→ Early detection of cancers is essential as it allows the disease to be treated successfully in many cases.
→ Cancer detection is based on biopsy and histopathological studies of the tissue and blood and bone marrow tests for increased cell counts in the case of leukemias.
(a) Biopsy
→ In biopsy. a piece of the suspected tissue cut into thin sections is stained and examined under microscope (histopathological studies) by a pathologist.
(b) Radiation Diagnosis
→ Techniques like radiography (use of X-rays), CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are very useful to detect cancers of the internal organs.
→ Computed tomography uses X-rays to generate a three-dimensional image of the internals of an object.
→ MRI uses strong magnetic fields and non-ionising radiations to accurately detect pathological and physiological changes in the living tissue.
(c) Pathological Diagnosis
→ Antibodies against cancer-specific antigens are also used for detection of certain cancers.
(d) Molecular Diagnosis
→ Techniques of molecular biology can be applied to detect genes in individuals with inherited susceptibility to certain cancers.
→ Identification of such genes, which predispose an individual to certain cancers, may be very helpful in prevention of cancers.
→ Such individuals may be advised to avoid exposure to particular carcinogens to which they are susceptible (e.g., tobacco smoke in case of lung cancer).