ACCURATE DIAGNOSE

The most critical step to overcoming cancer is an accurate diagnosis. This process includes a thorough physical exam, detailed patient history, and various tests to identify cancer. Multiple tests help ensure accuracy and avoid misdiagnosis. At King’s College Hospital Dubai, our skilled team offers careful and personalized cancer diagnosis, providing exceptional care and support every step of the way.

Effective diagnostic testing for cancer serves to confirm or exclude the presence of disease, monitor disease progression, and assess the effectiveness of treatment plans. Repeating tests may be necessary if the initial samples were inadequate, if the patient’s condition changes, or if abnormal results need confirmation.

Diagnostic Procedures for Cancer

Physical Exams

During a physical exam, the physician palpates specific body areas to detect lumps that may indicate cancer. The doctor also checks for abnormalities such as organ enlargement or skin color changes, which could signal skin cancer.

Lab Tests

Certain chemical imbalances in the body can indicate cancer. Laboratory tests of urine, blood, or other body fluids measure these chemicals, aiding in diagnosis. Key components measured include blood glucose, enzymes, electrolytes, lipids, hormones, metabolic substances, and proteins. Common lab tests for cancer diagnosis include:

• Blood tests
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Urinalysis
• Tumor markers (substances produced by cancer cells or in response to cancer)

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests provide internal images of the body, allowing noninvasive examination of organs and bones. Types of imaging tests include:

• X-Ray: Uses low radiation doses to create internal body images.
• CT Scan: Combines x-ray images and computer technology to produce detailed 3D images of organs and bones.
• MRI: Utilizes radio waves and a powerful magnet to create body images in slices, differentiating between healthy and unhealthy tissue. A contrast agent may be injected to enhance tumor visibility.
• Nuclear Scan: Involves injecting a small amount of radioactive material (tracer) that accumulates in specific organs or bones, aiding in imaging.
• Bone Scan: A type of nuclear scan that detects bone damage or abnormalities, useful for diagnosing bone cancer or metastatic bone tumors.
• PET Scan: Another nuclear scan type that produces detailed 3D images based on glucose uptake, highlighting areas where cancer cells, which consume more glucose, are present.
• Ultrasound: Employs high-energy sound waves that echo off tissues to create sonograms.

Biopsy

A biopsy involves collecting cell samples for laboratory analysis. Under a microscope, normal cells appear uniform in size and organization, while cancer cells vary in size and lack organization. Sample collection methods include:

• Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy: A needle withdraws fluid or tissue, used in spinal taps, bone marrow aspirations, and some prostate, breast, and liver biopsies.
• Endoscopic Biopsy: An endoscope, a thin, lighted tube, examines the body’s interior via natural openings. Abnormal tissues are removed along with surrounding normal tissue.
• Surgical Biopsy: A surgeon removes abnormal cells during surgery. An excisional biopsy removes the entire abnormal area and some normal surrounding tissue, while an incisional biopsy removes only part of the abnormal tissue.

Next Steps

At King’s College Hospital Dubai, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care from the initial consultation to final diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.

Led by Dr. Hassan Ghazal, an American triple board-certified Consultant Medical Oncologist and Consultant Clinical Hematologist with over 30 years of experience, our multidisciplinary team of expert doctors, nurses, and technologists offer personalized management and treatment of your condition. We are here to answer any questions and support you throughout your journey. Contact us at any time; we are just a phone call away.