It is generally agreed that the prognosis of treated cancer patients is better when a diagnosis of cancer is made before spread and metastasis occurs. To insure a diagnosis of early cancer a physician must maintain a high index of suspicion.

As cancer of certain sites is more prevalent at different ages it is important that this be considered in a periodic health examination. Many physicians feel that health examinations should be done at regular intervals depending on the age, sex, and general condition of the individual patient.

4 Seven danger signals of the American Cancer Society. Inc.

The procedures which the physician employs to obtain a diagnosis vary with the site and the extent to which the cancer has metastasized. It would be impossible to enumerate every test and procedure which the physician might employ in making a diagnosis. The following are among the most useful:

1. Complete history-medical, social, occupational.

2. Detailed physical examination-palpation and visualization of accessible sites and areas involved. Visualization may include the use of special equipment such as cystoscope, bronchoscope, etc.

3. Selected laboratory studies-urinalysis, hematologic studies, stool examinations, etc. Some authorities recommend tubeless gastric analysis for selected age groups.

4. X-ray and fluoroscopic examination of site and areas where metastasis may be present.

5. Cytologic examination of cells of specific sites (oral cavity, bronchi, lungs, stomach, rectum, bladder, kidney, cervix, and uterus).

6. Histologic examination of tissue removed for diagnosis. Authorities agree that a definitive diagnosis should be made only on a histologic report, and that a positive cytologic finding must be confirmed by biopsy.