Before reading this article, I sincerely invite you to click "Follow", which is not only convenient for you to discuss and share, but also to share more professional health knowledge with you, so as to escort your health, thank you for your support.
On a weekend morning, the sun shines through the curtains on Dr. Lee's desk. She was about to start her day's work when she was interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.
Outside the door stood an anxious middle-aged woman who Dr. Li recognized as Ms. Wang, who had come for a check-up last week.
"Dr. Lee, I barely looked at me last night. My husband's medical report shows abnormal liver function, can you help me to see again? Ms. Wang shuddered and handed over a checklist.
Dr. Li took the report and looked at it carefully, frowning slightly. She said softly, "Ms. Wang, don't worry too much. We need to do further checks. Has your husband been feeling any lately? "
Ms. Wang struggled to recall: "He has been feeling tired lately and his appetite is not good. I thought it was just work stress... Could it be...? Her voice was filled with fear.
Dr. Lee reassured, "It's too early to tell. Let's arrange a detailed inspection first, shall we? "
On this ordinary weekend, the fate of an ordinary family is about to take a huge turn. What exactly is hidden behind this seemingly ordinary medical examination report? Can Dr. Lee help Ms. Wang's husband unravel the mystery?
As the story unfolds, we'll delve into two of the most hidden and overlooked cancers: pancreatic cancer and liver cancer.
These two cancers are known as the "silent killers" by the medical community because they often have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, and by the time they are detected, they are often at an advanced stage and the treatment is not very effective.
Mr. Wang's case has sparked our attention on both types of cancer. Let's start by learning about pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose and treat. According to the United States Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 9% [1]. There are several main reasons why this cancer is so deadly:
1. Early symptoms are not obvious: The pancreas is located deep in the abdominal cavity, and early tumors are not easy to find. Patients may have only mild symptoms such as abdominal pain or indigestion, which can be easily overlooked or misdiagnosed as other conditions.
2. Lack of effective screening methods: There is currently no effective screening method for the general population.
3. Easy to metastasize: Pancreatic cancer cells grow rapidly and easily spread to other organs.
4. Insensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy: Pancreatic cancer cells often do not respond well to traditional treatments.
On the advice of Dr Lee, Mr Wong underwent a series of detailed examinations. A CT scan revealed a suspicious mass in his pancreas. This discovery left everyone in silence.
Dr. Li took a deep breath and began to explain the situation to Mr. Wang and his wife: "Judging from the current test results, we need to consider the possibility of pancreatic cancer. However, we can't say anything about it until a biopsy is performed. "
Mr. Wang smiled wryly: "I always thought I was very healthy, and I still insisted on running every day. How could it be..."
Dr. Li said gently, "Mr. Wang, don't blame yourself too much. The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be difficult to detect. However, early detection is always good. We are now starting to develop a treatment plan. "
In the days that followed, Mr. Wang began a long road to treatment. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, every step is challenging. However, with the meticulous treatment of the doctors and the support of his family, Mr. Wang's condition was brought under control.
In the process, Dr. Li has also continued to educate patients and their families about pancreatic cancer. She stressed that although pancreatic cancer is refractory to treatment, it is not completely unpreventable. Here are a few things that may help reduce your risk:
1. Quit smoking: Smoking is one of the main risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
2. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
3. Limit alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol consumption can damage the pancreas.
4. Eat a healthy diet: Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and limit your intake of red and processed meats.
5. Regular exercise: At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.
At the same time as Mr. Wang's treatment, Dr. Li received a new patient, Ms. Zhang.
Ms. Cheung, a 35-year-old bank clerk, recently experienced slight discomfort in her upper right abdomen, but she did not pay much attention to it. It wasn't until a physical examination that he found abnormal liver function and came to the hospital for treatment.
After a series of tests, Dr. Li had to convey the heartbreaking news to Ms. Zhang: she had liver cancer and it was in an advanced stage.
Liver cancer is another cancer that is often overlooked. According to the World Health Organization, liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide [2]. In China, the incidence and mortality of liver cancer are even higher.
Liver cancer is difficult to detect early for the following reasons:
1. Strong liver compensatory ability: Even if part of the liver tissue is destroyed by cancer cells, the remaining liver can still maintain basic functions.
2. Early symptoms are not obvious: there may be only mild symptoms such as bloating and decreased appetite.
3. Hidden growth location: The liver is located in the right upper abdomen, protected by ribs, and small lumps are difficult to find through physical examination.
4. Easy to be confused with other diseases: Early symptoms may be mistaken for other liver diseases such as hepatitis and fatty liver.
Faced with this bad news, Ms. Zhang fell into despair. Dr. Lee patiently comforted her and explained the treatment plan in detail.
Although Ms. Zhang's condition is relatively serious, there are still a variety of treatments that can be tried in modern medicine, such as surgical resection, hepatic artery chemoembolization, targeted therapy, etc.
During the subsequent treatment, Dr. Li also introduced some important measures to Ms. Zhang to prevent liver cancer:
1. Hepatitis B vaccination: Chronic hepatitis B infection is one of the main risk factors for liver cancer.
2. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption: Long-term excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver cirrhosis and increase the risk of liver cancer.
3. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity and fatty liver disease can increase the risk of liver cancer.
4. Regular physical examination: For high-risk groups, such as hepatitis B carriers and patients with liver cirrhosis, liver ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein examination should be performed regularly.
5. Eat safely: Avoid eating foods contaminated with aflatoxins, such as moldy peanuts, corn, etc.
Through the cases of Mr. Wang and Ms. Zhang, we see the horrors of pancreatic cancer and liver cancer, two "invisible killers". They tend to grow quietly and quietly, and by the time they are discovered, it is often too late.
However, we also see hope. Medical technology is constantly advancing, and new diagnoses and treatments are emerging. For example, liquid biopsy technology holds promise for early detection of cancer through simple blood tests [3].
At the same time, new therapies such as immunotherapy have also brought new hope to patients with advanced cancer.
What we can do as ordinary people is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, have regular check-ups, and be vigilant about our own health.
If you find an abnormality, seek medical attention promptly. Only in this way can we take the initiative in the contest with these "invisible killers".
Dr. Li looked at the sunlight outside the window and sighed softly. As a doctor, she understands the fragility of life and the importance of prevention and early detection.
She secretly made up her mind to work harder to serve her patients, and at the same time, she also actively spread health knowledge to the public.
Just then, there was another knock on the office door. Dr. Li straightened his white coat and smiled warmly, "Please come in." "A new day, a new challenge, a new hope, has begun again.
What are your thoughts on this? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!
[This content is a fictional short story, and any name, place name, or other aspects involved in the text have nothing to do with reality (without any implications). If there is any similarity, it is purely a coincidence, please read it rationally. 】