Prevent cancer before it happens! Do you pay attention to these ten cancer warning signs?

In today's society, cancer is like a ruthless killer, threatening human health and life. However, cancer is not completely invincible, and most of it can be prevented and cured. The key lies in whether we can achieve early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment.

Jian Xiaolan, deputy director of the Third Oncology Department of Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine) , introduced that to prevent cancer, we need to start by identifying early signals and conducting regular physical examinations to nip cancer in the bud.

1. Identify the top ten warning signs

1. Lumps in any part of the body, such as the breast, neck or abdomen, especially those that gradually increase in size;

2. Ulcers that occur without trauma on any part of the body, such as the tongue, buccal mucosa, skin, etc., especially those that do not heal for a long time;

3. Irregular vaginal bleeding or discharge (commonly known as increased leucorrhea) in women over middle age;

4. Distension, burning pain, foreign body sensation behind the sternum or progressively worsening swallowing difficulties when eating;

5. Dry cough or blood in sputum that does not heal for a long time;

6. Those who suffer from long-term indigestion, progressive loss of appetite, weight loss, and no clear cause can be found;

7. Changes in bowel habits or blood in stool;

8. Nasal congestion, epistaxis, unilateral headache or accompanied by diplopia;

9. The mole suddenly grows larger or breaks, bleeds, or the original hair falls off;

10. Painless hematuria.

2. Cancer prevention physical examination: the first step to prepare for a rainy day

Cancer prevention physical examinations are different from regular health examinations in that they focus more on early detection of cancer. Hospitals usually have special cancer prevention physical examination packages, including tumor marker testing and imaging projects.

Tumor markers are substances produced by tumor cells or in response to tumor cells. Changes in their levels can indicate the presence or development of tumors. Imaging projects, such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI, can directly observe structural changes in organs in the body and help discover potential tumor lesions.

3. Cancer prevention physical examination schedule

While cancer is killing people, the World Health Organization's Cancer Commission has pointed out that 2/3 of cancers can be prevented and cured, but the key is to detect them early through physical examinations and tumor screening. Therefore, it is very necessary to make a plan and conduct targeted cancer prevention examinations!

IV. Early screening and early treatment: Seize the golden period of treatment

Wang Huazhong, deputy chief physician and head of the third oncology department, reminded that cancer often has no obvious symptoms in its early stages, and by the time you feel unwell, you may have missed the best time for treatment. Therefore, regular cancer prevention physical examinations and early screening are crucial for cancer prevention and treatment.

Through blood tests, imaging tests and other means, we can detect clues of cancer before it develops to the late stage, thus buying valuable time for treatment.

Preventing cancer before it happens requires the joint efforts of each of us. Through regular anti-cancer physical examinations, adjusting unhealthy lifestyle habits, and maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude, the risk of cancer can be greatly reduced.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Chen Yanfang and Jian Xiaolan, Department of Oncology, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

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(Edited by YT)