Cancer screening tests are used to detect cancer before the appearance of regular symptoms. They may be used in a number of different ways, including:
- Regular cancer screenings, as recommended by the American Cancer Society or other reputable organizations.
- If you have a family history of cancer, your doctor may recommend additional screening tests for you.
- Your physician may order screening tests to “rule out” cancer…in other words, to determine that cancer is not present.
When cancer is diagnosed early, it may be easier to treat or cure. The symptoms we associate with cancer often occur after it grows and spreads.
We offer several different kinds of screening tests at our Mentor facility:
- Physical exams - Our experienced and board-certified physicians conduct a thorough exam with particular focus on any recent physical changes. In addition, they will discuss your health habits, past illnesses and treatments, and the medical history of your close relatives.
- Laboratory testing - Our medical staff take samples of urine, blood, tissue, or other bodily substances and process them in our on-site laboratory, or sent them to an outside lab.
- Genetic screening - Genetic screens are laboratory tests that examine the patient’s chromosomes, genes and DNA. Mutations to certain genes are associated with some types of cancer. In addition, the presence of certain genes (“genetic markers”) can indicate a higher potential risk for certain kinds of cancer.
- Imaging procedures - Our Radiation Oncology staff take X-ray images, CT (computed tomography) scans, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans and interpret the results.