When healthcare providers need more detailed information about what’s going on inside the body without requiring that they actually go into the body, a unique combination test can deliver the results needed. A PET/CT scan combines two powerful imaging procedures into one, providing an in-depth look inside the body from the outside. PET/CT scans are

When a medical condition is suspected or already under treatment, it’s not uncommon for patients to feel like they’ve been sent back to school. When one test with a funny name leads to another and another, keeping up with how to prepare and what to expect can be tough. If your doctor has ordered a

Esophageal cancer is one of the rarer forms of this disease, but one of the most difficult to treat. Known to affect just under 17,000 Americans annually, this disease claims an estimated 15,600 lives each year. Due to its location in the body and the potential to do harm to vital nearby organs, esophageal cancer

With more than 220,000 new cases reported annually and some 155,000 deaths attributed to the cause, lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of this disease known to man. As it is with many other forms of cancer, lung cancer can sometimes be treated highly successfully when it is detected in its earliest stages.

People who are diagnosed with esophageal cancer will find it’s not at all uncommon for healthcare providers to recommend chemotherapy before surgery. This pre-treatment is performed to help shrink tumors before surgery and potentially increase the odds for treatment success. That said, not all esophageal cancers respond as desired to chemotherapy. Being able to gauge

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that is estimated to strike only about 3,000 Americans each year. Although rare, this condition continues to be one of the deadliest forms of cancer due to a number of reasons. New research, however, is providing some hope in that physicians may be better able to predict

If a doctor orders a CT scan to track a condition or help diagnose one, there’s no cause for alarm. This very standard procedure is fast, painless and provides a look inside the body that is much more detailed than a standard X-ray. CT scans, or computerized tomography, enable doctors to create an image of

Researchers looking for better methods for detecting cancer faster may have found a new way to supercharge a standard CT scan for doing so. Through the use of a new tracer drug that’s placed in an iodine-infused bubble, researchers have been able to pinpoint suspect masses easier and more effectively. The results have even extended

Men who have battled prostate cancer know that the completion of treatment doesn’t necessarily mean a person is out of the woods entirely. To safeguard against potential recurrences, there is a need to report for routine blood screening. The prostate-specific antigen test can give doctors the first indication that cancer has returned and perhaps even

With lung cancer deemed responsible for one out of four cancer deaths in the United States, the American Cancer Society has taken a stand recommending a simple screening test that can save lives. A simple five-minute low-dose CT scan can detect this form of cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages, opening the door on