Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

Yes. The colposcope allows the doctor to look into parts of a woman's reproductive system the cervix, vulva, and vagina without operating. The colposcope is basically a microscope on a stand. It gives a lighted, magnified view showing greater detail than can be seen by the naked eye. Since using the colposcope properly requires special training, many doctors refer their patients to physicians who are specialized in this technique. Doctors can also biopsy the organs with this technique. No anesthesia is needed. The procedure usually takes only 10 or 15 minutes. What is the Schiller test?  The Schiller test , which is usually done in the doctor's office, is the staining of cervical cells on the cervix in order to locate possible cancerous cells. Why must a biopsy be done? Doesn't the Pap smear indicate whether or not I have cancer?  The Pap smear is only a screening tool. Although it is very accurate as a screening device, a biopsy must be done to give a definite di...

What is a tomogram? Is it related to a CT scan? A tomogram or laminagram is a special chest x-ray. If the regular chest x-ray shows a shadow in the lungs, tomograms can tell the physician more about the size, shape, or other characteristics of the lump. It is a series of pictures of various sections of lung tissue which when put together give a three dimensional picture of abnormal lung growth. In cases of benign lumps, the tomogram tells the doctor enough about the tumor so he can make the diagnosis based on the tomogram pictures alone. If the tomogram suggests that the lump is cancerous, more tests will be needed to narrow down the diagnosis. A CT scan computerized tomography is often taken. What is a bronchogram?  A bronchogram is another specialized x-ray examination which is sometimes used. A small amount of radio opaque dye is put into the bronchial tubes, and usually into the trachea after the area has been numbed. The patient is tilted into various positions to distrib...

In the radical mastectomy (also known as the Halsted mastectomy) the doctor removes the breast tissue, the lymph nodes under the armpit, and the muscle under the breast. The modified radical, which most surgeons are now using, removes the breast tissue and the lymph nodes, but the muscle is left intact. The advantage of the modified radical is that it is cosmetically more attractive and does not handicap the motion of the arm. Studies indicate that the survival rate for the two operations is the same. Is the choice of what surgical procedure I will have up to me or up to the doctor? Of course your doctor is responsible for the surgery. But he cannot perform any operation unless you give your signed consent to have it done. You should have your doctor give you his complete explanation of what he recommends as his bestjudgment and ask him all the questions that concern you about the operation. Do not sign anything until you are certain you understand what you are signing. It is your r...

Won't all this time delay mean that the cancer has more chance to spread? No. Studies have shown that a short delay between biopsy and treatment will not affect the spread of disease or reduce the chances for successful treatment. An interval of 2 days to a week between the two procedures is not a problem. Many medical professionals now agree that this time delay is perfectly acceptable and in most cases is a wise way to proceed. The advantages of getting all of the necessary information about the extent of the cancer far outweigh the advantages of performing a quick, disfiguring operation. I feel I need some time to think, but everybody keeps pushing me to have the biopsy and the operation done right away. What should I do?  It is important to have the time to think and to look at the alternatives. You may want to talk it over with your husband and children, your sisters, your mother, or your friends. You may want to get a second opinion. It is all right to take a few extra d...

What is a biopsy?  A biopsy is the procedure in which a piece of tissue is obtained and examined under the microscope to determine whether cancer or other disease is present. This microscopic examination of the biopsy specimen is accepted by doctors in determining the nature of a tumor with complete accuracy. Therefore, whenever possible a doctor insists on obtaining a sample of every tumor that could be cancer before treatment is attempted. The biopsy provides the most reliable basis for a diagnosis of cancer. Who determines if the biopsy cells are cancerous?  The biopsy is "read" by a pathologist a physician who specializes in the study of normal and diseased body tissues. What kind of training does a pathologist have?  In order to be certified by the American Board of Pathology, the person must be a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy and have four years of training in both clinical and anatomic pathology or three years of training in either specialty ...

What is a biopsy? The term "biopsy," of course, does not apply only to the breast. It is a surgical procedure in which a part (incisional biopsy) or all (excisional biopsy) of any tumor, growth, cyst, flesh, or organ anywhere in the body is removed so that its nature may be determined by microscopic examination. The results of this examination, called the pathology report, indicate the exact diagnosis and help select the proper method of treatment, which may be further surgery, X-ray treatment, drug administration or no treatment at all. How is the biopsy treatment done?  This is a regular operation performed in the hospital on at least an overnight stay. It is usually done under general anesthesia so that the patient is asleep. The excised tissue is rapidly frozen like dry ice and cut into thin slices that can be viewed under the microscope. This procedure takes 15-30 minutes. It is employed only when this information is required during surgery as a guide to determini...