According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2020, an estimated 1,800,000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the United States and over 600,000 people died from the disease. The most common cancers (listed in descending order) are breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, colon and rectum cancer, melanoma of the skin, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, endometrial cancer, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, and liver cancer.
Prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers account for an estimated 43% of all cancers diagnosed in men in 2021. For women, the three most common cancers are breast, lung, and colorectal, and they will account for an estimated 50% of all new cancer diagnoses in women in 2021.
Radiology imaging is a key way that doctors test to see whether a tumor is present. These pictures can be made in several ways:
Imaging tests create pictures of areas inside your body that help the doctor see whether a tumor is present. These pictures can be made in several ways:
CT Scan
A CT scan uses an x-ray machine linked to a computer to take a series of pictures of your organs from different angles. These pictures are used to create detailed 3-D images of the inside of your body.
MRI
An MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to take pictures of your body in slices. These slices are used to create detailed images of the inside of your body, which can show the difference between healthy and unhealthy tissue.
Nuclear scan
A nuclear scan uses radioactive material to take pictures of the inside of the body. This type of scan may also be called radionuclide scan.
Bone Scan
Bone scans are a type of nuclear scan that check for abnormal areas or damage in the bones. They may be used to diagnose bone cancer or cancer that has spread to the bones.
PET scan
A PET scan is a type of nuclear scan that makes detailed 3-D pictures of areas inside your body where glucose is taken up. Because cancer cells often take up more glucose than healthy cells, the pictures can be used to find cancer in the body.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound exam uses high-energy sound waves that people cannot hear. The sound waves echo off tissues inside your body. A computer uses these echoes to create pictures of areas inside your body. This picture is called a sonogram.
X-rays
X-rays use low doses of radiation to create pictures inside your body. An x-ray tech will put you in position and direct the x-ray beam to the correct part of your body. While the images are taken, you will need to stay very still and may need to hold your breath for a second or two.
Given the complicated nature of the types of imaging that is usually performed in order to properly diagnose an oncology case, biopsies are often taken for a pathologist to analyze a sample of tissue under a microscope and runs other tests to see if the tissue is cancer.
With many areas of analysis, there is also much room for error. Getting a second opinion can help ensure that a such a serious condition as cancer has been properly diagnosed, so it can be properly treated, if need be. SecondOpinions.com specializes in oncology diagnoses and has Board-Certified doctors available 24/7. For your peace of mind, speak to a doctor now. SecondOpinions.com.
Citation:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370594
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics
