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Why does the diagnosis seem to be delayed in so many cases
?
Often people have symptoms but ignore them or are afraid to see a doctor. Many people also feel afraid to go screening or feel that cancer won't happen
to them. Before a tumor becomes big enough to be detected, cancer cells can multiply to produce literally billions of cells. It is for this reason that routine examination and check ups by your physician should be done.
Can we get cancer from what we eat ?
Yes and No! The high
fat low fiber diet common in developed countries may play a role in some types of cancers. Certain chemicals and environmental pollutants in our food and water can also predispose someone to developing cancer. However,
just eating a certain kind of food will not cause you to develop cancer.
Can cancer detected by a single blood test ?
No, there is no single such test which can conclusively confirm presence of cancer. The only positive diagnosis of cancer is a biopsy
What is biopsy ?
Biopsy is obtaining a sample of either a tissue or cells from the tumor for
microscopic examination to establish diagnosis. It may be done by making a small surgical incision and removing all or a portion of the area where the tumor is thought to occur or by inserting a needle and withdrawing
some fluid from cells from the suspicious area. Sometimes the tumor may be in a location that can be easily accessed. For these types of tumors more invasive methods such as surgery may be needed to obtain an adequate
biopsy.
Is biopsy harmful ?
Side effects of biopsy depend
largely on the area from which it is removed. Your physician should discuss the risks and benefits with you. In general for most easily accessible areas the side effects and risks are minimal. Possible side effects may
include some bleeding, possible scarring and tenderness or pain from the biopsy site. Most of these side effects are temporary and the benefit of knowing the cancer type outweigh the risks, as knowing the cancer type
allows your oncologist to plan the best course of treatment for your disease.
What is FANC ?
FNAC is the short form of 'Fine needle Aspiration Cytology' wherein a thin needle is introduced into the substance of any tumor to obtain cells. Only a physician experienced and
qualified in performing this technique should do FANC. The reason for this being that FNAC is prone for sampling and reporting errors. As only a small portion of the fluid or cells from the tumor are removed it is
possible to miss the cancer cells either in the sampling or reporting. For this some physician may wish to repeat a biopsy following a negative report from FANC.
Info Courtesy: CPAA Bangalore |
