[This content is a story-based medical science article, please read it rationally, and do not sit down]
"Doctor, how long do I have to live?"
This sentence was like a sharp blade, piercing the heavy air in the examination room. I looked up at the middle-aged man in front of me, his eyes full of fear and despair. As an oncologist who has been practicing medicine for many years, I have seen too many similar scenes, but I have never been able to get used to this feeling of powerlessness.
His name is Zhang Ming, 48 years old, and he is an executive of a company. Half a year ago, he was still that high-spirited and successful person, busy with work and socializing every day. But now he seemed to have been drained of all his life, his face was sallow, his body was emaciated, and he looked so small in the chair in front of me.
"Mr. Zhang, your stomach cancer has reached an advanced stage and has spread to the liver and peritoneum. We will do our best to treat you, prolong your life and improve your quality of life. But......" I paused, trying to figure out what to do, "as it stands, it may only be half a year to a year. "
Zhang Ming closed his eyes and sighed deeply. His wife sat on the sidelines, weeping silently.
"Actually, I started to feel sick a year ago." Zhang Ming said with a wry smile, "I always feel uncomfortable in my stomach, I have no appetite for eating, and I often regurgitate acid." I thought it was just an ordinary stomach problem, just take some medicine. Who knows......"
Hearing this, I couldn't help but frown. The early symptoms of stomach cancer are often easily overlooked, and many people treat it as a common stomach disease. Unfortunately, when the symptoms become apparent, it is often already in the middle and late stages.
"Mr. Zhang, can you tell us more about your previous symptoms?" I asked.
Zhang Ming recalled: "At the beginning, I felt that I had no appetite for eating, and sometimes I would regurgitate acid. Later, slowly, I began to feel a burning sensation in my stomach, and I always felt bloated after eating. At the time, I thought it was caused by work pressure and irregular diet. "
"Are there any other symptoms?" I asked.
"Sometimes I feel nauseous and occasionally I throw up. But I thought it might be caused by drinking too much, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Zhang Ming continued, "Later, slowly, I found that I began to lose weight, and I always felt tired. It wasn't until one day, when I suddenly vomited blood, that I realized the seriousness of the matter. "
After listening to Zhang Ming's description, I couldn't help but feel a heartache. These symptoms are typical signs of stomach cancer, and if you can see a doctor in time, the results may be completely different.
"Mr. Zhang, the symptoms you just mentioned are actually early signs of stomach cancer." "Poor appetite, acid reflux, stomach upset, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, fatigue are all symptoms that we need to be aware of. This is especially the case when these symptoms persist and become more severe. "
Zhang Ming's wife interjected: "Doctor, what should we do now?" Is there any hope? "
I took a deep breath and replied in as calm a tone as I could: "Although the condition is more serious now, we still have a treatment plan. We can use chemotherapy to control the spread of cancer cells and relieve symptoms. At the same time, we will also take some measures to improve the quality of life, such as pain relief, nutritional support, etc. "
Zhang Ming nodded, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.
"However, I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of prevention and early detection of stomach cancer." I continued, "A lot of people think that stomach cancer is far away from them, but it's not. The mainland is a country with a high incidence of gastric cancer, with nearly 500,000 new gastric cancer patients every year, and the age of onset tends to be younger. "
"So what should we pay attention to?" Zhang Ming's wife asked eagerly.
I patiently explained, "First of all, develop good eating habits. Eat less salty, high-fat foods such as pickled, smoked, and barbecued, and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. Secondly, quit smoking, limit alcohol, and maintain good work and rest habits. In addition, if there is a family history of stomach cancer, or there are chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers and other diseases, it is necessary to have regular physical examinations. "
"The most important thing is to seek medical attention in time once you have symptoms such as persistent stomach upset, indigestion, etc. Don't take chances and think that taking some medicine will be fine. Early detection leads to better treatment outcomes. "
Speaking of this, I saw a trace of remorse flash in Zhang Ming's eyes. If he had paid attention to those symptoms and sought medical attention in time, perhaps this would not be the case now.
"Mr. Zhang, although the current situation is not optimistic, we still have to maintain hope." I reassured, "Next, we will develop a detailed treatment plan for you." At the same time, I also hope that you can maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, which is also important for treatment. "
Zhang Ming nodded, revealing a reluctant smile. "Thank you, doctor. I will cooperate well with the treatment. "
After seeing off Zhang Ming and his wife, I stood in front of the window and looked at the bustling crowd outside. Everyone is on the run for life and may be ignoring the body's alarms. I can't help but think that if everyone could pay more attention to their bodies and be more health-conscious, maybe more tragedies could be avoided.
How do stomach cancer patients end up dying? The question always feels heavy. As a doctor, I have witnessed the loss of too many lives. In some cases, it is because the cancer cells have spread to other vital organs, resulting in multi-organ failure; Some people have severe bleeding or infection; Others are unable to support their bodies due to long-term malnutrition.
But in either case, it's a difficult journey for patients and families. I often wonder if we could have detected and intervened earlier, would we have been able to change these tragic outcomes?
Back in the office, I flipped through the next patient's medical record. I secretly vowed to do my best to help more people avoid the threat of stomach cancer. Because I know that prevention and early detection are the keys to defeating this terrible disease.