What can I do to prevent tumors from developing in patients with acromegaly?

  Patients with acromegaly have increased growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in their blood, which can lead to pathological growth of multiple tissues throughout the body and increase the incidence of colon cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and other tumors. The main causes of death in acromegaly patients are cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, but now tumors have become the third leading cause of death in acromegaly patients, accounting for about 15% of the total causes of death in this group of patients.  Combined thyroid nodules are seen in about 50-75% of patients with acromegaly and may be associated with long-term elevation of IGF-1, which is classified as functional nodules, nonfunctional nodules, and diffuse goiter, and 1.2-7.2% as thyroid cancer; regular long-term follow-up of thyroid nodules is recommended for patients with acromegaly combined with thyroid nodules. About 19.3% of patients with acromegaly combined with colonic polyps should be routinely examined by colonoscopy after admission; postoperative colonoscopy should be performed once every 5 years for patients whose hormone levels are not in remission and once every 10 years for patients whose hormone levels have returned to normal. Early detection of patients with acromegaly and timely treatment with transnasal surgery and regular postoperative review of the associated tumors are effective methods to prevent tumor occurrence, early detection and treatment of tumors, and to improve long-term survival and quality of life of patients.