Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

What is the CEA test? Research is under way to discover specific antigens, or biological markers, that might indicate the presence of colorectal cancer . One of these antigens, carcinoembroyonic antigen or CEA, may be found in greater amounts in the blood of patients with colorectal cancer. It has been suggested that this marker may be useful in showing at an early stage whether the cancer has recurred in some patients who had been treated for colorectal cancer previously. However, this test cannot be used alone in diagnosing colorectal cancer. What are some of the symptoms of a tumor in the rectum or colon?  Rectal bleeding, red blood in the stool, jet black stools, a change in bowel habits or the size of the stool, alternating constipation and diarrhea, crampy abdominal pains, weakness, loss of weight, and loss of appetite. Sometimes you will see a streak of blood in the stool only once. It is important that any sign be checked by a doctor. If tumors are found, must th...

In surgery nothing is always or all the time or never. In general, if the hernia produces symptoms or extends into the scrotum, it should be repaired provided the patient is in good condition and has no chronic cough or significant prostatic problem. There are some almost "alls" in this regard. All groin hernias of infancy and childhood should be repaired, and all acute hernial complications should be corrected by surgery. Surgeons generally do not advise hernia repair in the senile, the uncooperative, those with a short life expectancy or those in whom the repair is very likely to be technically impossible or ineffectual. If all people with hernias were operated on, there would be room for little else in the hospital. Certain individuals are willing to bear the inconvenience and potential complications of this correctable problem because they are uninformed, detached, or have the attitude that "I'll wait until it really bothers me." A few individuals with ...

This is a general term for poorly understood changes in the ducts of the breast. It is not an infection, although the terminology suggests that it is. Cystic mastitis may occur in both breasts or be dominant in one. The duct leading to the nipple may give out a greenish yellow discharge. The breast lumps may be quite tender, and they usually vary in size and tenderness in relation to the menstrual cycle. It is a completely innocent process. Mastitis: Recognition and Treatment This is also referred to as cystic disease, although in fact it is less a disease than a physiological dysfunction. If the diagnosis can be accurately made in advance, then there is no reason to do anything about it. The injection of hormones is of no help. Surgery is done often for this disease because it can be difficult to differentiate it from a tumor.