Fact Sheet 11

Cancer Care

Cancer screening

The most common screening programmes at the moment are:

• Bowel cancer - This is available for both men and women and aims to detect it at an early stage (in people with no symptoms), when treatment is more likely to cure the cancer.
• Breast cancer - This is available for women aged between 47 and 70. The test is done using a special kind of x-ray called a mammogram. A mammogram is also likely if you have a lump.
• Ovarian cancer - There are two main types of test. A blood test looks for a chemical given off by ovarian cancer cells that travels round in the bloodstream. An ultrasound scan can be done by putting a probe into the vagina, giving a better picture of the ovaries than an ultrasound over the abdomen. However, it can still be difficult to tell whether there is a cancer on the ovary or just a harmless cyst.
• Cervical cancer - This common test is known as a cervical smear. A nurse or doctor takes a small sample of cells from the surface of the cervix and spreads them onto a glass slide. This is then sent to the laboratory and the cells are looked at through a microscope.
• Prostate cancer - In the UK, there is no screening as such available for prostate cancer. But if you’re concerned you can talk to your GP about the risks and the benefits of having a blood test to check your PSA (prostate specific antigen) level. As well as a blood test, your doctor will do a rectal examination, which along with the blood test can give your doctor a better idea whether your PSA reading is likely to indicate cancer. If you have an abnormal PSA and your doctor thinks your prostate feels unusual, it's more likely to be a cancer than if you have an abnormal PSA but your prostate feels normal.
• Skin cancer - People at high risk of a type of skin cancer called melanoma can ask their doctor to be referred to a skin specialist (dermatologist) to have their moles checked. Or, if there are any in your area, you can ask your GP to refer you to a pigmented lesion clinic, a specialist clinic where you can go and have your moles checked regularly.

How often you attend for screening can vary, depending on the test needed. For more information on screening, please visit Cancer Research UK.

General information about Testing For Cancer

If cancer is suspected, or even as part of a regular screening programme, you may encounter one or more of the following tests.

X-rays

A simple x-ray can show the lungs, heart outline, collar bones and ribs, and may help diagnose lung and bronchial cancers.

Contrast x-rays

These use barium, either as a drink or as an enema, to highlight any abnormalities in an x-ray. Contrast x-rays are used to diagnose cancer of the gullet (oesophagus), stomach, colon or rectum.

Mammogram

This is a special soft tissue x-ray of the breast which is used to detect abnormalities. As the breast tissue has to be squashed to take the picture some women find this uncomfortable. Mammograms are used in the screening of all women, whether or not the woman displays symptoms of breast cancer.

CT

CT, or computerized tomography, scanning gives a more detailed view of sections of the body, detecting changes in shape. CT is often used when trying to detect very small cancers in the body.

MRI

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses a powerful magnetic field in combination with radio waves to create images similar to CT, but without exposing the patient to ionising radiation. These images give much more information than other imaging techniques, enabling a more detailed and accurate interpretation of the results. This type of imaging can be very noisy but you can listen to music to help block out the noise. Because of the magnet, patients with any implants containing metal (e.g. cardiac pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, cochlea implants, implanted pumps, tattooed eyeliner) can’t have an MRI.

Nuclear medicine

These scans can be used to look at bones, kidneys, lungs and the thyroid gland. This usually involves an injection of a small amount of radiation and you’re provided with a list of do’s and don’ts for 12 hours after the scan.

Ultrasound imaging

Ultrasound is a non-invasive investigation of soft tissues in the body using high frequency sound waves to produce pictures of body organs.

Cytological investigations

This test may be performed to collect cells from an abnormality within the body. A needle and syringe is used to take cells from a lump, a lymph node, thyroid gland or bone marrow. Cells from the cervix may be collected using a swab (a smear test). Taking these cells can be quite uncomfortable but is important in getting the right diagnosis.

Endoscopy

A tube with a tiny camera and light is used to look at different parts of the body, including the gullet, lungs, stomach and bowel.

Surgery

Sometimes it isn't possible to reach a definite diagnosis without a biopsy. This involves taking a small piece of tissue for testing and is often carried out under a local anaesthetic.

Blood tests

Blood tests are very common and are usually done to look at how the organs in the body are working.

Some tests are done immediately by your GP, but others may take longer to arrange as they’re more complex and require hospital visits. Results may take a little time to get as scans and test reports have to be checked and double checked by experts. An appointment is usually made once all your results are available. If you think you should be having a particular test, it's important to discuss your concerns with your doctor who will be able to tell you if the test is appropriate. Often when you see your doctor you may forget some of the things you want to ask, so it's often useful to write these things down before you go.

Source: BBC 2010

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information given in this leaflet is accurate, not every treatment will be suitable or effective for every person. All content within Pure and Gentle SkinCare is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Pure and Gentle SkinCare is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of Pure and Gentle SkinCare website or advisers.  Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health as he or she will be able to advise in greater detail.