Cancer also has its own "little personality"! Here are 6 common types of cancer that can cause little temper →

Mr. Song, 54 years old, has experienced pain and discomfort in the right upper abdomen for the past half month, accompanied by loss of appetite and weight loss. He has lost about 10 kilograms in the past 2 to 3 months . His family was worried about his health, so they accompanied him to the hospital for treatment.

During the consultation, Mr. Song said that he had a long-term habit of drinking large amounts of alcohol, at least half a pound of liquor every day, for 30 years.

After learning about Mr. Song's condition, the doctor performed a liver function test and an abdominal B-ultrasound examination on him. The liver function test showed that his liver function was basically normal, but the abdominal B-ultrasound found a tumor in the patient's right liver, and it was highly suspected to be liver cancer . After explaining Mr. Song's condition to him, the doctor admitted him to the hospital.

After admission, Mr. Song underwent further examinations and found that his AFP level was significantly elevated > 3000, which was highly suspected to be primary liver cancer. At the same time, viral screening was performed to rule out viral hepatitis. Further enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed and found that the diameter of the single tumor in the right liver was about 4 cm. No clear tumors were found in other livers. Based on Mr. Song's examination results, the doctor explained his condition to Mr. Song and his family and recommended surgical removal of the tumor as the first choice. Mr. Song and his family also agreed to the surgical plan. At an elective time, under general anesthesia, the doctor performed a liver cancer resection on Mr. Song. During the operation, it was found that the liver showed signs of alcoholic cirrhosis. The liver tumor was completely removed about 1 cm outside the edge of the tumor. Postoperative pathology also indicated that it was hepatocellular carcinoma .

Mr. Song recovered smoothly after the operation and was discharged from the hospital after two weeks of hospitalization.

Doctors remind that liver cancer is called "silent cancer" because the liver itself lacks pain nerves and the compensatory ability of liver cells is very strong. Even if only about half of the healthy liver cells are left, the liver can work normally. Therefore, most liver cancers have developed to the late stage when they are discovered.

Drinking is one of the important risk factors for liver cancer. If patients drink heavily for a long time, alcoholic cirrhosis will gradually develop, and on the basis of alcoholic cirrhosis, it may develop into liver cancer.

Therefore, if there are patients who drink heavily for a long time, the first thing they need to do is to strictly abstain from alcohol, and at the same time regularly check liver function, abdominal B-ultrasound, abdominal CT, etc. If a liver tumor is found, it should be treated in time.

Cancer, like people's temperaments and personalities, is diverse.

Different cancers have their own "little personalities" . Some are taciturn, some are frank and straightforward, some are simple-minded and honest, some are gentle and kind, and some are fickle and fierce...

Some tumors have their own "unique personalities". If they can be discovered and intervened early, it is one of the effective ways to prevent the spread of cancer.

01

The most silent cancer, liver cancer

The liver is a "silent" organ . Because it does not have obvious perception and response abilities like other organs, it is also called a "dumb organ."

The liver has no pain nerves, so even if serious illness or damage occurs, no obvious pain will be felt. This is one of the reasons why many liver diseases have no obvious symptoms in the early stages and are easily ignored.

Although liver damage often occurs silently and is difficult to detect, it is not without "clues".

Typical symptoms of liver cancer: pain in the liver area (right upper abdomen), fever, fatigue

① Pain in the liver area: As the tumor grows, the liver capsule may become tense and the patient may experience abdominal pain. Pain in the right upper abdomen is most common and is often intermittent or persistent, dull or bloating, and worsens as the disease progresses.

② Fever: It is relatively common, mostly persistent low-grade fever, mostly between 37.5℃~38℃, but can also be irregular or intermittent, persistent or remittent high fever.

③ Weight loss and fatigue: general weakness, fatigue, and weight loss in a short period of time. A small number of advanced patients may develop cachexia.

Prevention recommendations: Do not drink excessively, do not stay up late, do not take medicine indiscriminately, and do not eat moldy food; get the hepatitis B vaccine on time, and regularly check and treat chronic liver disease.

02

The most introverted cancer, pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is known as the "king of cancers". It is a highly malignant tumor and is also called the "most introverted" cancer. It "hides" deep in the abdominal cavity, is difficult to detect, easily metastasizes, is difficult to treat, and has a poor prognosis.

It is almost invisible during routine examinations, and even B-ultrasound sometimes has difficulty detecting early, smaller pancreatic tumors. It deteriorates faster than other cancers, and it usually takes only a few months to a year to develop from the early stages to the middle and late stages.

Moreover, the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are disguised . Because the pancreas is close to the stomach, duodenum, common bile duct and other organs, the most obvious early manifestation is gastrointestinal symptoms, which are often mistaken for stomach problems , thus missing the opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment.

Typical symptoms: upper abdominal pain, jaundice, weight loss, blood sugar fluctuations

① Abdominal pain: 60% to 80% of pancreatic cancer patients have upper abdominal pain in the early stages, which is mainly manifested as dull pain in the upper abdomen or an inexplicable feeling of discomfort, but without rhythm , and sometimes light and sometimes heavy. The pain will worsen at night or when lying on your back, and will be relieved when sitting, standing, leaning forward, or flexed. This positional pain is almost a symptom unique to pancreatic cancer.

As the disease progresses, the symptoms will gradually worsen and may radiate to the lower back. In addition, patients may experience paroxysmal colic or persistent dull pain , and sometimes progressively worsening dull pain.

② Jaundice: Jaundice is one of the more common symptoms of pancreatic cancer, especially in the head of the pancreas . Jaundice will have distinct characteristics, showing persistence and progressive deepening . As the jaundice worsens, the patient's urine will become yellow and darker, and change to the color of strong tea. The stool color will become lighter and whiter, and change to white clay. At the same time, itching of the skin all over the body will also occur.

③ Weight loss: About 80% of pancreatic cancer patients will experience significant weight loss in a short period of time , sometimes up to 10 or even dozens of kilograms. Patients will become emaciated, weak, and lose weight due to reduced diet, indigestion, lack of sleep, and cancer consumption. Cachexia may occur in the late stage.

④ Blood sugar fluctuations: Studies in the United States show that approximately 40% of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed with diabetes within a few months before being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Prevention suggestions: Develop good living habits to prevent overwork ; eat regularly and reduce the intake of high-fat, high-cholesterol foods ; quit smoking and limit alcohol; strengthen physical exercise, enhance physical fitness, control weight and avoid obesity; patients with a history of pancreatic cancer or a family history of diabetes should have regular check-ups.

03

The most frank cancer, prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is considered a relatively non-lethal cancer. It grows slowly, causes less damage to the human body, and is less likely to metastasize to distant sites. With standardized treatment, the prognosis of prostate cancer is generally good.

The "frankness" of prostate cancer is mainly reflected in two aspects: first, there are often signs to be found in the early stages; second, it has a relatively unique marker for tracking - prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

If patients receive effective treatment, the 5-year survival rate can reach over 90% to 95%.

Typical symptoms: dysuria, waiting to urinate, straining, thin urine stream, and some patients also experience frequent urination and urgency.

Symptoms of urinary dysfunction: The urinary dysfunction in patients with prostate cancer is generally gradual or rapidly worsens in a short period of time, manifested by frequent urination, difficulty urinating, thinning urine stream, a feeling of incomplete urination, increased nocturia, difficulty urinating, overflow incontinence, and even recurrent urinary retention, which is sometimes misdiagnosed as urinary tract infection or prostatitis.

Prevention recommendations: Avoid high-fat diets, cadmium, herbicides and other unidentified factors; control weight and avoid obesity; For male friends aged 40 to 45, it is recommended to have a serum PSA level test once a year.

04

The kindest cancer, thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is clinically called the " kindest" cancer , and is also called "happy cancer" by many people . A small number of people even think that it is not worthy of being called cancer. This is mainly because it is less malignant, the disease progresses relatively slowly, and the chance of treatment is greater.

Patients with early-stage thyroid cancer generally undergo radical surgical treatment, and most of them can be completely cured without affecting their life expectancy.

Typical symptoms: painless neck mass or nodule, shortness of breath, hoarseness

① Neck lump: The lump is hard and painless and is one of the common and significant symptoms of thyroid cancer . Patients can usually feel the lump and mass.

② Shortness of breath: Some thyroid cancer cell masses will compress the airway, causing tracheal deformation, which in turn affects breathing and causes symptoms of shortness of breath.

③ Hoarseness: Hoarseness is usually caused by cancer invading the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Prevention suggestions: Regulate your emotions correctly, avoid physical fatigue, stay away from radiation damage in your life, and consume iodized salt in moderation.

05

The dumbest cancer: colon cancer

Colorectal cancer is a "foolish cancer" because unlike latently developing cancers, the symptoms of colorectal cancer in its early stages are relatively easy to detect. If the patient can be detected and treated in time in the early stages, it can be effectively controlled.

Studies have found that more than 90% of colorectal cancers are caused by the malignant transformation of intestinal polyps. The entire process from polyps to cancer is very long, taking at least 5 to 10 years. If a colonoscopy can be done during this period, the risk of cancer can be greatly reduced. In addition, the 5-year survival rate after early colorectal cancer resection can reach 90% to 95%.

Typical symptoms: Changes in stool shape (thin stool), bloody stools, mucus in stools, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain

① Changes in stool shape: The patient's stool becomes unformed, thin, or thin during defecation, or contains mucus, pus, and blood . Some patients may also have symptoms of black stools .

② Blood in stool: Finding bright red blood in the stool is one of the most common early symptoms of colorectal cancer, but it is easily confused with hemorrhoidal bleeding.

③ Diarrhea and constipation occur alternately: This is one of the very obvious characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer . This type of diarrhea will occur alternately with constipation.

Prevention suggestions: engage in appropriate activities and avoid sitting for long periods of time; exercise scientifically and control your weight; pay attention to consuming more dietary fiber and drinking more water ; and perform early screening.

06

Milder cancer, breast cancer

Breast cancer is the number one "beauty killer" of women . It occurs in breast tissue. Although breast cancer does have a negative impact on the patient's health, it does not mean that it is a fatal disease.

If the patient can be diagnosed early, the 5-year survival rate can be as high as 90%. It is a milder cancer.

Typical symptoms: breast lumps or skin abnormalities, abnormal nipple discharge

① Breast lump**: It is usually a single lump and does not cause any pain. It feels hard , has an uneven surface, unclear boundaries, and poor mobility. Special attention should be paid to whether the lump is getting bigger.

② Breast orange peel: Changes occur in some skin tissues of the breast, such as wrinkles, the skin looks like orange peel, or there is mild local edema.

③ Nipple discharge: If non-breastfeeding women find abnormal fluid discharge from their nipples, especially pus, brown liquid or bloody liquid , they should be alert and go to the hospital for examination.

Prevention recommendations: give birth and breastfeed at an appropriate age; maintain a happy mood, learn to regulate stress, avoid day and night reversal and excessive fatigue; high-risk groups are advised to start regular breast cancer screening before the age of 40, and the recommended screening frequency is once a year.

References:

[1]Raya Saab.(2021).Burden of cancer in adolescents and young adults.The Lancet Onclgy,DO1:10.1016/50140-6736(18)31928-7.

[2] Chinese Academy of Sciences, Covering a population of 380 million! National Cancer Center releases 2022 national cancer statistics [EB/OL]. 2022-03-20/2023-04-10.

[3] Wang Xiaofeng, ed., Urological Diseases[M]. China Medical Science and Technology Press. 2004.