HOW CANCER IS DIAGNOSED
This disease can affect any part of the body, requiring robust methods to detect and classify it
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
DID YOU KNOW?
More than 2 million women in the UK are screened for breast cancer each year
C ancer research suggests that by 2040, 27.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer each year. Four of the most common types of cancer are breast, lung, prostate and bowel cancer. However, there are more than 200 types in total. With such a broad range of cancers impacting almost any area of the body, how are these different types spotted and diagnosed?
Any cancer that’s caught early on in its progression is easier to treat. Cancer is the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. Because of the nature of cancer, the longer these signs are ignored, the further cancer can spread in the body. To you know? control cancer as much as possible, doctors recommend that people stay aware of their bodies.
DID YOU KNOW?
Cancer is caused by mutations in cells’ DNA
One of the best ways to detect cancer early on is to report any suspicious signs. By knowing how your body looks and feels, and by checking yourself regularly, you’re more likely to see or feel any symptoms of cancer early on. Any abnormal changes in the body may be worth getting checked out by a doctor, though the fear of being diagnosed with cancer is enough to make some people ignore these signs for as long as possible. In most instances, it won’t be cancer. But if it is, then spotting it in its initial stages can make treatment easier and even save your life.