Well-known female star diagnosed with cancer! Don’t take the most “gentle” cancer lightly

According to media reports on November 6, 49-year-old Taiwanese actress Vivian Hsu was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Vivian Hsu admitted that she had cancer in an interview. On November 6, she also posted on social media that she had regular physical examinations every year. When she found out about thyroid cancer, she was stunned for about 5 seconds. Her life was like a revolving door in her mind and she couldn't accept it for a while. She also revealed in the article that it was a family gene. Fortunately, her whole family had the habit of regular physical examinations, so they could find it early and treat it.

Thyroid cancer - the most "gentle" cancer Gentleness does not mean harmlessness

As a common malignant tumor of the endocrine system, the incidence of thyroid cancer has shown an increasing trend in most countries and regions around the world in the past two decades.

Among thyroid cancers, papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common, accounting for 85%-90% of all thyroid cancers. It grows slowly and has a relatively good prognosis, so it is called the "gentlest cancer" in the world.

Compared with other types of cancer, thyroid cancer develops relatively slowly and is less malignant. Early detection and treatment usually achieve better results, and the survival rate of patients is relatively high. Most of them will not have their lifespan affected by thyroid cancer.

But this doesn't mean that all types of thyroid cancer are so mild, nor does it mean that their potential threats can be ignored.

First of all, cancer is cancer. Any cancer is an abnormal proliferation of body cells, which will cause damage to the body. Thyroid cancer is no exception. It will invade surrounding tissues and even spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic or blood systems.

Secondly, the treatment of thyroid cancer may involve surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc., all of which may bring certain side effects and pain.

Common symptoms of thyroid cancer

Neck Lump

Neck lumps are one of the most common early symptoms of thyroid cancer. If you find an unexplained lump in the front of your neck, don't take it lightly.

The lump may be hard, have unclear borders, and not move up and down with swallowing. If you touch it, it may be painful or uncomfortable.

A lump does not necessarily mean thyroid cancer, but you need to seek medical attention promptly to rule out the possibility of thyroid cancer.

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

When thyroid cancer develops, the cancer cells may spread through the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes in the neck, causing them to swell.

It is usually painless, but can be felt by touching the neck. If you find that the lymph nodes in your neck are suddenly swollen, or if multiple lymph nodes are enlarged at the same time, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately.

Hoarseness

When thyroid cancer invades the recurrent laryngeal nerve, it can limit the movement of the vocal cords, which can affect phonation. This hoarseness is usually persistent and can get worse over time.

Therefore, if you find that your voice suddenly becomes hoarse, or cannot recover for a long time, and there is no inflammation such as pharyngitis, then you need to consider the possibility of thyroid cancer.

trouble breathing

Dyspnea is one of the more serious symptoms of thyroid cancer. When thyroid cancer develops to a certain extent, it may compress the trachea or esophagus, causing dyspnea or dysphagia. This dyspnea usually manifests as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and in severe cases, suffocation may even occur.

If you find yourself having trouble breathing or feel short of breath while performing daily activities, you need to seek medical attention immediately to avoid any delay.

Although thyroid cancer is known as the "gentlest cancer," it does not mean that it should be taken lightly. Early detection and treatment of thyroid cancer can significantly improve the patient's survival rate and treatment effect.

If the diagnosis is delayed, even if it does not affect life expectancy, it will affect the quality of life. Early detection and early treatment are recommended!

Source: Xinmin Evening News, Science Popularization China, Jiangsu CDC