Cancer has been around for thousands of years, but it is only in the last century that we have gained an understanding of what cancer really is and how it develops. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer, and patients with cancer have been able to achieve longer survival times. However, to this day, most cancers still cannot be cured, and modern treatments can significantly improve the quality of life and can prolong survival. The earlier a cancer is detected, diagnosed and treated, the better its chances of being cured. We can detect certain types of cancer early through routine self-examination or other screening measures, such as skin cancer, breast cancer, oral cancer, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and rectal cancer, to name a few. In a few cases, cancer is diagnosed incidentally as a result of treatment for other diseases. Cancer diagnosis requires a thorough physical examination and a detailed medical history. Laboratory tests of blood, urine and stool may potentially reveal cancer abnormalities. When a tumor is suspected, imaging tests such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT, magnetic resonance imaging and fiberoptic endoscopy can be used to determine the location and size of the cancer. Confirmation of certain cancers requires biopsy, removal of tissue samples from the suspected tumor, and immunohistochemistry as well as microscopic observation to confirm the diagnosis. If cancer is diagnosed, a diagnosis specific to that cancer is performed for staging, which is used to determine if the cancer has metastasized. If the diagnosis is not cancer, but the symptoms persist, further detailed testing is also required. If cancer is diagnosed, it is recommended to consult a public hospital as well as a professional physician for answers and treatment instead of trusting the prescriptions.