Cancer Detection Methods

Cancer detection methods: A cancer one centimeter in size can easily contain a billion or more cancerous cells. Specific cancer screening tests can lead to positive outcomes.

Cancer stages and types influence whether you choose a traditional or alternative cancer treatment. If a patient wants to use a natural treatment for cancer, the disease must be detected in its infancy.

In a simplified explanation, when cancer starts its growth process it starts from one abnormal cell. The abnormal cell divides into 2 abnormal cells, then 4 cells, and so forth throughout cancer stages.

This process of cell division performs at various rates. An aggressive type of cancer may double its size in 4 weeks while a slower growing cancer may take up to 7 months.


Over a period of up to 5 years, a cancer may duplicate itself up to 20 times, yet could still be the size of a pinhead.

This small supposedly insignificant tumor could contain a million abnormal cells and is still too small to be detected by many cancer detection methods.


When a cancerous growth cannot be detected, it is commonly referred to as "the Silent Period".

It may take a significant period of time for this tumor to double its size again and again until it becomes detectable in the form of a lump or causes cancer symptoms.

An traditional x-ray can only detect a cancer when it reaches 1 cm in size, which unbelievably could well contain a billion or more cancerous cells. This is why many oncologists will opt additional testing with cancer blood tests or urine tests

Cancer Detection Methods
& Cancer Screening Tests

• Computed Tomography (CT)
This is a medical imaging method using imaging bysections. The process generates a 3 dimensional image of the inside of an object by using two dimensional x-rays taken in a rotated axis.


This captured digital image is then used to aid in diagnosing ailments, assists in preventative medicine or cancer screening tests.



• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Most commonly used in radiology. This allows detailed images of the body from any plane.


The MRI process allows a deeper image of soft tissue structure and uses non-ionising radiation. The MRI utilizes a magnetic field using hydrogen atoms from water in the body causing a rotating magnetic field that establishes, after manipulation, an image of the body.


Another type of imaging is known as Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging. It is a mammogram alternative.



• Cancer Detection Methods using Tumor & Risk Markers
Within the blood and urine are substances produced from tumor cells called Tumor Markers. Samples of blood are tested for the level of tumor markers.


These markers can be measured before treatment to diagnose which form of a tumor the patient has and which is the best therapy to treat the tumor. These markers can also be used as a measure to see how effective a cancer treatment is.


A risk marker is used when a patient has a stronger chance of their cancer mutating of changing. With this abnormal change, a risk marker can be used to indicate which cancer is more likely to occur.


Alternative cancer treatments will sometimes raise tumor marker levels initially as the cancer is being killed and broken down by the body.



• Extreme Drug Resistance (EDR)
This is a specific tailored cancer detection method that provides a test for solid tumors and their resistance to chemotherapy treatments.


The drugs may cause the tumor to either enlarge and grow,which allows an indication of drug resistance. With this indication of drug resistance there is a strong chance that the patient can avoid damaging toxic treatments and side effects.



• Flow Cytometry
This system measures the DNA within cells and is able topredict cancer recurrence. This measurement can evaluate responses to chemotherapy treatments.


Flow Cytometry is extremely important in bone marrow transplants and is especially useful in breast cancer tests, tests for prostate cancer and bladder cancer screening tests. It is routinely used in blood tests for cancer.



• Fluorescence Bronchoscopy
Used in the early detection of lung cancer, Fluorescence Bronchoscopy is used to diagnose small abnormalities in the bronchial tubes of the lungs.


This treatment is also called "blue light bronchoscopy." It enables a florescent light to show abnormal cells appear as a red dish brown color while non cancerous, healthy tissue shows up with a green tinge.



• Miraluma Breast Imaging
This is used in conjunction with mammography, producing accurate pictures of lesions within the breasts.


This process uses radioactive drugs given by injection into the breast tissue and accumulates in areas of metabolic activity in malignant cells. This concentration produces a distinct image without the pain of a mammogram. It is one of the more often used breast cancer tests.


This radio-pharmaceutical test has proven that radioactive drugs accumulate up to 10 times more in a malignant cell than a normal cell.

There are a wide variety of cancer detection methods and blood tests for cancer, and many cancer clinical trials become available throughout the year.


^{Sources Cited}

^{American cancer society. Cancer facts & figures 2011. Atlanta, Ga: American cancer society; 2011.
American cancer society guidelines for early detection of cancer. www.cancer.org.
Cancer blood tests. Mayo clinic. www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-diagnosis/CA00028.
Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Eyre HJ. American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of cancer, 2006. CA Cancer J Clin. 2006;56:11-25.}

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