How to test yourself for cancer. How to test for cancer at home. Persistent back pain in men
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It ranks second among cancer diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, and in Europe it has long held a leading position. The success of its treatment is directly dependent on the timely detection of the tumor process.
A malignant neoplasm of the intestine, detected at an early stage, is not only highly treatable, but also gives the patient a fairly high guarantee that he will never encounter this disease again.
That is why the task of early diagnosis of intestinal cancer is so relevant today.
Methods for diagnosing colon cancer
If intestinal cancer is suspected, diagnosis always begins with a history and physical examination of the patient, including examination and digital examination of the condition of the rectum.
After the initial examination, the specialist refers the patient to a series of instrumental studies using modern innovative equipment:
- rectoscopy;
- colonoscopy;
- irrigoscopy;
- Ultrasound of the intestines and;
- fibrocolonoscopy;
- fluoroscopy of the liver and;
- intravenous urography;
- laparoscopy.
To make a correct diagnosis, laboratory tests are necessary (perform a general analysis and test for) and feces ().
If intestinal cancer was identified during the research, to determine its stage and choose treatment tactics, the patient’s tumor tissue taken during a biopsy is subjected to histological and cytological examination.
How to identify the disease at an early stage?
In order to prevent the tumor process in the intestines from developing to an inoperable stage, every person should know a number of its first alarming manifestations, when they appear, they should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a series of necessary studies.
The reason for concern is:
- Irregularity or frequent changes in the nature of bowel movements (either constipation or diarrhea).
- The presence of blood in the stool.
- Pale skin, anemia and a sharp decrease in body weight.
- A state of constant weakness and fatigue.
- Constant pain in the anus.
- Prolonged and unexplained increase in body temperature.
After a barium x-ray or colonoscopy procedure, the doctor will quickly determine the cause of the alarming symptoms and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
People at risk for bowel cancer (who have close relatives with the disease) can protect themselves by undergoing regular medical examinations in a clinical setting.
A person who discovers the first suspicious symptoms indicating the likelihood of developing bowel cancer can use a home rapid test. After receiving a positive result, he needs to contact a qualified specialist as soon as possible.
Patient Interview
With a competent interview of the patient, an experienced specialist can obtain very useful information that helps in quickly making the correct diagnosis.
During a conversation with the patient, the doctor analyzes his habits, lifestyle, information about previous diseases and methods of prescribed treatment.
When collecting anamnesis, the doctor, with the help of leading questions, can identify the presence of symptoms that the patient does not even pay attention to.
In addition to clarifying the hidden and well-defined signs of the disease, the specialist assesses the functioning of the main vital systems of the body, determines the presence of a tumor or any unusual manifestations.
Clinical signs
The nature of symptoms in intestinal cancer largely depends on the location of the tumor process. Colon damage is accompanied by:
- increase in body temperature up to 37 degrees;
- tension in the abdominal muscles;
- alternation and constipation;
- anemia;
- , loss of appetite;
- (full or partial);
- abdominal pain (depending on the form of cancer, it can be sharp, dull or cramping);
- the presence of specific discharge from the rectum (impurities of pus, blood and tumor masses in the stool).
Cancer of the sigmoid or rectum manifests itself:
- cramping pain in the abdomen;
- irregular stool;
- difficulty defecating, flatulence, lethargy or complete absence of intestinal motility;
- phenomena of intoxication of the body;
- a feeling of incomplete bowel movement and false urges to empty the bowel;
- “ribbon-shaped” appearance and black color of stool;
- bleeding of the tumor, massive blood loss and the development of anemia;
- development (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity), leading to an increase in abdominal circumference, shortness of breath, poor digestion of food, frequent heartburn and sour belching.
Palpation of the abdomen
The method allows you to determine:
- degree of muscle tension;
- location, consistency, degree of mobility and size of the tumor accessible to palpation;
- the presence of spastic contractions of the intestines;
- the presence of fluid accumulating in the abdominal cavity.
When palpating the perineal area, the doctor must examine all external lymph nodes. This may reveal the presence of a protruding malignant neoplasm.
Finger examination
This is one of the simplest and most valuable methods of initial examination of a patient complaining of problems with the functioning of the large intestine and rectum, which are included in the list of mandatory medical procedures.
The specialist performs a primary rectal examination by inserting a finger into the patient's rectum. Digital examination allows you to feel the walls of the rectum, anal canal and nearby organs.
Being completely painless, it does not cause any discomfort to the patient.
Digital examination allows us to assess the condition of almost half of the rectum. The presence of an oncological lesion in it rarely goes unnoticed when used.
Instrumental methods
Instrumental diagnostic methods using the latest advances in medical technology make it possible not only to make a correct diagnosis, but also to identify the presence of metastases in the patient’s body.
Sigmoidoscopy
In this study, which allows us to assess the condition of the mucous membranes of the rectum in an area 25 cm away from the anus, a special device is used - a tubular rigid endoscope.
Representing a hollow metal tube equipped with a built-in lighting device, the sigmoidoscope is carefully inserted through the anus into the lumen of the rectum. Thanks to the presence of the eyepiece, the doctor can:
- consider the condition of the walls of the rectum: the degree of their elasticity, the nature of the internal relief, the color of the mucous membrane;
- monitor the tone and motor function of the examined intestine;
- detect pathological changes and neoplasms.
The procedure allows you to take a sample of tumor tissue for microscopic examination - a biopsy. With skillful insertion of the rectoscope, the procedure is quite painless; It does not require any pain relief.
Irrigoscopy
This is a method of x-ray examination of the affected colon with the preliminary introduction of a contrast agent (barium suspension) into it.
A series of x-rays (irrigograms) performed during the procedure allows one to analyze the location, shape and extent of the intestine, the degree of elasticity and extensibility of its walls, and detect the presence of neoplasms and pathological changes in the mucous membranes. Irrigoscopy does not cause pain to patients.
Fibercolonoscopy
This procedure consists of introducing a special device from the anus - a fibrocolonoscope, the extreme length and flexibility of which allows you to examine the condition of the colon along its entire length.
The presence of a video camera and a lighting device allows the doctor to clearly examine all areas of the intestine being examined, take tissue from the detected tumor for subsequent biopsy, and in some cases even remove small pathological neoplasms (benign tumors and polyps).
Ultrasound, CT and MRI
All these diagnostic methods are the most informative and safe for the patient’s body.
- The ultrasound method allows you to obtain a clear picture demonstrating the dynamics of the organ under study. To improve the efficiency of the study, quickly detect a malignant neoplasm, its location and size, a rectal sensor can be inserted into the patient’s body during the procedure.
- pelvic, thoracic and abdominal cavities is a type of x-ray examination. The patient's body is exposed to a small dose of radioactive radiation, and iodine is injected into his vein, acting as a contrast agent. The CT procedure is invaluable for assessing the degree of metastasis of a malignant tumor.
- The MRI procedure, which provides a three-dimensional image of the organ being examined, gives the best result in identifying a cancerous tumor. Its advantage is that there is no need for any preparatory measures. A contraindication to MRI is the presence of metal-containing elements in the patient’s body.
Abdominal X-ray and radioisotope liver scan
To objectively assess the condition of the intestines and identify intestinal obstruction, a survey radiography of the abdominal cavity is performed by taking several x-rays.
No contrast agent is injected.
The procedure of radioisotope scanning of the liver is carried out in order to exclude suspicions of metastasis of an intestinal cancer tumor to the liver.
After intravenous administration of isotopes that accumulate in tumor tissues, a series of images are taken.
Intravenous urography
Another method of X-ray contrast examination with intravenous administration of a contrast agent. Having been present in the blood, the injected substance leaves the sick person’s body through the urinary tract, simultaneously staining them, the kidneys and the bladder.
The photographs taken allow the doctor to assess the condition of the genitourinary system and identify the presence of metastases.
Laparoscopy
Being an endoscopic examination in which miniature optical systems are introduced into the patient’s abdominal cavity through small punctures in its wall, laparoscopy is equivalent to surgery. It is performed only under anesthesia.
Thanks to laparoscopy, the doctor can carefully examine all the organs of the abdominal cavity, draw conclusions about their condition and the presence of metastases, and also take material for a biopsy.
Laboratory methods
Laboratory tests of a patient's blood and stool often help identify bowel cancer in the earliest stages of its development.
General blood test and tumor markers: indicators
Although not a specific diagnostic test, a general blood test can nevertheless draw the doctor’s attention to the atypical behavior of cells in the patient’s body.
The presence of a hidden pathological process in the intestines may be indicated by:
- An unreasonable increase in ESR against the background of a normal or slightly increased level of leukocytes.
- An equally inexplicable decrease in hemoglobin levels, leading to the development of anemia. This picture is typical for intestinal and stomach cancer.
A specific laboratory test to detect intestinal cancer is a blood test for tumor markers - special antigens actively synthesized by cancer cells. Their high content in the blood indicates the presence of an oncological focus in the patient’s body.
Tumor markers indicating intestinal cancer are antigens CA-125, CA-15-3, CA-19-9. The presence of the CA-242 tumor marker in the blood helps to identify this disease at the earliest stage of its development. During the test, antibodies are injected into a patient's blood sample, which detect the presence of antigens in it.
Analysis of feces and urine for occult blood
A fecal occult blood test, which is recommended annually for people over fifty years of age, does not always indicate the presence of bowel cancer.
Blood in the stool may appear due to a bleeding benign neoplasm (for example, a polyp) or some inflammatory process.
The presence of blood in the stool in any case indicates a problem in the patient’s body that requires immediate treatment.
A general urinalysis is sometimes helpful in identifying a cancerous tumor that has affected the tissues of the kidneys, ureters and bladder. The doctor will definitely be alert to:
- The presence of even a slight admixture of blood in the urine (hematuria).
- The presence of cancer cells in the sediment.
Biopsy
The method is considered one of the most accurate in diagnosing colon cancer. With its help, you can finally confirm the diagnosis and distinguish a benign tumor from a malignant one.
The doctor can take a piece of tumor tissue while performing:
- fibrocolonoscopy;
- laparoscopy;
- sigmoidoscopy;
- surgery to remove an intestinal tumor.
The taken tissues are subjected to cytological and histological examination.
Histological examination
When cancerous tissue is removed, it is cut in the laboratory, and then the resulting sample is examined using a microscope. Histology can be:
- Urgent, completed within half an hour. Such a study is performed in the most urgent cases (usually in a clinical setting). Before testing, the prepared sample is quickly frozen and tinted with a special reagent.
- Scheduled, taking at least five days. Tumor tissue obtained during sigmoidoscopy is processed using paraffin and a special solution, as well as stained. Planned histological examination, despite the labor-intensive and time-consuming process, is characterized by greater accuracy of the result.
Cytological examination
In this type of research, specialists study the structure of atypical cells and the nature of their degeneration. What is studied under a microscope is not a section of tumor tissue, as in histology, but individual cancer cells.
The following are subjected to cytological examination:
- fragments of the rectal wall taken during biopsy;
- purulent and mucous discharge that clogged the lumen of the rectum;
- imprints of the mucous membranes of the problematic intestine.
Home express test
Today, every person who is alarmed by the presence of suspicious symptoms has the opportunity to independently determine whether hidden blood is present in his stool. This can be done using special tests designed for use at home.
Photo of step-by-step instructions for a home test to detect colon cancer
Their advantages are:
- high (99%) reliability of the result obtained;
- no need for special training or diet;
- high speed of obtaining results (testing takes 5-7 minutes);
- lack of reaction to vitamins and medications taken.
Who is it shown to?
Testing for bowel cancer is recommended:
- Patients of any age who have disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Persons over fifty years of age.
- Patients who have reached the age of forty and have a hereditary predisposition to colon cancer (should be tested annually).
Testing procedure
- Before performing the test, the patient attaches a special sheet of paper equipped with Velcro (included in the kit) to the rim of the toilet bowl, intended for receiving feces.
- Armed with a special stick mounted in the cap of a plastic test tube with a ready-made reagent, take a drop of feces onto it, place it inside the test tube and, after screwing the lid on, shake vigorously. ;
- rectal fissures;
- hemorrhoids.
Receiving a positive result is an indication for immediate consultation with a doctor, since the real cause of the appearance of blood in the stool can only be determined after a series of diagnostic procedures.
Cost and where to buy
The cost of home express tests depends not only on the manufacturer, but also on trade markups, which can significantly increase their initial price.
- The domestically produced test “ImmunoCHROM-GEM-Express” can be purchased for 220 rubles.
- A set of 10 such tests will cost the buyer 2,000 rubles.
- The NADAL express test, produced by the German company Nal Von Minden, can be purchased for 2,100 rubles (for one copy).
You can purchase tests both in pharmacies and on relevant online resources.
What specific blood test should a person take for early detection of oncology? This question worries many people who are worried about their own health. In general, timely diagnosis allows treatment of malignant tumors to begin without delay. The initial stages of cancer have long been no longer considered a death sentence.
To a large extent, the high mortality rate from this type of pathology is due, first of all, to late seeking help.
About cancer
At the first and second stages, the patient usually has a very high chance of recovery. Even with the third, today a person is often put on his feet. However, the 4th is already very serious. Here the patient is prescribed only symptomatic therapy, since the metastases that have spread throughout the body begin to actively destroy it.
Actually, for this reason, preventive examinations are in many ways a guarantee of cure, as they help to detect oncology in the first stages of development.
Doctors consider anyone at risk to have:
- there were cases of cancer in the family;
- have bad habits (smoking, alcoholism);
- tissues and organs have been exposed to radiation or toxic effects in the past;
- immunodeficiency was detected.
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For other representatives of the fairer sex, the risk increases after 55 years.
Signs of the onset of oncology are, depending on its type, the following symptoms:
- wounds that do not heal for a long time;
- discomfort when swallowing;
- bloody and other uncharacteristic discharge in urine or feces;
- moles that have begun to grow rapidly and have changed color;
- sudden and significant weight loss;
- any swelling, dense lumps under the skin;
- visible deformations of the genitals, face, breast, neck;
- incurable dry cough;
- noticeable shortness of breath and hoarseness.
In particular, brain damage is often indicated by the appearance of some kind of smell (burning or citrus fruits), which the patient cannot get rid of for weeks.
In principle, even the simplest general blood test can indicate the presence of cancer. It is carried out quickly and is very inexpensive. However, only a doctor should interpret its results.
By the way, it is recommended to take it regularly - once a year. If there are serious suspicions, the doctor will recommend undergoing a number of other specialized examinations.
What signs in tests indicate cancer?
The problem is indicated, first of all, by the presence of a relatively small number of platelets in the patient’s blood and a noticeable increase in the number of leukocytes. In this case, the ESR will be more than 30. However, the assumption can be confirmed only on the condition that the described condition remains unchanged for several months.
An increase in alkaline phosphatase also indicates oncology. A drop in cholesterol allows one to suspect pathology specifically in the liver.
At the same time, a blood test is not able to accurately identify the location of the tumor. This requires other instrumental studies. So, cancer:
- the esophagus and stomach are detected during fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy;
- colonoscopy reveals intestines;
- lungs - bronchoscopy;
- cervix - smear examination, etc.
Tumor markers
Today, immunological diagnostics are becoming increasingly popular. Here, the blood taken for analysis is studied to detect antigens produced by the body in response to the formation of tumors. In a healthy person, they are contained in minimal quantities or are absent altogether. Accordingly, an increase in the indicator indicates oncology.
Scientists have identified more than 300 types of proteins, hormones and enzymes, the production of which increases in the body during cancer. At the same time, each marker allows you to confirm only the presence of a certain type of tumor. Often such tests are not informative (especially in the early stages). Their more universal varieties can only indicate the development of the process and are not able to accurately identify the location of its localization.
For example, prostate cancer is diagnosed using the PSA antigen. At the same time, it is often produced in large quantities:
- in older men due to age-related changes;
- for infectious diseases;
- after some procedures.
The CEA antigen (cancer-embryonic) confirms the growth of a neoplasm in:
- lungs;
- colon;
- mammary gland.
AFP protein is produced by malignant tumors that affect:
- testicles;
- liver.
Besides:
- melanoma signals itself with the S-100 protein;
- CA 19-9 indicates pancreatic disease;
- cancer of the stomach, lung, and breast is detected by CA 72-4;
- When the thyroid gland degenerates, it begins to produce large amounts of calcitonin.
All forms of cancer have their own unique antigens:
- small cell;
- carcinoma;
- leukemia;
- non-small cell;
- squamous.
With all this, there is no need to talk about 100% accuracy of the tumor marker. For this reason, they are taken only after identifying the main characteristic symptoms and conducting other types of research. To a large extent, they are used to track the progression of the disease, the effectiveness of therapeutic measures, etc.
Cancer is considered a serious disease that threatens human life. Certain types of cancer cannot be detected in the initial stages because they are asymptomatic. And early testing gives a chance for recovery.
Cancer is a malignant node, the formation of which occurs due to the degeneration of healthy cells into tumor cells. Subsequently, the tumor grows, growing into neighboring tissues, and metastases occur in distant organs. The course of the disease occurs in four stages.
At the first stage of development, the node can only be determined by chance. Since the last stages of the disease are life-threatening, you need to be checked for cancer regularly. Cancer is considered the leading cause of high mortality in the world. Every person should undergo regular medical examination.
To identify a cancerous node at the initial stage, you need to focus on the malfunctions of the body. The manifestation of various symptoms can be considered harbingers not only of cancer, but also of other ailments. Continued repetition of symptoms indicates that consultation with a doctor is required.
What manifestations may indicate illness:
- Women experience bloating. Constant pain syndromes in the lumbar region, a quick feeling of fullness in the stomach, flatulence - if the situation lasts for a long time, it’s time to visit a doctor. These indicators are typical for ovarian cancer.
- Bleeding in women. If this happens after menopause and is not related to the cycle, it may indicate a cancerous tumor of the cervix (endometrium).
- Painful manifestations in the abdomen and pelvic organs. It is observed due to a malfunction of the ovaries. Cancer is characterized by constant manifestations.
- Long-term back pain in men. They can appear with a cancerous node of the prostate and colon. Sometimes the pain symptom is felt in the bones of the hips. A visit to the doctor is mandatory.
- Changes in the size of male testicles. It is important to monitor changes so that the volume and shape do not change. If a neoplasm is detected, you should immediately seek medical help. Testicular cancer develops quickly, the initial stage goes unnoticed. There may be pain in the groin, thighs, pelvic bones, and swelling.
- Continuous cough. If it is observed for a long time, this is an indicator of cancer of the throat, thyroid gland, and lungs.
- Problematic urination and bowel problems. Regular problems and the presence of blood in the stool indicate a cancerous tumor of the rectum.
- Sharp weight loss is observed in cancer of the pancreas, lungs, stomach, and esophagus.
- Changes in the area of the mammary glands. The presence of nodes in the breast is observed in women and men - breast cancer is possible.
- Lymph nodes enlarge. If the swollen nodes do not decrease within a month, a visit to the doctor is necessary.
- Neoplasms on the skin. You need to carefully monitor the appearance of new moles and spots on the body. Changes in color and shape may indicate the development of a skin cancer called melanoma.
- The appearance of whitish and red spots in the oral cavity also signals the need to visit a doctor.
- Long-term fatigue occurs with leukemia and other forms of cancer.
It is also advisable to get tested for the presence of cancer cells for those who have:
- craving for smoking;
- excess weight;
- poor quality nutrition, insufficient consumption of vegetables and fruits;
- high consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- presence of human papillomavirus;
- hepatitis B, C;
- radiation, ionizing and ultraviolet;
- heredity.
Where to start the examination
Detection of cancer cells or other diseases begins with a visit to a medical facility. You can get examined at a clinic or visit an oncology center. The therapist conducts the examination. He will ask questions, after which he will prescribe the necessary tests for oncology. If the initial examination reveals a pathology, the doctor prescribes additional tests and refers to an oncologist.
Early diagnosis of cancer begins with an annual medical examination. The manifestation of symptoms means additional consultation with a doctor.
Necessary tests
They begin to identify a cancerous tumor using tests that are prescribed in large quantities. This is used to be able to exclude false diagnostic indicators. The most commonly used are those listed below.
General blood tests
A malignant formation develops and leaves waste products in the bloodstream. Everything is reflected in the final indicators. Poisoning of the body leads to increased ESR levels, an increase in the level of white blood cells, and a decrease in lymphocytes. When this is accompanied by fatigue and weight loss, it may indicate the occurrence of lymphogranulomatosis and histiocytosis. A decrease in hemoglobin indicates the formation of a node in the internal organs. Bone marrow cancer is characterized by immature cells.
To determine abnormalities, blood is donated on an empty stomach, and the analysis is ready within two days. The accuracy is low; in case of any discrepancies from the norm, a number of narrow studies are carried out.
Urine study
Characteristic signs of cancer rarely appear in urine. You need to focus on the appearance of blood and the presence of ketone bodies. The analysis does not give an accurate result.
Biochemical study of blood
Diagnosis of cancer occurs in stages:
- Albumin, total protein. Protein is required for tumor growth, which is why its performance drops. Added to this is a decrease in appetite, which leads to protein deficiency in the body.
- Urea. An increase in level indicates a decrease in renal activity or rapid breakdown of protein. It is observed during tumor poisoning, destruction of tumor tissue, which occurs during effective cancer treatment.
- The sugar level increases - lung cancer, sarcoma of the reproductive system, and liver are detected. The neoplasm cells inhibit the production of insulin, and the body responds to an increase in glucose with the appearance of diabetes mellitus. This process is observed several years before the symptoms of oncology are observed.
- Increased bilirubin indicates liver damage.
- ALAT is a protein molecule that increases when the liver is deformed by a tumor and other diseases.
- Excess alkaline phosphatase is typical for tumor nodes of bone tissue and metastases, liver damage, nodes and metastases of the gallbladder.
Blood is drawn from a vein on an empty stomach. The result is ready within two days. The accuracy of the study is low; the detected changes are considered an indicator for additional examination.
Blood clotting test
The presence of cancer increases blood clotting. There is a danger of thrombosis and microthrombi. Their detection negatively affects the course of oncology. For the study, a coagulogram is used, you need to donate venous blood.
Immunohistochemical analysis
Determines oncology using tumor markers. Markers are considered substances that react to the activity of a tumor node, are not observed in a healthy body or are found in a small volume. Their presence does not provide an accurate prognosis for cancer; additional methods are required to confirm the diagnosis. They take the test on an empty stomach, and blood is taken from a vein.
Cytological examination
The method is accurate. The analysis allows you to correctly diagnose and identify the type of tumor. Cytology is used for oncology anywhere - skin and subcutaneous, lungs, female genital organs, lymph nodes, liver and bone marrow. To study, you need to take smears from the surface of the skin, mucous membranes, sputum, urine, and a smear from the cervical and vaginal canal. For subcutaneous lesions, a syringe is used, the tissue is pierced with a needle, and a biological substance is collected for analysis.
Genetic study
It is used in people who have a hereditary predisposition to certain diseases. The study cannot say for sure whether the body is susceptible to cancer or not. Before taking biomaterial for study, you should not drink alcoholic beverages, take medications or toxic drugs, eat, and avoid physical activity or stress.
Histology
The internal tissues of the body are being studied. A small sample is taken and obtained through a biopsy. Provides diagnosis of abnormal development, shows changes in tissues. This method allows you to identify a malignant tumor at the first stage, identify its size and growth.
Cytometry
It is used to study blood DNA, body fluids, and compacted formations. There is an optical measurement of cell parameters and observation of processes inside it.
Additional examinations
Oncological diseases are a broad group of diseases. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then it is imperative to follow the doctor’s instructions. Even if there are obvious symptoms and tests confirming the disease, the doctor may prescribe the following diagnostic methods:
- Radiography.
- Bronchography – used to diagnose lung cancer. A contrast liquid is injected into the organ, then X-ray images are taken. Anesthesia is applied.
- Angiography is radiography with a liquid substance that makes it possible to observe the vessels of the node.
- Mammography - examination of the breast occurs using ionizing radiation with small loads. Accurately detects breast cancer.
- MRI – allows you to get a magnified image of an organ. Consists of several additional research methods.
- Scintigraphy is the study of bones using isotopes. Makes it possible to correctly assess their condition.
- Endoscopy – allows you to check the condition of hollow internal organs. An endoscope is used to check. It is administered through natural routes - larynx, esophagus, urethra.
Screening is carried out when the disease is asymptomatic. The use of tests makes it possible to capture oncology at the initial stages of development - many forms of cancer can be completely cured. Such research helps reduce cancer mortality.
Check your health - timely diagnosis will allow you to prescribe treatment and not start the disease.
Update: December 2018
In modern oncology, early diagnosis of the tumor process plays a huge role. The further survival and quality of life of patients depends on this. Oncological alertness is very important, since cancer can manifest itself in the final stages or disguise its symptoms as other diseases.
Risk groups for developing malignant neoplasms
There are many theories about the development of cancer, but none of them gives a detailed answer as to why it still occurs. Doctors can only assume that one or another factor accelerates carcinogenesis (the growth of tumor cells).
Cancer risk factors:
- Racial and ethnic predisposition– German scientists have established a trend: melanoma occurs in white-skinned people 5 times more often than in black people.
- Diet violation– a person’s diet must be balanced; any shift in the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates can lead to metabolic disorders, and as a consequence to the occurrence of malignant neoplasms. For example, scientists have proven that excessive consumption of foods that increase cholesterol leads to the development of lung cancer, and excessive intake of easily digestible carbohydrates increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Also, the abundance of chemical additives in food (flavor enhancers, preservatives, nitrates, etc.), genetically modified products increase the risk.
- Obesity - according to American studies, excess body weight increases the risk of cancer by 55% in women and 45% in men.
- Smoking - WHO doctors have proven that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between smoking and cancer (lips, tongue, oropharynx, bronchi, lungs). A study was conducted in the UK that showed that people who smoke 1.5-2 packs of cigarettes per day are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers.
- Heredity– There are certain types of cancer that are inherited in an autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant manner, for example, ovarian cancer or familial intestinal polyposis.
- Exposure to ionizing radiation and ultraviolet rays– ionizing radiation of natural and industrial origin causes activation of pro-oncogenes of thyroid cancer, and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays during insolation (tanning) contributes to the development of malignant melanoma of the skin.
- Immune disorders– decreased activity of the immune system (primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, iatrogenic immunosuppression) leads to the development of tumor cells.
- Professional activity– this category includes people who come into contact with chemical carcinogens (resins, dyes, soot, heavy metals, aromatic carbohydrates, asbestos, sand) and electromagnetic radiation during their work activities.
- Features of reproductive age in women– early first menstruation (under 14 years of age) and late menopause (over 55 years of age) increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer by 5 times. At the same time, pregnancy and childbirth reduce the tendency of the appearance of neoplasms of the reproductive organs
Symptoms that may be signs of cancer
- Long-term non-healing wounds, fistulas
- Discharge, ribbon-shaped stool. Impaired bladder and bowel function.
- Deformation of the mammary glands, swelling of other parts of the body.
- Sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing.
- Changes in the color and shape of moles or birthmarks
- Frequent or unusual discharge in women.
- , not amenable to therapy, .
General principles for diagnosing malignant neoplasms
After visiting a doctor, the patient should receive full information about what tests indicate cancer. It is impossible to determine oncology using a blood test; it is nonspecific in relation to neoplasms. Clinical and biochemical studies are aimed primarily at determining the patient’s condition during tumor intoxication and studying the functioning of organs and systems.
A general blood test for oncology reveals:
- leukopenia or (increased or decreased white blood cells)
- shift of the leukocyte formula to the left
- anemia()
- (low platelets)
- (a constantly high ESR of more than 30 in the absence of serious complaints is a reason to sound the alarm)
A general urine test in oncology can be quite informative; for example, in case of multiple myeloma, a specific Bence-Jones protein is detected in the urine. A biochemical blood test allows you to judge the state of the urinary system, liver and protein metabolism.
Changes in biochemical analysis indicators for various neoplasms:
Index | Result | Note |
it is possible to either exceed or decrease it |
Neoplasms usually enhance catabolic processes and protein breakdown, and nonspecifically inhibit protein synthesis. | |
hyperproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, detection of paraprotein (M-gradient) in blood serum | Such indicators allow one to suspect myeloma (malignant plasmacytoma). | |
Urea, creatinine |
Increased levels of urea and creatinine |
This indicates increased protein breakdown, an indirect sign of cancer intoxication, or a nonspecific decrease in kidney function |
Increased urea with normal creatinine | Indicates the disintegration of tumor tissue. | |
Alkaline phosphatase |
Increase in alkaline phosphatase over 270 U/l |
Indicates the presence of metastases in the liver, bone tissue, and osteogenic sarcoma. |
An increase in the enzyme against the background of normal AST and ALT levels | Also, embryonal tumors of the ovaries, uterus, and testicles can cause ectopic placental alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme. | |
ALT, AST |
Elevation of enzymes above the upper limit of normal |
Indicates nonspecific breakdown of liver cells (hepatocytes), which can be caused by both inflammatory and cancer processes. |
Cholesterol |
The decrease in the indicator is less than the lower limit of normal |
Speaks of malignant liver tumors (since cholesterol is formed in the liver) |
Potassium |
Increased electrolyte levels with normal Na levels |
Indicative of cancer cachexia |
A blood test for oncology also involves examining the hemostasis system. Due to the release of tumor cells and their fragments into the blood, it is possible to increase blood clotting (hypercoagulation) and microthrombosis, which impede the movement of blood through the vascular bed.
In addition to tests to determine cancer, there are a number of instrumental studies that help diagnose malignant neoplasms:
- Survey radiography in frontal and lateral projection
- Contrast radiography (irrigography, hysterosalpingography)
- Computed tomography (with and without contrast)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (with and without contrast)
- Radionuclide method
- Ultrasound examination with Dopplerography
- Endoscopic examination (fibrogastroscopy, bronchoscopy).
Stomach cancer
Stomach cancer is the second most common tumor among the population (after lung cancer).
- Fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy is the golden method for diagnosing gastric cancer and is necessarily accompanied by a large number of biopsies in different areas of the tumor and unchanged gastric mucosa.
- X-ray of the stomach using oral contrast (barium mixture) - a method that was quite popular before the introduction of endoscopes into practice, allows you to see a filling defect in the stomach on an X-ray.
- Ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, CT, MRI are used to search for metastases in the lymph nodes and other organs of the digestive system (liver, spleen).
- Immunological blood test - shows stomach cancer in the early stages, when the tumor itself is not yet visible to the human eye (CA 72-4, CEA and others)
Diagnosis of colon cancer
- Digital examination of the rectum - detects cancer at a distance of 9-11 cm from the anus, allows you to assess the mobility of the tumor, its elasticity, and the condition of neighboring tissues;
- Colonoscopy - insertion of a video endoscope into the rectum - visualizes the cancerous infiltrate up to the bauhinium valve, allows for a biopsy of suspicious areas of the intestine;
- Irrigoscopy – radiology of the large intestine using double contrast (contrast-air);
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, CT, MRI, virtual colonoscopy - visualize the germination of colon cancer and the condition of adjacent organs;
- Determination of tumor markers – CEA, C 19-9, Sialosyl – TN
Mammary cancer
This malignant tumor occupies a leading place among female neoplasms. Such disappointing statistics are to some extent due to the low qualifications of doctors who perform unprofessional examinations of the mammary glands.
- Palpation of the gland allows you to identify lumps and swellings in the thickness of the organ and suspect a tumor process.
- Breast radiography (mammography) is one of the most important methods for detecting non-palpable tumors. For greater information content, artificial contrast is used:
- pneumocystography (removal of fluid from the tumor and introduction of air into it) - allows to identify parietal formations;
- ductography - the method is based on the introduction of a contrast agent into the milk ducts; visualizes the structure and contours of the ducts, and abnormal formations in them.
- Sonography and Dopplerography of the mammary glands - the results of clinical studies have proven the high effectiveness of this method in detecting microscopic intraductal cancer and abundantly supplied blood tumors.
- Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging - allow us to evaluate the invasion of breast cancer into nearby organs, the presence of metastases and damage to regional lymph nodes.
- Immunological tests for breast cancer (tumor markers) - CA-15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA-72-4, prolactin, estradiol, TPS.
Thyroid cancer
Due to the increase in radiation and exposure of people over the past 30 years, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased 1.5 times. Basic diagnostic methods:
- Ultrasound + Dopplerography of the thyroid gland is a fairly informative method, non-invasive and does not carry radiation exposure.
- Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are used to diagnose the spread of the tumor process beyond the thyroid gland and identify metastases to neighboring organs.
- Positron emission tomography is a three-dimensional technique, the use of which is based on the property of a radioisotope to accumulate in the tissues of the thyroid gland.
- Radioisotope scintigraphy is a method also based on the ability of radionuclides (or rather iodine) to accumulate in the tissues of the gland, but unlike tomography, it indicates the difference in the accumulation of radioactive iodine in healthy and tumor tissue. Cancer infiltrate can take the form of a “cold” (not absorbing iodine) and “hot” (absorbing iodine in excess) focus.
- Fine needle aspiration biopsy - allows for a biopsy and subsequent cytological examination of cancer cells, identifies special genetic markers hTERT, EMC1, TMPRSS4 of thyroid cancer.
- Determination of galectin-3 protein, which belongs to the class of lectins. This peptide takes part in the growth and development of tumor vessels, its metastasis and suppression of the immune system (including apoptosis). The diagnostic accuracy of this marker for malignant neoplasms of the thyroid gland is 92-95%.
- Relapse of thyroid cancer is characterized by a decrease in the level of thyroglobulin and an increase in the concentration of tumor markers EGFR, HBME-1
Esophageal carcinoma
Cancer mainly affects the lower third of the esophagus and is usually preceded by intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia. The average incidence is 3.0% per 10,000 population.
- X-ray contrast examination of the esophagus and stomach using barium sulfate is recommended to clarify the degree of patency of the esophagus.
- Fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy allows you to see cancer with your own eyes, and an improved videoscopic technique displays an image of esophageal cancer on a large screen. During the study, a biopsy of the tumor is required, followed by cytological diagnosis.
- Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging - visualize the degree of tumor invasion into neighboring organs, determine the condition of regional groups of lymph nodes.
- Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is mandatory when cancer compresses the esophagus of the tracheobronchial tree and allows you to assess the extent of the diameter of the airways.
Tumor markers - immunological diagnosis of neoplasms
The essence of immunological diagnostics is the detection of specific tumor antigens or tumor markers. They are quite specific to specific types of cancer. A blood test for tumor markers for primary diagnosis has no practical use, but it allows you to determine the earlier occurrence of relapse and prevent the spread of cancer. There are more than 200 types of cancer markers in the world, but only about 30 have diagnostic value.
Doctors have the following requirements for tumor markers:
- Must be highly sensitive and specific
- The tumor marker must be released only by malignant tumor cells, and not by the body’s own cells
- The tumor marker must indicate one specific tumor
- Blood test values for tumor markers should increase as cancer progresses
Classification of tumor markers
All tumor markers: click to enlarge
According to biochemical structure:
- Oncofetal and oncoplacental (REA, hCG, alpha-fetoprotein)
- Tumor-associated glycoproteins (CA 125, CA 19-9. CA 15-3)
- Keratoproteins (UBC, SCC, TPA, TPS)
- Enzymatic proteins (PSA, neuron-specific enolase)
- Hormones (calcitonin)
- Other structure (ferritin, IL-10)
By value for the diagnostic process:
- The main one is that it has maximum sensitivity and specificity for a specific tumor.
- Secondary - has low specificity and sensitivity, is used in combination with the main tumor marker.
- Additional – detected with many neoplasms.
Cancer marker | Indicator norm | Neoplasm in which it is detected |
Bence Jones protein | norm - absent | Myeloma (malignant plasmacytoma), B-cell leukemia |
Alpha fetoprotein | normal – less than 22 ng/ml | Hepatocellular cancer, germinal cancers (ovarian, testicular and other cancers) |
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) | less than 5 units/ml | Colorectal tumors (colon cancer), breast cancer, lung cancer |
SA-125 | less than 30 units/ml | Ovarian cancer |
Prostate antigen (PSA – prostate specific antigen) | less than 5 ng/ml | |
Chorionic gonadotropin (CG) | ||
NSE – neuron-specific enolase | 12 ng/ml | Small cell lung cancer, neuroendocrine tumors |
CYFRA 21-1 | less than 2 ng/ml | |
Calcitonin | 0-30 pg/ml |
According to statistics, almost 2% of all people living in the Russian Federation today are cancer patients. Every year more than 500 thousand Russians are diagnosed with cancer. Despite the frightening statistics, experts say that cancer is not a death sentence.
“Oncology is certainly a dangerous and very serious disease. However, you need to understand that there are thousands of types and subtypes of cancer. And most of them are curable, subject to high-quality diagnosis and therapy,” says Founder and CEO of the cancer diagnostics service “UNIM” Alexey Remez.
According to the expert, the earlier cancer is detected, the higher the chance of recovery.
“A very good example is melanoma, a well-known aggressive skin cancer - when detected at stage zero, when germination is still very small, and with high-quality removal, recovery is achieved in 99% of cases, while when treating melanoma at stage 4, the chance of living for five years with such a diagnosis is about 15%,” Remez noted.
Find and neutralize
Treatment of cancer in any country is based on protocols developed by the international medical community, which are based on an analysis of collective medical experience. However, before starting to treat a person, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis.
A person should be wary and consult a doctor if he begins to rapidly lose weight for no particular reason, nausea, weakness and pain appear, explained oncologist Andrey Koritsky.
“In addition, a person should be wary of unusual discharge (bloody, purulent, mucous), a prolonged causeless increase in body temperature, frequent exacerbations of a chronic disease and the appearance of a new formation,” the oncologist warned.
The first stage of cancer diagnosis is screening.
“Screening is a mass examination of people at risk for a certain type of disease in the absence of symptoms,” explained the doctor.
There are a series of screening measures that help detect cancer at an early stage. For example, women aged 20 to 40 years are advised to undergo an annual breast ultrasound, and after 40 years, replace the procedure with mammography.
“To exclude cervical cancer, women over 20 years of age should undergo a liquid oncocytological examination (smear) using the Papanicolaou method (PAP test) and testing for the presence of oncogenic types of human papillomaviruses using the polymerase chain reaction (HPV test) every three years.” , said Koritsky.
Men and women over 40 also need to have a colonoscopy every five years. And representatives of the stronger sex should additionally take a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to prevent the development of prostate cancer.“Representatives of all groups of the population should also undergo an annual abdominal ultrasound and chest x-ray. Recently, periodic gastroscopy with biopsy of the mucous membrane to exclude stomach cancer has also come to the fore,” noted the oncologist.
If, after screening, the therapist suspects a malignant neoplasm or the doctor is alarmed by the patient’s complaints, the person is prescribed additional tests.
“These can be laboratory tests and instrumental studies - MRI, CT, endoscopic studies (FGDS, colonoscopy). If cancer is suspected, the patient is sent to an appointment with an oncologist, where the issue of conducting a histological examination is decided,” Koritsky described the procedure.
To confirm or refute the diagnosis, the specialist first performs a biopsy - cutting out a piece of tissue or organ from the patient for examination. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia or during surgery. Next, the resulting material enters the pathomorphological laboratory, where it is processed and stored, making paraffin blocks and histological slides, which will then be examined by a pathologist under a microscope.
One step away from error
Having received the results of histological examination, the oncologist can select the treatment that is most effective for this type of cancer - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, etc.
However, experts advise not to rely on the opinion of one specialist, but to seek advice from several centers with test results. In this case, the patient can independently send histological slides to another laboratory so that another pathologist can confirm or correct the diagnosis.
“One of our clients was diagnosed with an epithelial tumor, but the origin of the tumor could not be determined locally. She turned to us for research because the laboratory of the oncology clinic did not do the immunohistochemistry she needed. Based on the results of the study, a rare form of a dangerous lymphoproliferative disease was identified - myeloid sarcoma with monoblastic differentiation. However, due to the peculiarities of the form of this disease, the patient's blood test was ideal, and she did not fully appreciate the complexity of the situation. The pathological process was already developing, and in the absence of treatment, the prognosis would be sad - no more than a month of life. Ultimately, we managed to convince her to consult a specialist again and begin treatment for the disease,” Remez gave an example.
At the same time, according to the expert, according to the company’s internal statistics, more than 40% of incoming diagnoses turn out to be erroneous when reviewed.
Immunohistochemistry is a highly accurate diagnostic method that allows the detection of tumor antigens. It is widely used to establish a final diagnosis in oncological practice.
Lymphoproliferative disease is a group of diseases in which the cells that make up the immune system—lymphocytes—grow. If the tumor arises in the bone marrow, the term "leukemia" is used. Neoplasms that arise in lymphoid tissue outside the bone marrow are called lymphomas.
*** Myeloid sarcoma is a malignant tumor consisting of immature white blood cells of the bone marrow (leukemic myeloblasts).