Infection: Cancer’s Hidden Accomplice

This is the 4987th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

In 2024, the National Cancer Center of China will publish the 2022 malignant tumor disease burden in China at JNCC based on the latest data from tumor registration and follow-up monitoring.

(Picture from the Internet screenshot)

In 2022, the number of new cancer cases in my country rose to 4.8247 million per year. The number one cancer was "lung cancer" (1.0606 million), the second was colorectal cancer (517,100), the third was thyroid cancer (466,100), and the fourth was liver cancer (367,700). In 2022, the number of cancer deaths in my country also reached 2.5742 million, with lung cancer still "leading the way". China's new cancer cases and deaths have ranked first in the world!

We often pay attention to cancer prevention in terms of environment and diet, but cancer actually has an invisible accomplice - infection! Have you heard that human papillomavirus infection can cause cervical cancer, and Helicobacter pylori infection can increase the risk of gastric cancer, and even parasitic infection can increase the risk of liver cancer and bladder cancer?

(Picture from the Internet)

1) How to prevent infection-induced cancer?

Will infection with bacteria cause cancer all at once? Actually, not really. The danger of infection lies in the fact that it lurks quietly and slowly in our body, and it may even take more than 10 years for the quantitative change to qualitative change. Doctors will teach patients to stop the spread of the disease in the early stage, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of cancer.

Regular medical check-ups

Doctors recommend that people over 40 years old should have a physical examination at least once a year, and people over 55 years old should have a physical examination every six months to keep their physical condition online. For most cancers, if they can be detected and treated early, the survival rate will be greater. For example, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, colorectal cancer screening, hepatitis C virus screening, HIV screening, lung cancer screening, obesity, etc. Gastroenterology can detect digestive tract cancer, low-dose spiral CT of the chest can detect lung cancer, and ultrasound combined with molybdenum target can detect breast cancer. Taking the prevention and treatment of lung cancer as an example, high-resolution thin-layer CT equipment strengthens and promotes the screening of lung cancer, which can detect lung nodules or early lung cancer earlier.

Vaccination

Prevention is better than cure. For example, giving infants and children hepatitis B vaccine can effectively reduce their future incidence of liver cancer.

Early treatment

For example, the combined use of antibiotics to treat Helicobacter pylori can not only relieve symptoms of stomach problems such as acid reflux and belching, but also prevent the high incidence of gastric cancer.

Healthy diet

Modern table manners implement separate dining, which not only helps people plan their own food intake, but also prevents the spread of Helicobacter pylori among family and friends. According to research, nearly half of gastric cancer patients are related to Helicobacter pylori infection. Serving chopsticks and spoons is not only about dining etiquette, but also helps health.

2) How to treat cancer with a normal attitude

There is no doubt that cancer has become one of the major diseases that seriously threatens human health and causes death. Cancer is also the main cause of death among people around the world. According to the results of previous cancer data surveys, the top 10 most common malignant tumors in China are lung cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, thyroid cancer, cervical cancer, brain tumors, and pancreatic cancer. Among them, the incidence of the top 5 accounts for about 57.27% of all malignant tumors. If we count those who are still alive after suffering from cancer, there are tens of millions of cancer patients living around us. Some experts suggest that we treat tumor diseases with a normal mind and treat cancer as a common disease.

Cancer originates from a multi-stage process in which normal cells transform into tumor cells, usually progressing from precancerous lesions to malignant tumors. A defining characteristic is the rapid generation of abnormal cells, which grow beyond their usual boundaries and can invade adjacent parts of the body and spread to other organs, the latter being called metastasis. Extensive metastasis is the main cause of cancer death. Early detection and treatment can reduce cancer mortality. Among them, standardized anti-cancer physical examinations are an important way to detect cancer and precancerous lesions.

Author: Putuo District Central Hospital

Department of Respiratory Medicine Shi Zhaowen, deputy chief physician