Cancer Research: Clinical Staging, Pathological Staging (Essay Sample)

Cancer
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Cancer
Staging
Cancer staging is a procedure for determining the extent and location of the cancerous cells in the body. Staging determines how severe the condition is depending on the magnitude of the original tumor and the surface area affected by cancer (Nowakowski et al. 2016). Doctors are in a better position to design an ideal treatment plan when they understand a person’s cancer stage. The different types of staging include clinical, pathological, post-therapy, and restaging.
Clinical Staging
The attending personnel uses physical examinations to determine the severity of cancer. Other methods include undertaking imaging tests and biopsies in the areas under attack.
Pathological Staging
The procedure involves a surgical operation to either remove a tumor or explore how far the effects of cancer have spread in the body. The approach uses physical examinations, imaging tests, and surgical findings combined (Mayer & Dominici, 2015).
Post-therapy Staging
The method also referred to as post-neoadjuvant, is ideal for patients who have already undertaken the systematic and radiation therapies before surgery or when a surgical operation is unnecessary. It determines the effect of the chemo or hormone therapy by checking the level of cancer remaining in the body after the treatment (Nowakowski et al. 2016).
Restaging
The approach is useful in instances of a cancerous attack after a patient has already completed the treatment process. Restaging will identify the severity of the returning cancer and establish the alternative methods of treatment (Mayer & Dominici, 2015).
Common Elements of Staging
Doctors use the available information on the development and spread of cancer to perform the staging procedure. Some of the factors that determine the stage of cancer include the original tumor’s location and the size and extent of the tumor. Moreover, the likelihood of cancer having attacked the neighboring lymph nodes and the probability of the spread of the disease to further parts of the body are essential in establishing the stage (Nowakowski et al. 2016).
How Staging Works
Doctors rely on the findings of the different tests to determine the stage of cancer. They include physical examinations which guide the practitioner to locate cancer and discover the size of the tumor. The exam also guides the doctor to know if cancer has attacked the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. The imaging tests are crucial in establishing the location, size of the tumor, and how far the cancerous cells have affected the other parts of the body. They include CT scans, MRI, and x-rays. The laboratory tests help in identifying the foreign elements in blood, urine, tissues, and body fluids (Nowakowski et al. 2016).
The pathological reports determine the size of the tumor and the safety of the other body organs and tissues from cancer. It also helps to identify the category of cancer cells present in the body beside the grade of the tumor. Grade refers to the degree of resemblance between the cancer cells and the healthy tissue. Pathological findings also confirm the diagnosis and stage of the illness (Nowakowski et al. 2016). Surgical reports rely on the samples collected through surgery to determine the size of the tumor and its appearance and if the lymph nodes and other body organs are also under attack.
Diagnosis
Doctors test for cancer when the patient displays symptoms or the findings of their screening tests suggest the likelihood of a cancerous attack. The practitioner reviews the medical history of the victim followed by a physical exam, laboratory tests, scans, or other procedures that determine the presence or absence of cancer (Bevers et al. 2009).
Lab Tests
If the laboratory findings report low or high levels of certain substances, the possibility of cancer is high. Blood, urine, or other body fluids are the samples that doctors use to measure the degree of these substances (Bevers et al. 2009). Abnormal lab results do not always suggest cancer. However, doctors cannot rely on lab tests alone to confirm or rule out the presence of cancer.
Imaging Procedures
Imaging helps to capture the pictures of the organs placed inside the body. The doctor uses these images to identify the presence of a tumor. Different imaging procedures include;
CT scan. It is an x-ray machine connected to a computer and takes the pictures of the internal body organs in multiples. The images have excellent details for easier interpretation by the doctor who will use contrast material such as dye to mark different parts and to make the reading easier.
Nuclear Scan. Also called a radionuclide scan, it involves injecting the patient with a subtle amount of radioactive material called a tracer which flows through the blood stream before collecting in particular bones or body parts (Bevers et al. 2009). The scanner functions to detect and measure the radioactivity. The scanner sends the images of the bones or body organs to a computer screen. The radioactive substance does not stay for long since the body gets rid of it fast.
Ultrasound. It is an electronic device that emanates sound waves the human ear cannot hear. The waves hit against the body tissues inside the body to produce an echo (Bevers et al. 2009). The echoes function as tools for helping the computer create images of the internal body organs.
MRI. It is a strong magnet connected to a computer and captures the images of the internal body parts. The doctor can either view these pictures on a monitor or print them on a film.
PET scan. The doctor injects the patient with a tracer which collects in different parts of the body while all along a machine makes 3-D photos of its movements. The doctor can review the pictures to determine how the organs and tissues are functioning.
X-rays. The make use of minimal radiation to capture images of the internal body parts.
Biopsy
It involves removing a tissue sample and scrutinizing it under a microscope to determine if it is cancerous. The various ways used to remove the tissue include;
Needling. The use of a needle to withdraw either fluid or tissue.
Using an Endoscope. An endoscope is used to examine the internal organs and tissues of the body. The doctor inserts the scope inside the body through openings such as the mouth and removes the tissue with a unique tool.
Surgical Operation. Surgery exists in two forms namely excisional or incisional. The excisional biopsy involves the removal of the entire tumor and the normal tissue around the affected region. The incisional biopsy does not interfere with the healthy tissue but removes only the tumor (Bevers et al. 2009).
Complications of Cancer
Chemical Changes in the Body
Cancer triggers the abnormal chemical balance in the body making the patient vulnerable to severe complications. Some of the symptoms that suggest chemical imbalances include excessive thirst and confusion. Other patients will have difficulties in passing stool (constipation) and will urinate on a regular basis.
Breakdown of the Brain and Nervous System
The cancer cells exert pressure on a nearby nerve making the patient experience severe pain and malfunctioning in one part of the body. Cancer that affects the brain contributes to constant headaches, and the patient suffers from stroke-like signs such as one-sided body weakness.
Lowered Immunity
The presence of a cancerous cell could confuse the immune system to attack even the healthy cells. The condition is called paraneoplastic syndrome and causes symptoms such as seizures and difficulties in locomotion.
Side Effects of Cancer Treatments and their Effective Management
Fatigue
The level of fatigue varies in individuals with some wanting to sleep the whole day and others continuing with their regular schedules. Some patients will not feel fatigued after treatment while ...