Posts Tagged ‘Examination’

What is breast cancer? How to do breast self examination?

Cancer starts when the cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. The growth of a cancer cell is different from normal cell growth. Cancer cells do not die but they continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells. They can harm other tissues also. The normal cells become cancer cells when there is a damage to DNA. Most cases, cancer cells can become tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, rarely form tumors.Cancer cells spread to other parts also. It does not matter where does cancer spread, they are always named from where it started. Not all tumors are cancers.

A simple Breast Self Examination (BSE) can be done to detect any chances of breast problems like lumps or change in appearance. The breast self examination should be done about a week after your periods end. Breast self-exam should be performed on the same day each month.

Breast self examination involves the following steps :
- Use left hand for right breast and right hand for left breast.
- Remove all your clothes and stand in front of mirror.
- Observe the size, shape, color, symmetry and texture of your breasts.
- Observe for any kind of discharge or puckering of the nipple.
- Observe for sores or scaly skin.
- Examine the breasts in four different postures.
- First, both arms folded down.
- Second, both arms over the head and check for any swelling or puckering of the skin.
- Third, both arms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles.
- Fourth, bent forward to examine each breast for change in outline or dimpling of the skin.
- Lie down, check the entire right breast area with your left hand. Make small circles and follow an up and down pattern with light, medium and firm pressure over the area of the breast.
- Feel the breast surface with second, third and fourth fingers of the hand making circular motions.
- Also, squeeze the nipple for any kind of discharge.
- Repeat the same steps with left breast but with right hand.
- During shower, examine the breast tissue in the underarms.
- Feel for lumps under and along the top of the collar bone.

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Overview and Introduction to Bone marrow aspiration

The soft material in the center of bones is the bone marrow. In some bones, the bone marrow consists only of fat. Other bones contain what is termed cellular marrow. The cellular marrow has different types of cells that give rise to red cells, white cells and platelets for our blood. The marrow may also contain abnormal cells, proteins, or inflammatory processed that are not normally present, such as cancer cells. Since the production of red cells requires iron, the marrow is one of the places in the body that normally stores a supply of iron.

Bone Marrow Aspiration

Bone marrow aspiration is the removal of a small amount of this tissue in liquid form for examination. The bone marrow biopsy and aspiration procedure provides information about the status of and capability for blood cell production.
A bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy may be ordered to help evaluate blood cell production, to help diagnose leukemia, to help diagnose a bone marrow disorder, to help diagnose and stage a variety of other types of cancer that may have spread into the marrow, and to help determine whether a severe anemia is due to decreased RBC production, increased loss, abnormal RBC production, and/or to a vitamin or mineral deficiency or excess.

Bone Marrow Procedure

A bone marrow aspiration procedure is a technique used to obtain the blood-forming portion (marrow) of the inner core of bone for examination in the laboratory or for transplantation.
The bone marrow consists of inserting a special needle into a bone that contains marrow and withdrawing the marrow by suction or coring out a sample of the marrow.

Different methods to diagnose lung cancer

Lung cancer is often suspected after an abnormal spot is found on a chest x-ray done to evaluate a cough or chest pain. During this frightening time, it is helpful to know some of the procedures that may be recommended to find out if the abnormality is benign (non-cancerous), or malignant (cancerous.)
Diagnosis of lung cancer begins with taking a thorough medical history, including symptoms, and an examination.

History and Physical Examination

The history and physical examination may reveal the presence of symptoms or signs that are suspicious for lung cancer. Cyanosis, a bluish color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood, suggests compromised function due to chronic disease of the lung.

Chest X-ray

It is used to detect enlarged lymph nodes in the chest or a localized mass in the lungs.

CT Scan

It may be performed on the chest, abdomen, and/or brain to examine for both metastatic and lung tumors. CT scans are X-ray procedures that combine multiple images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views of the body. A CT scan exposes the patient to a minimal amount of radiation. The most common side effect is an adverse reaction to intravenous contrast material that may have been given prior to the procedure. This may result in itching, a rash, or hives that generally disappear rather quickly.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan)

is a diagnostic method in which hydrogen ions within the body (and/or specific body parts) are excited by exposure to a magnetic field. The resulting signals are processed by a computer to create an image of the chest to define the location and extent of lung involvement.

Bronchoscopy

It is a visual examination of the windpipe and lung branches performed by a pulmonologist (respiratory disease specialist) using a flexible scope. If the bronchoscopy is still unrevealing, or “negative,” a needle biopsy may be performed.

Needle biopsy

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) uses a slim, hollow needle that is attached to a syringe. The needle is inserted into the suspicious mass and it is pushed back and forth to free some cells, which are aspirated (drawn up) into the syringe and are smeared on a glass slide for analysis.

Bone scan

It may also be performed to rule out suspicions of metastasis to the bones. Metastasis is the process wherein cancerous cells break away from the original tumor, travel, and grow within other body parts.

Positron emission tomography (PET)

It combines the technology of CT scan with the technology of PET (positive emission tomography) scan. PET scans involve injecting a sugar-based radiopharmaceutical, which travels through the body and collects in organs and tissues. The PET scan is used to detect cancer cells in the body and the CT scan provides detailed images that can determine the location and size of the cancer.