Show w. ONE ONEt t CELL ii Diagnosis of cancer fly Uy Marie Godfrey Uintah Unit President American Cancer Society The diagnosis of cancer depends on many factors including including including in in- history physical exa examination and special diagnostic tests Unfortunately there is no single laboratory test lest that will give a positive diagnosis of all types or all cases of cancer Special Protein This summer Bucovaz a professor from the University of Tennessee reported that his tests have found a specific type of protein in the blood of cancer victims As important as this finding may be if confirmed by further testing it will not put the physician any closer to the diagnosis of a specific form of cancer in any anyone one patient If there are no symptoms other than this thus special protein how can the cancer be localized The usual first step in the diagnosis of a specific cancer is the recording of the patients patient's medical history It is as important important important im im- im- im as the physical examination since certain lying deep-lying cancers may be suspected only through a patients patient's recital of his history and current state of health A patients patient's comment on a change in bowel towel habits may signal rectum colon-rectum cancer while urinary frequency may point to bladder or prostate cancer Seven Warning Signals If those two symptoms sound familiar they should be They are part of cancers cancer's Seven Warning Signals As old- old fashioned as they may seem to tobe tobe tobe be these signals are still the most reliable most reliable summary of lof the the- thein in major j r signs or symptoms of f most forms of cancer In case youve you've forgotten they are Change in bowel or bladder habits A sore that does not heal Unusual bleeding or discharge Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing Obvious change in a wart or mole Nagging cough or hoa hoarseness The first letters spell CAUTION not CANCER They tell us that something is wrong but not what Questions on history will also include family history The American Cancer Society's 1977 Fact Sheet indicates that the following forms of cancer may have familial tendencies risk higher if close relatives have had it breast rectum colon-rectum stomach ovary prostate skin A major research project at atthe atthe atthe the University of Utah is now studying such familial ten ten- Next week Diagnosis Diagnosis- physical examination |