The most common types of cancer include breast, colon, prostate, lung and skin cancers.
The first step in the diagnosis process is to confirm if a person has cancer. This is done through clinical evaluation such as physical exams and determining your health history. Thereafter, imaging studies such as MRIs, CT scans and X-rays are taken.
Local general surgeon Dr Victor Malith recently spoke to the Randfontein Herald about cancer; how to avoid it, how to treat it and how to embrace it.
According to Malith, in general, the most common cancers seem to be breast and lung cancer.
“A biopsy is done by taking a tissue sample from the area of the person which is thought to be cancerous. Laboratory tests [eg, blood markers and genetic analysis] are done whereafter staging occurs,” Malith explained.
Staging is the process where the doctor determines to what extent the cancer has spread.
He mentioned it is important for patients to have emotional support. This includes open communication, psychological counselling and support groups.
Malith further noted some advice to lower the risk of cancer, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, tobacco cessation and receiving vaccinations.
He added it is important to undergo regular screenings. Mammograms can detect the early stages of breast cancer while colonoscopies detect colon cancer. He advised women to do regular pap smears to check for any signs of cervical cancer.
He provided some common misconceptions, proving them false.
“Cancer is not always fatal, the treatment is not always painful and cancer is not a contagious disease.”
