's atoms to emit a signal, the signals are recorded by the computer and are used to form either a image or slice of the body or can be made into three-dimensional images. The MRI is particularly useful in showing differences in water content in tissue within the body, which is an important aspect of finding tumors and looking for abnormalities in the body's soft tissues. The MRI is most useful in diagnosing tumors in the breast, lungs, liver, bones, prostate, brain, spinal cord and endometrium. It can also be used to distinguish between a breast tumor and a lump resulting from benign fibrocystic disease. The MRI can also be used to detect tumors in your breasts if they are very dense, or if you have had implants. During an MRI you must lie completely still on a special table which slides into the MRI unit. The procedure can take from 20 minutes to two hours. Patients sometimes experience anxiety from being inside the MRI unit or from the noises made by the scanning machine. If you are uncomfortable with confined spaces or easily irritated by sounds, you may want to ask your doctor for medication that will help you relax during the procedure. A mammogram is a special x-ray that produces images of the soft tissue of the breast. It is used to identify tumors that are too small to be found during a physical examination or self-breast exam. Although there has been much controversy over the significance of having yearly mammograms prior to the age of 50, it is currently recommended that women over the age of 40 have a mammogram each year. Women between the ages of 35-40 should have one mammogram done to be used as a baseline. The pap smear is used as a screening procedure to detect abnormal, pre-cancerous cells in the cervix before cancer may be visibly identifiable by a doctor. The test may also detect endometrial cancer. The procedure involves collecting a small sample of cells from the cervix during a pelvic examination. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. It is recommneded that all women begin getting yearly pap smears in their late teens or after they become sexually active. Prostate-Specific Antigen Blood Test The prostate-specific antigen blood test is used to measure the prostate-specific antigen levels in the blood. Higher than normal levels of PSA may indicate prostate cancer or other noncancerous conditions. The American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association recommends men have this screening done every year from the age of 50. Your doctor may recommend you begin this screening at a younger age if you have a personal or family history of prostate cancer. Radionuclide scanning is a test that produces pictures of internal parts of the body. You may be given an injection or be asked to swallow a small amount of radioactive material and a machine called a scanner then measures the radioactivity in certain organs. This diagnostic tool can be used to diagnose cancer, to determine if cancer has spread, or to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. During a sigmoidoscopy, a sigmoidoscope is used to visualize the lower third of the colon. This procedure can identify abnormalities in the rectum and colon, including ulcers, polyps, and cancer. The procedure may also be used as a followup to a positive fecal occult blood test. It is recommended that everyone have this procedure done once every 3-5 years from the age of 50. Your doctor may recommend you begin this screening process earlier if you have a personal or family history of polyps or colon cancer. An ultrasound is a test that bounces sound waves off tissues and internal organs and changes the echoes into pictures or sonograms. These pictures can then be used to identify cysts and solid tumors. Ultrasound may also be used to guide insertion for needle biopsy. X-rays involve the use of high-energy
radiation in low doses to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat
cancer.
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