X-ray films are taken of the part of the body under investigation. Some dense tissues like bones, absorb more of these X-rays than others such as the lungs. As a result, in the X-ray picture of the part, we see some areas white indicating more density and some areas dark, indicating less density. Knowledge of how a normal structure looks like, helps in finding out where the fault lies in the X-ray picture of the patient.
Continue reading Cancer Treatment: Investigation by X-Rays and Imaging
Examination of the Vomit: The character of the vomit varies with the nature of the food ingested and the absence or presence of bile, blood or intestinal obstruction. In obstruction of the stomach at the distal end, i.e. farthest from the stomach (pyloric stenosis), the vomit is apt to be copious and sour smelling, contains recognisable food eaten many hours before and exhibits froth on the surface. In case of an ulcer in the stomach, if the bleeding is much, the colour of blood in the vomit is red, but if the bleeding is less, then it gets altered to dark brown colour like coffee by contact with gastric juice. If there is obstruction in the intestine, the vomit may smell and look like faecal matter.
Continue reading Cancer Treatment: Investigation of Gastro-intestinal Tract
The main functions of the gall-bladder are to concentrate and store bile that is produced in the liver and to empty it into the duodenum after appropriate stimuli.
Oral Cholecystogram: The organ is investigated by performing oral cholecystography. This procedure depends on the fact that certain iodine-containing compounds, when absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, are excreted by liver and concentrated in the gall-bladder, thus rendering it opaque.
Continue reading Cancer Treatment: Investigation of Gall-bladder
Biochemical Tests: Pancreas is a compound gland, about 15 cm long, that lies behind the stomach. Examination of the secretions of the pancreas can give an idea about cancer of the pancreas. For this purpose, a special double-lumen tube is swallowed and then screened into position in the duodenum, i.e. the first of the three parts of the small intestine. It has a weighted bulbous end and contains two sets of holes, one for duodenal and the other for gastric aspiration. The latter set of holes prevents contamination of the duodenal fluid that is aspirated.
Continue reading Cancer Treatment: Investigation of Pancreas
There are many tests to assess liver function and to know the nature of its disease.
Biochemical Tests: These tests are used in:
· Differential diagnosis of jaundice
· To detect liver cell damage in other disorders, and
· To monitor the results of surgery of the biliary system and pancreas. These include urinary urobilin, plasma bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, a serum aminotransferases, plasma proteins, plasma prothrombin and sulphobromophthalein excretion test, etc.
Bronchoscopy: This is done for looking directly at the larynx, trachea, the two main bronchi and their subdivisions. Two types of bronchoscopes are used—the rigid and the flexible. Both have their uses, but the procedure with the flexible one is easy.
Continue reading Cancer Treatment: Investigation of the Lungs
Thyroid Scan: The patient is given an iodine isotope in a drink to take. This isotope gets concentrated in the thyroid Scanning and recording is done from there.
This scan tells whether the whole or a part of the thyroid is hyper-or-hypo-functioning. Hyper-functioning or overactive thyroid is indicative of hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease, i.e. of excessive amount of the thyroid hormones in the bloodstream and hypo-functioning or underactive thyroid of diminution of these hormones. If a particular spot in a palpable nodule does not show any activity, it creates a suspicion of cancer.
Continue reading Cancer Treatment: Investigation of the Thyroid
Lumber Puncture and Myelogram: Under local anaesthetic a needle is inserted between 3rd and 4th lumber vertebra of the spine, so as to pierce the membranes over the spinal cord and reach the space where cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) is situated. A small quantity of CSF is taken for bacteriological and chemical examination. Then a contrast medium is injected into the space, and patient screened on the X-ray table in straight and different tilted positions. Any narrowing or obstruction present in the spinal column is visualized on the X-ray screen and X-ray film taken wherever indicated.
Continue reading Cancer Treatment: Investigation of Nervous System and Uterus
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP): This is done to outline the two kidneys, the bladder and the two ureters that connect the kidneys with the ureters.
In order to do this, not only is the contrast needed to fill these organs, but the whole of the intestine needs to be cleared and cleaned so that, their shadow does not mask the picture of the urinary tract.
Bone marrow Biopsy: Marrow is reached after piercing the bone. In some situations, for example, in children, at the upper end of the hip bone, the marrow can be reached easily, or in the case of adults at the sternum, front bone of the chest. Bone marrow is usually taken from the flat bones as they can be easily pierced compared to the long bones, which are thick and harder.
Continue reading Cancer Treatment: Investigation of the Bones