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Cancer Overview

Cancer, also called malignancy, is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells. There are more than 100 types of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma.Cancer symptoms vary widely based on the type of cancer. Cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. If you’re considering complementary treatments for cancer, discuss this with your doctor as they may interact with other cancer treatment.

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Fatty Diet Linked to Pancreatic Cancer

New research shows that people who eat a high-fat diet may be more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, especially if their dietary fat comes from animal foods such as meat and dairy products.

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Understanding cancer: diagnosis and treatment

How is cancer diagnosed?

The earlier a cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of its being cured. Some types of cancer – such as those of the skin, breast, mouth, testicles, prostate and rectum – may be detected by changes you notice yourself or other screening measures before the symptoms become serious. Most cases of cancer are detected and diagnosed after a tumour can be felt or when other symptoms develop. In a few cases cancer is diagnosed incidentally as a result of evaluating or treating other medical conditions.

Diagnosis begins with a thorough physical examination and a complete medical history. Laboratory studies of blood, urine and stool can detect abnormalities that may indicate cancer. When a tumour is suspected, imaging tests such as X-rays, computerised tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and fibreoptic scope examinations help doctors determine its location and size. To confirm the cancer diagnosis, a biopsy is performed: a tissue sample is surgically removed from the suspected malignancy and studied under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

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click to show or hide video description  Is Colon Cancer Hereditary?

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Colon cancer specialist Nancy Kemeny, MD, explains the role of heredity in colon cancer.

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