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Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

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Fact Sheets: Detection and Diagnosis

Cancer Staging
(Reviewed: 09/22/2010) - A fact sheet that explains the process of grouping cancer cases in categories (stages) based on the size of the tumor and the extent of the cancer in the body.

Computed Tomography (CT): Questions and Answers
(Reviewed: 09/08/2003) - A fact sheet that describes the CT scan procedure and technology and its uses in diagnosis and treatment.

Interpreting Laboratory Test Results
(Reviewed: 01/15/2003) - A fact sheet that describes the role of screening and diagnostic laboratory tests. Includes a brief discussion of factors affecting the results.

Mammograms
(Reviewed: 07/24/2012) - A fact sheet that defines screening and diagnostic mammograms. Discusses mammography screening guidelines and risk factors for breast cancer.

Pap and HPV Testing
(Reviewed: 05/23/2012) - A fact sheet that describes cervical cancer screening, which includes the Pap test and HPV testing. The fact sheet includes information about cervical cancer screening guidelines.

Pathology Reports
(Reviewed: 09/23/2010) - A fact sheet that describes the type of information that may be found in a pathology report, the document that contains results of the visual and microscopic examination of tissue removed during a biopsy or surgery.

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
(Reviewed: 07/24/2012) - A fact sheet that describes the PSA screening test for prostate cancer and explains the benefits and limitations of the test.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
(Reviewed: 08/11/2011) - A fact sheet that describes the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) procedure, its use in determining the extent, or stage, of cancer in the body, and the results of research on the use of SLNB in breast cancer and melanoma.

Tests to Detect Colorectal Cancer and Polyps
(Reviewed: 12/30/2011) - A fact sheet that discusses the advantages and disadvantages of several colorectal cancer screening tests.

Tumor Grade
(Reviewed: 05/19/2004) - A fact sheet that discusses tumor grade and its role in prognosis. Explains concepts like normal cell biology and cell differentiation.

Tumor Markers
(Reviewed: 12/07/2011) - A fact sheet that defines tumor markers and describes how they can be used to aid diagnosis and treatment.