After the symptoms are clarified and cancer is detected, many tests and dignosis are done to ascertain the level of spread and the stage.This will be detremental to the method of treatment to prevent its spread. The treatment starts with the general check up and then on the advise of the medical practitioner, you will have to undergo tests ranging from blood tests to surgery.

Cancer diagnosis often is done after a patient has manifested certain symptoms that may be general or specific to a certain type of cancer. Diagnosis can also be done by screening. A definitive diagnosis however should be done by a pathologist. A pathologist is a medical doctor who has specialized in the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer.

People suspected of cancer are investigated through several medical tests. The most common medical tests are blood tests, x-rays, computed tomography or CT scans and endoscopy. Diagnosis of malignant cancer can only be confirmed through a histological examination of the cancerous cells. During cancer diagnosis, tissues from the affected organ can be obtained via a biopsy or obtained by use of surgery.

Diagnosis of cancer by a pathologist shows the type of cell proliferating and it histological grade. It also shows the genetic abnormalities and other features of the tumor. This data is used to evaluate the prognosis of the patient as well as select the appropriate treatment. The other ways of testing the tissue specimen are through cytogenetics and immunohistochemistry. When the tests are done, they provide data on molecular changes as well as numerical changes. They also show, the future behavior of the cancer and this helps in determining the best treatment.

After cancer diagnosis, treatment is usually the next thing. Treatment of cancer can be through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Other ways of curbing the disease are hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and monoclonal antibody therapy among other methods. The choice of treatment depends on the location and the extent of the tumor. Complete removal of the cancerous cells without damage to the rest of the body is always the aim of treatment. This is always a challenge when the cancer has spread beyond the point of origin.