Cancer has become a major disease affecting human health. Each type of cancer has its own way of checking and diagnosing it, and the following are some of the common ways of checking for cancer:
1. X-Ray
X-Ray is a common imaging test used to diagnose lung cancer and other tumors of the bones and soft tissues. More common ones such as mammography (mammogram) are used to detect the possibility of breast cancer.
X-ray
2. CT scan
CT scan is a three-dimensional imaging technique that can detect diseased tissues that are undetectable by X-rays, and it can help to check for many types of cancers, including lung, liver, and pancreatic cancers.
CT scan
3. Magnetic **** vibration imaging (MRI)
MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create images that can help diagnose brain cancer, breast cancer, and more.
Nuclear magnetic **** vibration
4. Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a painless, radiation-free test that is widely used in daily checkups, and is commonly used to check for breast cancer (breast nuclear **** vibration) and ovarian cancer.
Ultrasound
5. Mirroring
Mirroring is an examination method in which a medical device is inserted into the body to look at internal organs. For example, gastroscopy can check for stomach cancer, colonoscopy can check for colon cancer, and bronchoscopy can be used to check for lung cancer.
Schematic diagram of gastroscopy
6. Blood test
The appropriate tumor markers can be detected by blood test, and then further examination can be done to confirm whether there is cancer or not. For example, prostate cancer can be detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which can then be combined with digital rectal examination (DRE) to check.
7. Palpation
Palpation is usually used as a basic test to give an early warning of possible abnormalities, such as a hard lump found on breast examination, which could be a nodule or breast cancer; a bulge found on internal examination of the anorectum, which could be a polyp or bowel cancer
8. Biopsy
Biopsy is a method of pathologic examination by sampling suspected cancerous tissue to determine whether cancer cells are present. It is the final determination of whether the tissue is diseased or not. For example, endometrial cancer requires scraping of the uterus to obtain endometrial tissue for testing; cervical cancer can usually be examined by pap smear (cervical cytology); lung cancer usually requires CT-guided puncture biopsy, in which an appropriate amount of tumor tissue is taken, fixed in formalin, and examined pathologically.
Combined with the above ways and means of cancer testing, ordinary physical examination usually cannot detect all cancers, because many cancers do not have obvious symptoms in the early stage. However, some cancer-related indicators, such as tumor markers in the blood, can be detected through a physical exam. If abnormalities are detected, your doctor may recommend further tests to determine the presence of cancer. Therefore, even if there are no obvious symptoms, it is still important to have regular medical checkups, especially if there are any symptoms or family history of cancer, to consult your doctor for advice and a more thorough examination.
So, for the sake of one's health, one needs to do as much as possible:
1. Have regular medical checkups every year, with the program covering at least routine tests
2. Go to the hospital in time for a retest if the medical checkup reveals any abnormality
3. Maintain a good state of mind, get enough sleep, have reasonable and comprehensive nutrition, and exercise in moderation