Gorakhpur Cancer Clinic

FNAC & BIOPSY TEST

An FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology) is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that uses a very thin needle to extract cells from a suspicious lump, nodule, or mass. It is a quick outpatient test used to determine if the sampled tissue is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).How the Procedure WorksPreparation: The skin over the target area is cleaned and occasionally numbed with a local anesthetic, though often not needed for small, superficial lumps.Collection: A radiologist or pathologist may use ultrasound guidance to locate the exact spot. A thin, hollow needle is inserted into the mass, and gentle suction is applied to draw out a sample of cells.Analysis: The collected cells are placed on a glass slide, stained, and examined by a pathologist under a microscope to confirm a diagnosis.Why It Is DoneDoctors commonly recommend an FNAC to investigate:Thyroid nodulesPalpable breast lumpsSwollen lymph nodesSalivary gland massesSoft tissue lesions

BIOPSY

A biopsy is a medical test that removes a small piece of tissue or cells from the body so a specialist can check it under a microscope for disease. Doctors use biopsies mainly to find out if a growth or lump is cancer, and to check for other health problems like infections or swelling.Common Types of BiopsiesNeedle Biopsy: A thin needle goes through the skin to pull out cells or a small cylinder of tissue from a lump.Skin Biopsy: A small tool cuts or punches out a tiny piece of skin to check a rash or mole.Excisional Biopsy: A small surgery removes an entire lump or abnormal area.Endoscopic Biopsy: A long, lighted tube goes inside the body to reach and take tissue from places like the stomach or lungs.Why Doctors Do ItFind Disease: It is often the only sure way to know if cancer is present.Check Organs: It helps find the cause of problems in the liver, kidneys, or heart.Track Treatment: It shows if a medicine or treatment is working well.What to ExpectNumbing: Doctors use a local medicine so you do not feel pain in that spot during the test.Guidance: Doctors sometimes use X-rays, CT scans, or ultrasound pictures to guide the needle to the exact right spot.Results: A medical expert called a pathologist studies the sample and sends the report back to your doctor in a few days or weeks

CANCER SCREENING

Cancer screening involves medical tests used to check for diseases like breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer before any symptoms appear. Getting checked early helps find abnormal cells or tumors when they are much easier to treat. You can learn more about general approaches through the National Cancer Institute.Common Screening TestsBreast Cancer: Mammograms (X-rays of the breast) are generally recommended every two years for average-risk women starting at age 40.Cervical Cancer: Pap smears and HPV tests check the cervix, usually starting at age 21 or 25.Colorectal Cancer: Colonoscopies or stool tests check the colon for polyps, typically starting at age 45.Lung Cancer: Low-dose CT scans are used for heavy smokers or people with a history of heavy smoking.Why It MattersEarly Catch: Finds pre-cancerous cells before they spread.Better Outcomes: Treatment is often simpler and more successful.If you'd like, please share your age and family medical history, and I can help outline which specific screenings might be relevant for you.

CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

Immunotherapy for cancer is a treatment that uses your body's own immune system to find and destroy cancer cells. Key types include *immune checkpoint inhibitors , CAR T-cell therapy, and monoclonal antibodies.* It works by helping immune cells recognize and attack tumors that otherwise hide or block the body's natural defenses. How It Works Spotting hidden cells: Cancer cells often trick the immune system into ignoring them. Immunotherapy removes these roadblocks.Boosting power: It trains or changes your own immune cells in a lab, then puts them back into your body to fight the cancer.Targeting specific flags: Lab-made proteins attach to cancer cells so your body knows where to strike.Main Types Checkpoint inhibitors: Drugs that block the "off" signals cancer uses to stop immune attacks.CAR T-cell therapy: Taking your T cells, changing them in a lab to better hunt cancer, and returning them to your body.Monoclonal antibodies: Lab proteins that stick to cancer cells to mark them for destruction.Treatment vaccines: Vaccines that teach your immune system to fight a cancer you already have.
Common Side Effects
Inflammation: Because the immune system becomes very active, it can attack healthy organs.Flu-like signs: Fever, chills, and feeling very tired.Skin issues: Itching, rashes, or dry skin.Tummy trouble: Upset stomach or changes in weight.

CANCER TREATMENT

Cancer treatment uses surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to remove, kill, or slow the growth of cancer cells. The right plan depends on the type and stage of the cancer, as well as the overall health of the patient.Main Types of TreatmentSurgery: Doctors cut out the tumor and some nearby healthy tissue.Chemo and Drugs: Special medicines kill fast-growing cells throughout the body.Radiation: High-energy rays destroy cancer cells in a specific spot.Immunotherapy: Treatments help your own immune system find and fight cancer.Hormone Therapy: Medicines or surgery stop hormones that feed certain cancers.Stem Cell Transplant: Healthy blood stem cells replace damaged bone marrow.Treatment GoalsPrimary Care: The main effort to cure the cancer or get rid of all the cancer cells.Adjuvant Care: Extra treatment given after the main treatment to keep cancer from coming back.Palliative Care: Treatments used to ease pain and make life better when a cure is not possible.

CHEMOTHERAPY

Chemotherapy destroying the cancer cells to control or cure the disease. While it is also critical to save the normal cells and avoid the chemotherapy side effects of the procedure.
What Types of Cancer can Chemotherapy Treat?
The type of chemotherapy administered depends on various factors like location of the cancer, stage, and the patient’s overall health. Chemotherapy can treat various types of cancer, like:
Primary Cancer: This is a type of cancer that hasn’t spread to other parts of the body.
Metastatic Cancer: This type of cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Main Goals of Chemotherapy If your health expert has advised chemotherapy as an option for treating cancer, it is recommended to understand the target of the procedure while making decisions. There are three primary goals for chemotherapy for cancer patients. They are:
Cure
In the beginning stage of cancer, there is always a possibility of curing cancer. Doctors may describe this treatment with curative intent as most doctors avoid using the word ‘cure’ as there could be possible chances of not getting a proper cure. Even though the cure is the goal and hope for many, it doesn't always get better that way. It often takes several years to know whether or not a person's cancer is completely cured.
Control
In some cases, the cure is not possible, but the goal of cancer treatment is to control the disease. That’s where the benefits of chemotherapy come to the rescue. In such cases, chemotherapy is used to manage the tumours or stop cancer from spreading. This goal can help the patient feel better and live a quality life. Cancer doesn't go away entirely but can be controlled and managed, and in other cases, cancer may go away for some time, but it may come back again.
Palliation
Chemotherapy can also be used to alleviate cancer-related symptoms. This is referred to as palliation, palliative chemotherapy, or palliative treatment.
When the cancer is advanced, likely uncontrollable, and has spread, the goal of chemotherapy may be to improve the person's quality of life or make them feel better. Chemotherapy, for example, may help shrink a tumour causing pain or pressure, allowing the patient to feel better and have less pain.

SURGERY

Cancer surgery is an operation performed to remove a cancer (tumor) from the body. The goal is to remove the tumor completely, often along with a small margin of healthy tissue and sometimes nearby lymph nodes, to reduce the chance of the cancer returning. Common reasons for cancer surgery include:
Curative surgery: To completely remove the cancer.
Diagnostic surgery (biopsy): To take a tissue sample and confirm the diagnosis.
Staging surgery: To determine how far the cancer has spread.
Debulking surgery: To remove as much of the tumor as possible when complete removal isn't feasible.
Palliative surgery: To relieve symptoms such as pain, bleeding, or blockage and improve quality of life.
The type of surgery depends on the cancer's location, size, stage, and the patient's overall health. Surgery may be used alone or combined with treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

RADIOTHERAPY PLANNING

Radiotherapy planning is the preparatory phase where a multidisciplinary team—comprising radiation oncologists, physicists, and dosimetrists—designs a customized treatment strategy. It ensures that targeted radiation doses precisely destroy tumor cells while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues and vital organs.The planning process consists of several standard, highly calibrated stages:Simulation Scan: You will undergo a dedicated CT or MRI scan in the exact position you will be treated. This step maps your anatomy and is often combined with immobilization devices like mesh masks or body molds to ensure absolute stillness.Contouring: The clinical team maps out the Gross Tumor Volume (GTV), areas at risk for microscopic spread (CTV), and adjacent healthy Organs at Risk (OAR).Dosimetry & Optimization: Medical physicists use specialized planning software (such as the Varian Eclipse Treatment Planning System or RayStation) to calculate the optimal beam angles, intensities, and dosage.Quality Assurance (QA): Before treatment begins, the specific plan is rigorously tested on a machine to ensure it meets both safety and delivery accuracy standards.For a deeper look into the clinical process and patient positioning protocols, review the comprehensive guide provided by the Mayo Clinic. If you are preparing for a specific planning session, resources like the Cancer Research UK External Radiotherapy Planner detail what to expect on the day of your appointment.

RADIOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS

Radiotherapy side effects include general tiredness, localized skin changes, and hair loss at the treatment site. These reactions happen because radiation affects both unhealthy cancer cells and nearby healthy cells.General Side EffectsFatigue: Extreme tiredness that does not go away with rest, often starting after a few weeks of treatment.Skin Changes: Redness, dryness, itching, or peeling similar to a sunburn in the targeted area.Hair Loss: Loss of hair limited strictly to the specific part of the body receiving the radiation beam.Location-Specific EffectsBrain: Headaches, nausea, blurry vision, and scalp hair loss.Head and Neck: Dry mouth, sore throat, trouble swallowing, and taste changes.Chest: Cough, shortness of breath, and throat discomfort.Stomach and Abdomen: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.Pelvis: Diarrhea, bladder irritation, urinary urgency, and sexual or fertility issues.Most short-term side effects fade within a few weeks to a few months after your final treatment session.