Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

When did we discover that the estrogen drug DES might cause problems?  It was in 1971 that doctors discovered a link between DES ( diethylstilbestrol ) and cancer of the female reproductive system. Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina or cervix was found in a very small number of young women whose mothers had taken DES type drugs during pregnancy .  What was the purpose of giving the drug to pregnant women?  During the 1940s and on into the 1960s the drug was given to women to prevent miscarriage. It was one of the first synthetic estrogen type hormones developed that was inexpensive and could be given by mouth. Many of the women who took it had lost babies, were spotting or bleeding, or had other complications such as diabetes .  Does the risk of cancer depend upon the amount of the DES type drug taken during pregnancy?  The amount does not seem to be the important factor. The exposure during the first 5 months of pregnancy seems to...

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 dysplasia? Dysplasia refers to abnormal tissue development. It means that the cells or tissue are abnormal in their growth and organization for the location in which they are found. It does not mean necessarily that they are abnormal to the extent of being malignant, nor does it mean they have formed a tumor. Dysplasia occurs more often in tissues that "turn over" (or reproduce) frequently. Dysplasia may precede the development of some cancers by years or months. Not all dysplasia develops into cancer. How many cells are in a cancerous tumor?  The number varies by the size of the tumor and the type of cell. First of all, you should understand that there is considerable variation in the size of cells making up the human body. The most numerous of the body cells are so small that it would take between 700 and 800 cells to cover the head of a pin. A 1-centimeter lump in the breast, which is a little larger than the size of a pea and is about the smallest lump wh...