Unveiling Cancer Detection Methods: Your Guide to the Medical Maze

Mammograms

Women receive regular mammograms to screen their breasts for signs of breast cancer. They are a form of low-dose x-ray. Depending on the source, recommendations range as to when women should start to have regular screening mammograms. The starting age for women who are at an average risk of breast cancer typically falls between forty and fifty years old. Women who are at a higher risk, such as if they have a family history of breast cancer, can start having mammograms as early as twenty-five to thirty years old. Thankfully, regular mammograms are often able to catch breast cancer early, which is when it is the easiest to treat. In a regular screening mammogram, women often have two x-ray images of each breast taken. These are done from different angles. If abnormal changes or other signs of breast cancer are detected, women often need another mammogram that will take more x-ray images from other angles to diagnose their condition accurately.

Tumor Marker Test

Tumors markers are substances produced by cancerous cells as well as healthy cells as a response to cancer in the body. They can be found in various bodily fluids and tissues, including an individual's blood, bone marrow, and urine. Although individuals may have low levels of tumor markers all of the time, these levels are elevated if cancer may be present. Thus, if doctors suspect cancer, they may order a tumor marker test. In most cases, this is a blood test. It detects the levels of tumor markers in the patient's body. However, it is worth noting that a tumor marker test is not sufficient to diagnose cancer in most cases. Patients will need additional tests, including diagnostic imaging, to diagnose their condition accurately. The additional tests required can vary based on the tumor markers found. This is because some of the markers are specific to certain cancers. An example is cancer antigen 15-3, which is often an indication of breast cancer. In addition to helping diagnose cancer, tumor marker tests can help doctors evaluate the effectiveness of a patient's cancer treatment and to see if their cancer has returned.