Clear, Evidence-Based Cancer Information—Written by a Medical Oncologist.
CancerAsk is a health-education website. Dr. Zubair Ali, FCPS & MRCP (Medical Oncology), writes plain-language articles that explain cancer terms, tests, screening, and treatment, so you can have better-informed conversations with your own healthcare team.
Dr. Zubair Ali FCPS & MRCP (Medical Oncology)Articles in English and Urdu / Every article lists its sources and the date it was last reviewed / Consultation calls for patients outside Saudi Arabia
Learn to read a cancer pathology report
Grade, margins, lymph nodes, TNM stage, biomarkers — a plain-language guide to what each part of a pathology report means, so you can ask your own team better questions.
The example below is fictional and for learning only. CancerAsk does not review individual reports.
ER 90% PR 60% HER2 IHC 3+.
pT2 pN1.
Margins: negative.
Sentinel nodes: 2 / 3 positive.
The cancer cells look moderately abnormal — an intermediate grade.
The cells have hormone receptors, so hormone therapy is likely to be part of the treatment discussion.
Measured on surgical tissue. In breast cancer, T2 means a tumour more than 2 cm and up to 5 cm across; N1 means cancer in a small number of nearby lymph nodes.
Fictional example for learning only. Real reports vary in layout and detail.
The gap between a report and an answer
A diagnosis arrives as dense pages of staging, biomarkers, and mutation names — and very little time to ask what any of it means. The information online is scattered, and it's hard to know whom to trust.
The articles here explain the terms and tests you are likely to come across. They cannot interpret your own results or recommend a treatment for you — your treating team can.
Two sections, one standard
Articles for patients and families
Plain-language explainers on pathology terms, biomarkers, screening, treatment side effects, and common cancer myths — in English and Urdu.
For oncology professionals
Structured summaries of regulatory decisions, landmark trials, and newly published research, each linked to the original publication.
How articles are written
Every article cites its sources, shows the date it was last reviewed, and is independent: no advertising, sponsors, or affiliate links.
Dr. Zubair Ali
Consultant medical oncologist and founder of CancerAsk. The articles combine clinical experience with published evidence and current guidelines, written to be clear and genuinely understandable. The views expressed are personal and do not represent any employer or institution.
Questions people ask
Is this website medical advice?
No. This website provides general educational information only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own condition.
Can I book a call with Dr. Zubair Ali?
Yes, if you are outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Online consultation calls can be booked through Calendly, and no payment is taken through this website. Consultation calls are not available to patients located inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Please do not send medical reports or health details by email or through this website. A call does not replace your treating team and is not for emergencies.
Who writes the articles?
Dr. Zubair Ali, FCPS and MRCP (Medical Oncology), a consultant medical oncologist, writes the articles in a personal capacity. See the full profile.
How are the articles sourced and kept up to date?
Each article lists its sources — guidelines from bodies such as NCCN, ASCO, ESMO, USPSTF, NCI, and WHO, and peer-reviewed studies — and shows the date it was last reviewed. Medical guidance changes; check the latest official recommendations.
Is this website sponsored or endorsed by any organisation?
No. It carries no advertising, sponsorship, or affiliate links, and no hospital, ministry, or regulator endorses it. The views expressed are personal and do not represent any employer or institution.
What should I do in an emergency?
In an emergency, call 997.