Diagnosis and Treatment

Understanding Your Diagnosis

Having a clear understanding of your diagnosis is your starting point. (As you move through the diagnostic process -- from detection of your cancer to, perhaps, surgery -- you'll learn the details of your unique situation.) Here are the essential components of a complete cancer diagnosis:

Types of Gynecologic Cancer Surgery

The following are some of the common types of gynecological surgery:

Sexuality Issues and Cancer

Sexuality Questions

Colonoscopy - What to Expect

A colonoscopy is a diagnostic examination that allows a doctor to look inside the entire colon and rectum. It is used to determine the cause of colorectal problems. It is also used as a routine screening test for colorectal cancer in people who have no symptoms.

About the procedure

Fecal Occult Blood Tests - What to Expect

The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a diagnostic examination used to detect blood in the feces (stool). Blood in the stool may be a sign of colorectal cancer or other problems such as polyps (growths that develop on the inner wall of the colon and rectum) or ulcers.

CT Scan - What to Expect

A computed tomography (CT) scan, also called a CAT scan, is a diagnostic exam used to detect tumors, determine the stage of the disease and whether cancerous cells have spread, and find out about the effectiveness of cancer treatment. CT scans are also used to guide some types of biopsies (the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination to determine whether cancer is present). Common areas that may be scanned include the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, or an extremity.

PET Scan - What to Expect

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a diagnostic examination used to detect cancer, determine the stage of cancer, and evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Endometrial Biopsy - What to Expect

An endometrial biopsy is a way for your doctor to take a small sample of the lining of the uterus (endometrium). The sample is looked at under a microscope for abnormal cells. An endometrial biopsy helps your doctor find any problems in the endometrium. It also lets your doctor check to see if your body's hormone levels that affect the endometrium are in balance, or to check for cancer.

Biopsy - What to Expect

A biopsy is a medical procedure that is almost always required to make a definitive cancer diagnosis; it provides the most accurate analysis of tissue. Often, doctors will recommend a biopsy after a physical examination or imaging study, such as an x-ray, has identified a tumor. During the biopsy, a doctor removes a sample of tissue, which is then specially processed and examined under a microscope by a pathologist.

How does my doctor know I have Melanoma Skin Cancer?

Q: What do I do if my doctor thinks I might have cancer?
A: You should feel free to ask any question that's on your mind, no matter how small it might seem. Here are some questions you might want to ask.

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