 Allergies [31]
Allergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy.
Antidepressants [51]
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia.
Arthritis [4]
Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body.
Cancer [34]
Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth
Cardio & Blood [1]
Risk factors for heart disease: infections
Cholesterol [2]
A fat-like substance called a lipid. It is used to build cell membranes, hormones and bile acids
Diabetes [25]
The inability of the body to produce, or the inability to metabolize, the human hormone insulin; Diabetes insipidus, usually a disorder of the ...
Epilepsy [3]
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures
Gastrointestinal [1]
The digestive tract is the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food...
General Health [108]
The infant, child or young person?s current health condition
Herbal [36]
Herbal tea, herbal medicine
Hormonal [16]
Hormones - Proteins produced by organs of the body that trigger activity in other locations.
Men's Health [1]
For men on fitness, health, sex, caree
Pain relief [9]
Pain management is the medical discipline concerned with the relief of pain.
Skin care [19]
The skin is the outer covering of the body
Weight Loss [33]
Loss of body weight by dieting or due to various easting disorders or medical conditions.
Women's Health [36]
Find information on women's health issues, and lifestyle at the Women's Health
Awaiting moderation 8786 Article
|
Assessment of spread through bloodstream – general information ASSESSMENT OF SPREAD THROUGH BLOODSTREAM – GENERAL INFORMATION
You may well ask: 'If they can't see cancer cells in the blood, why on earth do they do so many blood tests?' Blood is a very complicated mixture and there are many different tests that can be done on it. It can be looked at under the microscope to check the proportions, numbers and appearance of the different types of blood cells. The number of red cells and their ability to carry oxygen can be measured. There are many tests to determine whether the blood can clot normally. A large number of different hormones, minerals, proteins and waste products can be measured, enabling us to check the function of many organs in the body. They don't do every possible test on eadh sample of blood, but only the tests your doctor asks for. Abnormalities will only be found if the right test is requested.
How then does your doctor decide what tests to recommend when looking for possible blood-borne secondary deposits? Firstly, he or she searches for clues by checking your symptoms, and examining you carefully. Secondly, your doctor should know how your particular type of cancer usually spreads. Thirdly, he or she should consider whether or not the result of each proposed test would make a difference to your care. The doctor must combine knowledge about your type of cancer in general with knowledge about you in particular in order to best decide what tests to recommend.
These three considerations should be in your doctor's mind continually from when he or she first sees you. They apply at every stage of the disease, but especially at decision-making points. These points include, of course, when the cancer is first found but also whenever a change in treatment is being considered. The change could be to start, stop, or change treatment directed against the cancer itself, or to alter symptomatic treatment (treatment directed at relieving symptoms, without attacking the cancer).
The most common sites for blood-borne secondary deposits are lungs, bones, liver and brain. Some types of cancer are more likely to go to one of these sites and some have other 'favourite' sites. Ask your doctor what the usual pattern is with your particular type of cancer.
*97/40/1*
Cancer
«Cheap Cialis Online»
 Print
Viewed: 415
| Keywords for this page: Assessment of spread through bloodstream – general information |
|
|
Fresh materia
What your doctor should know; women tell their stories