【Couple Cancer】What? Can cancer be contagious?! The truth is here↓

You must have heard of “couple look”, but you may not know that there is a popular term in the oncology field – “ couple cancer ”!

Mr. Wang (pseudonym) and his wife were in this situation. During a physical examination, both of them were diagnosed with lung nodules. After further examination, they were finally diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer !

The Department of Oncology of Beichen Hospital Affiliated to Nankai University provides you with scientific knowledge——
When a couple is diagnosed with the same or different parts of the cancer at a similar time, this phenomenon is called "couple cancer". In clinical practice, although the incidence of "couple cancer" is not as high as the incidence of a single case, it is not uncommon. Could it be that cancer is also "the husband and the wife"? Answer: Cancer is not contagious, but it is genetically susceptible . Simply put, different individuals, in the same environment that is prone to cancer, will have a greater chance of contracting the same cancer.

Which cancers are likely to develop into “ couple cancer ” ?

01 Lung cancer

Possible triggering factors: If one spouse smokes, the other spouse will be exposed to secondhand smoke; kitchen fume pollution can also easily harm both spouses. In addition, some homes are too humid, causing fungi to multiply rapidly, which can induce lung infections after inhalation, increasing the risk of lung cancer.

02 Gastric Cancer

Possible inducing factors: irregular diets of couples, overeating or excessive dieting, etc.; often eating leftovers, processed meat products, spicy foods, etc., will affect the normal functioning of the stomach and even directly cause damage. In addition, mutual infection with Helicobacter pylori is also a risk factor for both parties to develop gastric cancer.

03 Esophageal cancer, colon cancer

Possible inducing factors: The occurrence of esophageal cancer and intestinal cancer is also closely related to bad eating habits. Pickled food, polluted water sources and aflatoxin will greatly increase the risk of esophageal cancer; while high-calorie, low-fiber, high-fat foods and red meat will increase the risk of intestinal cancer.

04 Liver Cancer

Possible inducing factors: inferior metal accessories, cosmetics, damaged coating of non-stick pans... can all cause damage to the liver; hepatitis B virus infection can also easily become a "couple disease", which may eventually lead to cancer in both parties.

How to prevent " couple cancer " ? Listen to what oncologists say↓

★ Change bad habits and living environment

If one of the spouses smokes, it is best to quit smoking. After the house is renovated, it is necessary to determine whether the formaldehyde and other indicators exceed the standard. It is recommended to put more green plants to improve the indoor environment and ventilate the room frequently.

★ Improve your diet

Try to reduce the intake of high-fat, high-sugar, smoked and fried foods, and eat more fresh vegetables.

★ Maintain family harmony

Family harmony can also help prevent "marital cancer". Husbands and wives should care for each other, not hold grudges, maintain a positive and optimistic attitude and exercise moderately.

★ Regular physical examinations and timely treatment of pathogen infections

It is recommended that women over 35 years old and men over 40 years old have regular physical examinations every year. If Helicobacter pylori or hepatitis B virus infection is found, timely treatment is required.