Middle-aged and elderly people should have regular medical checkups, and those with pre-cancerous indications should have regular checkups to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Women should take part in cervical cancer screening and breast cancer screening, and men and women older than 50 years old should take part in colorectal cancer screening. In case of cancer, the necessary treatment should be done as soon as possible, and the earlier it is done, the better the results. Once upon a time, it took away many splendid lives, no matter how talented you are and famous, you have to go when it tells you to go, it won’t wait for you, nor will it be patient with any request to slow down a little …… before your work is done. So much so that today people are always talking about cancer. In fact, the public is still very confused about cancer. How does cancer come about? Is it hereditary? Is it contagious? How should we prevent it? …… has a correct understanding of the nature of cancer and the means of prevention and treatment, which can help us establish a scientific concept of cancer prevention and fight against cancer.
1.How does cancer come from?
Medical research shows that cancer is a multi-factorial, multi-stage and multiple mutation disease. Except for a few single-gene hereditary tumors such as retinoblastoma and nephroblastoma, most of them are not caused by internal or external factors only, but by the interaction of multiple factors, internal and external factors, acting together.
Cancer is formed by a group of cells that proliferate “out of control” without the body’s need. Unlike normal tissue proliferation, this proliferation is not regulated by the body, and the new tissues produced do not have the functions of normal tissues, but its main activity is to keep consuming the body’s resources, occupying space and dividing and proliferating more and more rapidly. If it continues, it will cause multiple organ failure and death. Unlike viruses, cancer is not a foreign invader and its composition is the same as that of normal tissues, so the body cannot recognize it and remove it immunologically.
There are proto-oncogenes and oncogenes in the human body. Proto-oncogenes are responsible for cell division and proliferation. Oncogenes are responsible for cell division and proliferation, while oncogenes are responsible for inhibiting cell proliferation and tumorigenesis when normal. Normally, proto-oncogenes and oncogenes maintain a balance. Under the effect of oncogenic factors, the power of proto-oncogene becomes stronger while the oncogene becomes weaker. Therefore, mental factors, genetic factors, lifestyle, certain chemical substances and other oncogenic factors are the “keys” to initiate the growth of cancer cells. Usually, multiple “keys” work together to start the “cancer program”; and the more “keys” there are, the greater the chance of starting it. Once these cancer programs are activated, they will be uncontrollable.
2. Can cancer be inherited?
Relatives of cancer patients are often anxious that they have inherited the cancer gene and will suffer from cancer sooner or later. So, is cancer hereditary?
Research shows that 10% of cancers are genetically related and the majority of cancers are not hereditary, but about 10% to 15% of cancers are hereditary and cancer is not directly hereditary. On the basis of having genetic characteristics, the formation of cancer also depends on the combination of many acquired factors such as lifestyle, diet, mental and emotional, environment, viral infection, endocrine and immune function, and external carcinogens. Therefore, people with cancer tendency will not necessarily get cancer, but the chance of getting cancer may be greater than that of ordinary people. Generally speaking, genetic predisposition only makes you “thin”, but it is because your lifestyle is not good enough to get cancer. Therefore, we don’t need to worry too much, as long as we raise awareness of cancer prevention, keep a happy mood, pay attention to exercise, reduce exposure to cancer-causing factors and overcome bad habits, we can prevent cancer from occurring. For tumors with strong heredity, early detection and complete cure of tumors can also be achieved through regular checkups.
3.How great is the hereditary risk of cancer?
Cancer is currently classified as a lifestyle disease, and external causes still play a major role, including people’s lifestyle and living environment. Generally speaking, it is about 30 to 70 percent – genetic factors account for 30% and environmental factors account for 70%. If more people in a family have cancer, the genetic risk is relatively higher. For example, the offspring of stomach cancer patients are four times more likely to get stomach cancer than the general population. Identical twins are two times more likely to get breast, stomach and intestinal cancers at the same time than heterozygous twins. Although there is no genetic certainty for cancer, some cancers such as retinoblastoma, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer have more of a genetic predisposition than other tumors.
The genetic risk varies specifically for different cancers. If a mother or sister has had breast cancer, her chance of developing breast cancer is three times higher than that of the average woman; colon cancer, if a parent suffers from colon cancer caused by multiple colon polyps, their children have a 50% chance of developing the same type of cancer; medullary thyroid cancer has a clear genetic predisposition, and more than 90% of carriers of this type of gene have to develop cancer. More than 90% of the carriers of these genes will develop cancer. In addition, although lung cancer and stomach cancer are lifestyle cancers, it is also believed that they have a certain degree of heredity.
4.Can cancer be contagious?
In our daily life, we sometimes hear that several people in the same family have cancer, and they all have the same kind of cancer. If we say it is hereditary, some family members are not related to each other (e.g. husband and wife). Could cancer be contagious too?
The question of whether cancer is contagious sounds a bit sensational, but it is not a wild speculation. So far, medical experts believe that cancer itself is not directly contagious. Although cancer cells can spread or metastasize everywhere in a patient’s body, it is not contagious from one person to another like bacteria and viruses. Studies have shown that cancer patients themselves are not infectious. Due to the rejection reaction of human immune system, cancer tissues taken from cancer patients and planted directly on another person do not survive and grow. 75% of cancer cases are caused by bad living habits. The key factors for the occurrence of “cancer in couples” are the same lifestyle, eating habits and environmental factors. Couples have been “eating the same pot of rice and sleeping on the same pillow” for years, and they have “assimilated” each other’s lifestyles and habits and are subject to the same disease-causing and cancer-causing factors, so it is not surprising that they suffer from the same type of disease or cancer.
Although cancer itself is not directly contagious, some of the factors that trigger cancer have obvious transmission characteristics. Some cancers are “contagious” probably because they have an infectious agent at their root. For example, hepatitis virus infection can easily cause liver cancer; EBV infection can easily cause nasopharyngeal cancer; Helicobacter pylori infection can easily cause stomach cancer; and human papilloma virus infection can easily cause cervical cancer. These viruses or bacteria that cause precancerous lesions are all infectious and not directly transmitted by cancer. Therefore, in order to prevent such viral or bacterial infections and related cancers, we should disinfect the secretions of such cancer patients, such as sputum, blood and feces, and at the same time vaccinate the high-risk groups with HPV vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine or moderate isolation.
5.Is genetic cancer detection reliable?
Research shows that if cancer patients can be detected early, the cure rate can reach 80%. However, how easy is it to diagnose cancer at an early stage? In recent years, a variety of genetic tests for cancer have emerged, which makes people both delighted and confused. Is it reliable?
Genetic testing is a method to diagnose diseases by analyzing the types and defects of genes and whether they are expressed normally. In recent years, genetic testing technology has entered a period of rapid development as more and more disease genes have been targeted and many of the technologies in genetic testing have begun to evolve towards routine development. Genetic testing can be used to assess the risk of cancer from genetic mutations before the cancer cells become malignant, to guide you on how to avoid cancer development in your future life, and to implement necessary preventive interventions, thus allowing early treatment, prevention and delay of cancer tragedies.
Due to the limitations of current technology, we are not able to detect all diseases accurately through genetic testing. With the exception of certain single gene diseases, most diseases are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and the pathogenesis of disease is complex and unpredictable. Although genetic testing can detect a person’s predisposition to cancer before symptoms are present and analyze the risk of developing these diseases in the future, a susceptibility gene is not the same as a disease-causing gene. Testing for a susceptibility gene only indicates the chance of developing the disease, it does not mean that the disease will definitely occur. In addition, even in the absence of a susceptibility gene, one should not let down one’s guard against the disease. Many other environmental factors also influence the development of diseases at the same time, such as radiation, chemicals, drugs, pollution, living habits and other specific internal and external environmental factors that may cause gene damage or mutation, thus inducing certain diseases.
So far, cancer detection is still more reliable and sound with traditional methods. Standardized oncology physical examination includes three aspects: tests done for cancer prevention, such as hepatitis B patients should be checked regularly for alpha-fetoprotein and abdominal ultrasound. Screening for early cancers, such as cervical smear cytology for women to detect cervical cancer in a timely manner. Detailed diagnosis and physical examination by experienced physicians for early detection of cancer signals. Therefore, cancer prevention should focus on changing bad habits, improving living environment, and alerting and detecting early symptoms, rather than relying on genetic testing to find out susceptibility genes and scare ourselves, or resting on our laurels if we don’t have susceptibility genes.
6.What are the early signs of common cancers?
(1) Brain tumor. The main manifestations are headache and vomiting. Headache is very special, often the heaviest when waking up in the early morning, and can be gradually reduced after waking up, which is obvious in the forehead, back of the head and sides. The headache is often accompanied by jet-like vomiting, which is not related to eating, especially when the pain is severe, and the headache will be relieved after vomiting.
(2) Nasopharyngeal cancer. One common feature of the early signs of nasopharyngeal cancer is that the symptoms mostly occur unilaterally. Unilateral runny nose, unilateral nosebleed, unilateral tinnitus, unilateral hearing loss, unilateral headache, and unilateral enlarged cervical lymph nodes.
(3) Esophageal cancer. Sluggish, stagnant or slight obstructive choking sensation in swallowing food, which may subside on its own but may appear again after a few days, recurring and gradually worsening. Or when swallowing or eating, it always feels like there is localized pain in the sternum. It usually feels like a foreign body in the esophagus and is not related to eating, persists and cannot be made to go away by drinking water or swallowing food.
(4) Breast cancer. Abnormal changes in the breast, such as lumpiness, swelling, micro-concavity (“dimple sign”), thickening and redness of the skin, nipple deformation, retraction or scaling, pain or pressure, and sudden appearance of unilateral nipple flowing milk-like, blood-like or water-like fluid in non-lactating women.
(5) Lung cancer. Cough is an early symptom of lung cancer, characterized by paroxysmal irritating choking cough, with a feeling of coughing up, usually no sputum or only a small amount of white foamy sputum, and pus sputum may appear secondary to infection. If there is no improvement after 2 weeks of anti-inflammatory treatment, the possibility of lung cancer should be alerted. Or if the nature of cough changes on top of the existing chronic cough, even accompanied by “bronchial tinnitus” and “shortness of breath”, it should be noted. Another warning sign of lung cancer is intermittent recurrent small amount of bloody sputum or sputum with blood in it. In addition, symptoms such as chest and back pain, chest tightness and fever may also appear.
(6) Stomach cancer. Sudden appearance of unexplained indigestion symptoms, which are more persistent and fast progressing; the prominent manifestations are rapid decrease in appetite, abdominal fullness and discomfort after eating, accompanied by significant weight loss. Or people who did not have stomach pains in the past suddenly have recurrent stomach pains; although they had stomach pains in the past, the intensity, nature and time of attack of the pains suddenly change recently, and the drugs that were effective in treatment become ineffective or poor.
(7) Hepatocellular carcinoma. Early stage liver cancer has no specific symptoms. Patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis should be highly alert if they have stabbing pain or increased pain in the right upper abdomen or liver area, physical discomfort, loss of appetite, progressive dyspepsia, accompanied by persistent diarrhea and significant weight loss.
(8) Colorectal cancer. Anyone over 30 years old who has abdominal discomfort, hidden pain, bloating, change in stool habit, constipation, diarrhea or alternately, feeling of falling, and blood in stool, followed by anemia, fatigue and weakness, and lumps felt in the abdomen should consider the possibility of colorectal cancer. Among them, limited and intermittent hidden pain along the colon area is the first alarm signal of colon cancer. The obvious feeling of falling with blood in stool is a signal of rectal cancer.
(9) Cervical cancer. The early symptoms of cervical cancer mainly include the following points.
① Vaginal spotting bleeding after intercourse, defecation or activity, blood mixed with vaginal secretions. It appears in small amount at the beginning and often stops on its own.
② Irregular vaginal bleeding, especially sudden vaginal bleeding after many years of menopause.
③Increased leucorrhea, bloody or flesh-washing water-like.
④Pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.
(10) Leukemia. Fever, bleeding and anemia are the three major early symptoms of leukemia. A fever of 37.5°C to 38.5°C often suggests an infection, such as inflammation of the skin, respiratory tract, intestines, oral cavity, urinary system, etc. Bleeding can occur at any site, but is common in the subcutaneous, oral, nasal, and gingival areas. The degree of bleeding can range from petechiae and petechiae to hemorrhage from the mouth and nasal cavity. Anemia is due to impaired hematopoiesis and bleeding in the red system and evolves rapidly, and the patient is pale. In addition, swollen lymph nodes and pain in bones and joints may appear, and the characteristic is light pressure pain in the sternum.
7.How to keep away from the “trouble” of cancer?
As the saying goes, “the treatment of cancer is in the doctor, but the prevention of cancer is in oneself”. At present, cancer has become the biggest enemy threatening people’s health. With the improvement of living standard, people pay more and more attention to health. How can we stay away from cancer? This has become the focus of public attention today.
(1) Active treatment of precancerous lesions
Pre-cancerous stage refers to the stage where the proliferating cells have the tendency to transform into cancer cells, but have not yet become typical cancerous lesions. Not all pre-cancerous lesions will develop into cancer, but most of them will be stable for a long time and even “turn back to the shore” and recede. Only a rather small proportion of precancerous lesions will continue to evolve into cancer. Clinically, the following 10 common precancerous lesions need active treatment: mucosal leukoplakia; cystic hyperplasia of breast; chronic atrophic gastritis; gastrointestinal polyps; residual stomach after major gastrectomy; chronic ulcerative colitis; familial colorectal adenomatosis; cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis B and C; cervical erosion; chronic skin ulcers.
(2) Keep away from bad lifestyle
Bad living habits are important factors that induce cancer. According to incomplete statistics, 35% of the causes of cancer are related to frequent smoking and alcohol consumption;
5% is related to long-term exposure to carcinogenic substances; 3% is related to ionizing radiation; 2% is related to benign lesions; 1% is related to medicine; other related factors include infection and sexual behavior. Therefore, changing the bad habits that may cause cancer will play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment.
(3) Healthy diet
About 45% of cancers are related to nutritional factors in diet, such as excessive calories, excessive fat intake, and insufficient intake of plant fiber and vitamin A. It is recommended to eat more plant-derived foods, such as food of the same origin. It is recommended to eat more food of plant origin such as vegetables and fruits, less animal fat, quit smoking and alcohol; limit the intake of high-fat food, especially animal fat, choose appropriate vegetable oil and limit the amount; limit the intake of pickled food and control the use of cooking salt and seasoning salt.
(4) Participate in regular exercise to maintain a reasonable weight
Studies have shown that physical exercise will help reduce the risk of various cancers. Moderate exercise for 45 to 60 minutes a day can give more energy and also reduce the risk of cancers such as breast and colon cancer. Medical research shows that obesity increases the risk of breast, prostate, liver, colon, pancreatic, stomach, kidney, ovarian and uterine cancers.
(5) Stay away from carcinogenic substances
Radiation can cause cancer. Work exposed to radiation, or mining minerals such as uranium and thorium, all have the risk of causing cancer. Biological carcinogens, such as aflatoxin, often occur in moldy grains, peanuts or pickles.
(6) Protect yourself from infections
Infections caused by bacteria and viruses are considered to be risk factors for certain cancers. For example, Helicobacter pylori can increase the risk of stomach cancer; human papillomavirus is the most common cause of cervical cancer. Chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C can increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS, can also increase the incidence of certain cancers.
(7) Maintain mental health
Clinical studies have found that emotional changes such as mental depression, isolation, jealousy, worry, impatience, irritability, long-term patience, inability to console oneself due to the loss of family and friends, inability to relieve oneself after suffering a blow, and long-term mental tension can contribute to the development of cancer. In addition, psychology and emotion also affect the effect of treatment and recovery. The reason is that psychology and emotion closely affect the immune function and endocrine system, which can reduce the ability to resist diseases and make the endocrine system lose balance. Therefore, it is of great significance to eliminate bad emotions and maintain psychological health in time to prevent and fight against cancer.
(8) Regular health check-ups for cancer prevention
Middle-aged and elderly people should have regular medical checkups, and those with pre-cancerous indications should have regular checkups to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Women should take part in cervical cancer screening and breast cancer screening, and men and women older than 50 years old should take part in colorectal cancer screening. In case of cancer, necessary treatment should be done as soon as possible, and the earlier it is done, the better the results. Cancer has become the number one killer in today’s society. Once upon a time, it has taken away many splendid lives. No matter how talented you are and how famous you are, when it tells you to go, you have to go, it won’t wait for you, and it is impatient with any request …… of not finishing your work and slowing down a little. So much so that today people are always talking about cancer. In fact, the public is still very confused about cancer. How does cancer come about? Is it hereditary? Is it contagious? How should we prevent it? …… A correct understanding of the nature of cancer and the means of prevention and treatment can help us establish a scientific view of cancer prevention and fight against cancer.