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Oral Cancer : In Depth - Understanding...

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Understanding Your Diagnosis

How Does My Doctor Know I Have Oral Cancer?
If you're having symptoms that could be caused by oral cancer, your doctor will want to check further. Your doctor is likely to ask you questions about your health, perform an exam, and perhaps take a sample of tissue to test.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Diagnosing a Mouth or Throat Tumor
To learn more about your tumor and your health, your doctor will evaluate you. Your evaluation includes a history, a physical exam, and some tests. Results of your evaluation help your health care team plan the best treatment for you.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
How Your Doctor Uses Biopsies to Diagnose Oral Ca...
A biopsy is a small sample of tissue that your doctor takes from a suspicious area. A specialized doctor, called a pathologist, examines this sample under a microscope to see if it is cancerous. Samples may be taken from your mouth and from lymph nodes in your neck. The biopsy may be done in the doctor's office or at the hospital.
Source:StayWell
Date:February 16, 2006
I've Just Been Told I Have Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is cancer that begins in your mouth. It is a relatively common cancer, especially in men. There are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer. You may feel like you're in shock. You may not even want to believe what the doctor has told you. And there are probably so many questions you want to ask but think you can't because you don't know where to start.
Source:StayWell
Date:February 16, 2006
Tests that Help Evaluate Oral Cancer
Your doctor took a sample of cells from your mouth and perhaps your neck in a process called a biopsy in order to know that you have cancer.
Source:StayWell
Date:February 16, 2006
Computed Tomography (CT)
Computed tomography (CT) is a test that combines x-rays and computer scans. The result is a detailed picture that can show problems with soft tissues (such as the lining of your sinuses), organs (such as your kidneys or lungs), and bones.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that lets your doctor see detailed pictures of the inside of your body. MRI combines the use of strong magnets and radio waves to form an MRI image.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
X-ray
An x-ray uses a small amount of radiation to create images of your bones and internal organs. X-rays are most often used to detect bone or joint problems, or to check the heart and lungs (chest x-ray).
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Upper GI Series
An upper GI series is an x-ray exam of your upper digestive tract (the area from your mouth to the start of your small intestine). This test helps your doctor find problems such as ulcers, tumors, and certain diseases.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
Rather than showing the structure of a body part, PET images show the chemical function of an organ or tissue. PET can show changes in how an organ or tissue works. This can help your healthcare provider diagnose problems and develop a treatment plan for you.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
PET Scan Use in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Mo...
Finding cancer at its earliest stage can give the best chance of being able to cure it. Different tests are used to find cancers and to help find out if the cancer has spread. A positron-emission tomography (PET) scan is one type of test that can help find and stage cancers as well as monitor how well treatment is working.
Source:StayWell
Date:March 30, 2005
How Oral Cancer Spreads
Oral cancer acts differently in each person. The way a cancer grows is called its pathophysiology. Cancer has different phases of development. The stage of your cancer is the terminology doctors use to describe the size of the tumor and whether it has spread. Knowing the stage of the cancer helps your healthcare team determine the best treatments for you.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Understanding Your Stage of Oral Cancer
Doctors need to know what stage your oral cancer is in to help decide what treatment to recommend. The stage is based on the size and extent of your tumor, the number of lymph nodes involved, and whether the cancer has spread. Your oncologist will get this information from performing various tests.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Understanding Your Type of Oral Cancer
These are the 2 main types of oral cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma. These account for about 90% of all oral cancers. The squamous cells make up the lining of the mouth, also called the mucosa.
Source:StayWell
Date:February 16, 2006
Can I Survive Oral Cancer? What Is My Prognosis?
A prognosis is a statement about the prospect of surviving and recovering from a disease. It may sound hard to ask, "Can I survive this?” But it's a question most people have when they learn they have oral cancer. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy answer.
Source:StayWell
Date:February 16, 2006
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