Discussions on theDiagnosis and Staging of Cancer

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Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer
Patients with signs and symptoms suspected to be cancer undergo a thorough examination before a final diagnosis is made. Extensive patient history and medical evaluation are essential in diagnosing cancer, and doctors use various approaches in diagnosis, including laboratory tests, imaging tests, physical examination, and biopsy. More than one approach may be employed by doctors depending on the type of cancer. The information obtained is helpful in extensive assessment for functional and physiologic changes.
During a physical examination, the doctor may touch the suspicious areas to check the presence of lumps or organ enlargement. Changes in skin color may also be indicative of cancer. Laboratory tests such as urine and blood tests may be used to check any abnormality. For instance, an increase in white blood cells could indicate malignancy. Doctors recommend various imaging tests to examine internal organs and bones non-invasively. They include computerized tomography (CT) scan, X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A biopsy can be used for a malignancy test whereby a doctor collects a cell sample to be tested in the laboratory. The cells are checked in the laboratory for abnormalities in organization and size. 
Various systems are used to describe cancer stages. The TNM system is commonly used as it applies to most types of cancer. T represents the area covered by the primary tumor, while N refers to the lymph nodes affected. M represents the spread level to other areas of the body. Each letter is accompanied by a number that gives more cancer information. The higher the number, the more severe the illness. Grouping the cancers into five stages is another method used in staging. Stage 0 indicates abnormal cells which have not affected the adjacent tissues. Stage 1 to stage 3 indicates that cancer is present—the severity of cancer increases as you ascend from stage 1 to stage 3. Stage 4 means that cancer has affected most body regions (MedlinePlus, 2020). Other terms describing cancer stages include in situ, which means abnormal cells have been detected but have not metastasized to nearby tissues. Localized means the cancer is within the area it originated, with no indication of spreading. Regional indicates that cancer has affected the nearby tissues, organs, and lymph nodes. Distant represents cancer that has spread to outlying body areas from where it originated. Unknown describes the unavailability of adequate information to describe the cancer stage.
Complications of Cancer
Weight loss is a common complication in patients with cancer. Cancer cells multiply fast and compete with normal cells for nutrients. The nutrient-deprived cells prompt the body to break down energy stores through catabolism, resulting in muscle and weight loss (cachexia). Other causes of weight loss in cancer patients include dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, and inadequate food intake due to nausea and loss of appetite (American Cancer Society, 2020). Depending on cancer, some patients experience pain due to cancer's type, position, and s...