【Disclaimer】The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical treatment offline.
On a summer afternoon, the sun shines through the curtains on the floor of the hospital room. Li Fang stood in front of the hospital bed, holding her mother's hand, with tears in her eyes. My mother had just been diagnosed with advanced liver cancer, and the doctor said that it would only be half a year at most.
"Mom, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of you." Li Fang choked up and said.
The mother smiled weakly, "Don't be too upset, silly child. In this life, birth, old age, sickness and death are inevitable. "
At this moment, the patient in the next bed suddenly coughed loudly. Li Fang subconsciously took a step back, a trace of worry flashing across her face.
"What's wrong?" The mother was keenly aware of her daughter's abnormality.
Li Fang hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Mom, I heard that cancer may be contagious. I... I'm a little worried. "
The mother was stunned for a moment, then shook her head helplessly: "You child, what strange news have you seen on the Internet again?"
Li Fang's face flushed, and she felt a little embarrassed. She did see some comments on social media about cancer contagion, and although she thought it was a little ridiculous, she couldn't help but be a little worried.
Just as the mother and daughter fell silent, a gentle voice came from the door: "I'm sorry, I overheard your conversation just now. As an oncologist, I thought I could answer some of your questions. "
Li Fang turned her head to look and saw a middle-aged doctor with glasses standing at the door with a friendly smile on his face.
"Dr. Zhang, you've come just in time." The mother whispered, "My daughter is a little worried, can you explain it to her?"
Dr. Zhang walked into the room and pulled a chair and sat down. He looked at Li Fang and said, "You just mentioned that cancer may be contagious, but many people actually have questions about this issue. In fact, the vast majority of cancers are not directly contagious. "
Li Fang breathed a sigh of relief, but still had some doubts: "Then why do some people say that cancer is contagious?"
Dr. Zhang patiently explains, "This may be because people have misconceptions about certain cancer-related viruses. It is true that there are some viruses that can cause cancer, and these viruses can be transmitted from person to person. "
"Really?" Li Fang asked in surprise, "Doesn't that mean that these viruses may cause cancer infection?"
Dr. Zhang nodded: "You're right, but we need to understand the difference. It's not the cancer itself that is contagious, it's some virus that can cause cancer to spread. Currently, we have identified several viruses that are closely related to cancer. "
"Can you elaborate on that?" Li Fang asked, her eyes flashing with a glint of curiosity.
Dr. Zhang cleared his throat and began to elaborate: "The first is human papillomavirus, or HPV for short. The virus is mainly transmitted through sexual contact and can cause a variety of cancers such as cervical, vaginal, and penile cancers. According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 130,000 new cases of cervical cancer in mainland China every year, 99% of which are related to HPV infection. "
Li Fang nodded thoughtfully, and Dr. Zhang continued: "The second is hepatitis B virus, or HBV for short. The virus can be transmitted through blood, body fluids, and long-term infection can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. According to the Chinese Journal of Liver Diseases, there are about 70 million hepatitis B virus carriers in mainland China, making it one of the countries with a high incidence of liver cancer. "
"The third is HIV, or HIV for short. While HIV itself does not directly cause cancer, it can severely damage the body's immune system, making patients more susceptible to certain cancers, such as Kaposi's sarcoma. According to the Center for AIDS Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, by the end of 2020, about 1 million people and patients with HIV were reported alive in mainland China. "
"The last is Epstein-Barr virus, also known as human herpesvirus type 4. This virus has been linked to a variety of cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer, Burkitt lymphoma, and others. The Chinese Journal of Oncology has reported that in the southern part of the mainland, about 95% of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma can detect EBV antibodies. "
After listening to Dr. Zhang's explanation, Li Fang thoughtfully: "I see. So how can we prevent these viral infections?"
Dr. Zhang smiled and replied, "Precautions vary depending on the virus. For HPV, we have vaccines to prevent it; For HBV, neonatal vaccination is important; HIV prevention relies primarily on safe sex and avoidance of syringe sharing; Epstein-Barr virus requires personal hygiene and avoiding contact with saliva. "
At this time, the mother interjected, "Dr. Zhang, can you tell us more about the HPV vaccine?" I've heard that a lot of young people are getting vaccinated right now. "
Dr. Zhang nodded: "The HPV vaccine is indeed an effective means to prevent HPV-related cancers such as cervical cancer. At present, the HPV vaccines approved for use in mainland China include 2-valent, 4-valent and 9-valent.
The age of vaccination is generally between 9 and 45 years old, and you can consult your doctor for details. However, it is important to note that even if you are vaccinated, you should not ignore the importance of regular medical checkups. "
Li Fang said thoughtfully: "It sounds like preventing these viral infections is actually preventing certain cancers, right?"
Doctor Zhang looked at Li Fang approvingly: "That's right, you understand it very well. Preventing these viral infections can indeed reduce the risk of developing the corresponding cancer. However, we must also remember that the occurrence of cancer is multifactorial, and in addition to viral infection, there are also genetic, environmental, lifestyle and other influences. "
"So what else can we do to reduce the risk of cancer besides preventing these viruses?" Li Fang asked.
Dr. Zhang thought for a moment and replied, "It is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising moderately, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, and maintaining a good attitude. At the same time, regular check-ups are also crucial for early detection of cancer or precancerous lesions. "
At this time, my mother interjected: "I remember reading an article before that said that certain foods have anti-cancer effects, is this true?"
Dr. Zhang smiled: "Regarding the anti-cancer effects of food, there are indeed some studies. For example, cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli and cabbage) contain glucosinolates that may have some anti-cancer effects.
The catechins in green tea are also believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is important to note that most of these studies are still in the laboratory stage, and the role of a single food should not be overstated. The most important thing is to maintain a balanced diet. "
Li Fang listened attentively, and suddenly thought of something: "Doctor Zhang, I still have a question. Since some viruses cause cancer, do all viral infections increase the risk of cancer?"
Dr. Zhang shook his head: "Not really. In fact, only a small percentage of viruses are directly linked to cancer. Most common viral infections, such as colds and flu, do not directly increase the risk of cancer.
However, a long-term inflammatory response may indirectly affect the normal function of cells, thereby increasing the likelihood of cancer. Therefore, maintaining a good physical condition and enhancing immunity is also a way to prevent cancer. "
After listening for a long time, my mother whispered, "Dr. Zhang, hearing you say this, I am not so scared. Cancer, while scary, doesn't seem unpreventable. "
Dr. Zhang smiled with relief: "You're right. Although we cannot completely defeat cancer yet, through scientific prevention and timely treatment, we can greatly reduce the threat of cancer. It is important to maintain a positive and optimistic mindset and believe in the progress of medicine. "
Li Fang nodded thoughtfully: "Thank you, Doctor Zhang." Your explanation made me understand a lot. I think I will pay more attention to my lifestyle and have regular check-ups. "
Dr. Zhang stood up: "It's a pleasure to answer your questions. Remember, scientific prevention, aggressive treatment, and optimism are all important weapons in the fight against cancer. If you still have any questions, you can always come to me. "
After seeing Dr. Zhang away, the room fell silent. The sun was still shining warmly on the floor, and Li Fang held her mother's hand, her heart full of strength and hope. She knows that the road ahead may be difficult, but as long as she understands cancer scientifically and faces treatment positively, life will always be full of hope.
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(The story in the article is purely fictional, if there is any similarity is purely coincidental, if the body is not well, seek medical help in time)