Oncology Buddies magazine

Bladder Cancer How is bladder cancer diagnosed?

March 31, 2025 Word for Word Media

Dr Daleen Geldenhuys lists the various diagnostic tests that may be done to diagnose bladder cancer.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

The diagnosis of any cancer starts with acting on abnormal symptoms and reporting those to your general practitioner. Bladder cancer symptoms Haematuria (blood in urine), even if only at the end of urination should be investigated. Occasionally only staining of the undergarment may be the only blood seen. Bladder infections, bacterial or even bilharzia infections, can also present with bleeding but in general, that should also…

How is it diagnosed? How is osteosarcoma diagnosed?

December 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Cathryn Walton helps us understand the diagnostic process of osteosarcoma and treatment options thereof.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Osteosarcoma is a rare malignant tumour of bone that comprises 1% of all cancers diagnosed. Of all the new diagnoses of osteosarcomas, 50% of those are diagnosed in children younger than 20 years of age. It’s characterised by the production of immature bone and the most common areas for development are the growth areas of the bones in the leg (femur and tibia). Osteosarcoma typically develops in the…

How is it diagnosed? How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?

September 30, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Daleen Geldenhuys explains the diagnostic process of exocrine pancreatic cancer.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most feared cancers with an extremely poor prognosis. The best survival chance would be to diagnose the disease early and yet again the average survival time is 36 to 42 months in early disease. The pancreas is an important abdominal organ that lies in front of the vertebral column and behind the stomach. It looks like an upside-down smoking pipe and has several important structures…

Haematology How is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia diagnosed?

July 31, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Karen Gunther, a clinical haematologist, explains how acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is diagnosed.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a malignancy of immature lymphoid cells. These live in the lymph glands, circulate in the blood, and stay in the bone marrow which is the “factory” where blood is made. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoma are overlapping clinical presentations of the same condition. The diagnosis depends on whether there is a marked increase in the peripheral lymphocyte counts in the blood or predominantly an increase…

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) How are GISTs diagnosed?

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Daleen Geldenhuys explains the diagnosis process of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) and how targeted therapy has made it a treatable cancer.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours likely originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal. These cells are the pacemaker cells of the muscle cells in the intestine. They regulate peristalsis (involuntary muscle movement that moves food through gastrointestinal tract) by forming the interface between the (autonomic) nerve connection from the brain to the bowel wall and the smooth muscle itself. GISTs…

Head and Neck Cancer How is tongue cancer diagnosed?

April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Mark Torres-Holmes, a head and neck surgeon and ENT, details how tongue cancer develops and the method of diagnosis.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

There are so many parts of the body that you realise are important only when there is a problem and the tongue is no different. Imagine how getting tongue cancer would affect you? The tongue performs incredibly complex movements to speak, chew and swallow but when there is a tumour, you come to realise how a decrease in these functions would impact…

Colorectal Cancer How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?

February 7, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Daniel Surridge explains the process of how colorectal cancer is screened and diagnosed.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Since colorectal cancer has very few symptoms, it can be very hard to diagnose without specialised tests. You may not know that you have it until it’s too late. For this reason, it’s a good idea to screen for this cancer from the age of 45. Screening is performed in patients who don’t have symptoms but are at risk for this cancer. Screening for colorectal cancer There are…

How is it diagnosed? How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

February 7, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Shauli Minkowitz navigates the diagnostic landscape of prostate cancer in 10 easy steps.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Prostate cancer, a prevalent health concern among all aging men especially black South Africans, demands early detection for effective management. The diagnostic journey often involves a multi-faceted approach, tailored to individual risk factors and symptoms. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test Blood levels of PSA, a protein produced by the prostate, can be measured at any lab to assess for potential abnormalities. Elevated PSA levels indicate a prostate problem but…