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Cancer by Diagnosis

Most cancers are initially recognized either because signs or symptoms appear or through screening. Neither of these lead to a definitive diagnosis, which usually requires the opinion of a pathologist, a type of physician (medical doctor) who specializes in the diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. People with suspected cancer are investigated with medical tests. These commonly include blood tests, X-rays, CT scans and endoscopy.

Listen to conversations about Cancer by Diagnosis:

Alcohol and Cancer - 9:26

Alcohol, even one drink a day for women and two drinks for men, increases your cancer risk. Alcohol contributes to esophageal, head and neck, liver and breast cancer. The strongest association is with head and neck cancer.

What is Cancer?

Dr. Rodvien describes the causes of cancer, discussing interactions of our genetic material that we inherit with the environment that surrounds us. Amongst these exposures, tobacco is the single most important cause of cancers. Asbestos is another. Viruses that cause one illness in most of us such as mono are related to cancers such as lymphoma in a minority of us.