Why does esophageal cancer cling to Chinese?

After Retiring from the unit, Mr. Li of Henan usually likes to exercise in the morning and evening. Since the beginning of winter, Mr. Li often felt that there was always a foreign body sensation in his throat, and at first he thought it was caused by smog weather. Not long ago, he went to the medical examination, and the doctor informed him that he had esophageal cancer, which may be related to the hot pasta he usually likes to eat. Mr. Li felt incredible after listening to it, I can get esophageal cancer by eating a hot noodle soup? Isn't that not going to be eaten later?! It is true that Mr. Li is talking about anger, and the people take food as the sky. So what exactly is esophageal cancer related to? How to prevent it in daily life? This deserves our deep consideration and attention.

Half of the world's esophageal cancer patients are in China, why

After the diagnosis, Mr. Li was immediately hospitalized for treatment. During chemotherapy, the doctor told him that the epidemiology of the mainland showed that China is the hardest hit area of esophageal cancer, nearly half of the world's esophageal cancer in China, the incidence frequency per 100,000 people is 4 to 6 times that of the United States, and the mortality rate is also among the highest in the world.

Why does esophageal cancer prefer Chinese?

Although the cause of esophageal cancer has not yet been identified, the onset of the esophagus is indeed related to the individual's lifestyle, especially with eating habits. Chinese like to eat pickled and smoked food, or love to eat "hot food" and drink hot tea, in the area near the Taihang Mountains, that is, Henan, Hebei and Shanxi near the Taihang Mountains, the incidence of esophageal cancer is high. Other high-incidence areas are associated with Central Plains migration, including Nanchong in Sichuan, Yanting in Sichuan, Shantou in Guangdong, and Fuzhou in Fujian.

The incidence of the disease is overwhelming, what is the reason?

Asia accounts for about 60% of the world's population, but 75% of esophageal cancer patients accumulate here. Compared with Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, the incidence of esophageal cancer in mainland China is also far ahead.

The reasons for this are mainly related to the following factors:

01

Nitrosamine compounds

This is the same as the above-mentioned pickled and smoked foods, which contain a large amount of nitrite, which can cause genetic mutations in the mucosa of the esophagus and cause esophageal cancer.

02

Certain fungi and their toxins

Many foods are prone to mildew, and the food after mildew contains a variety of molds that have carcinogenic effects on the human body.

03

A single diet with a lack of nutrition;

Deficiencies of vitamins, trace elements, etc. caused by malnutrition are also important factors in the occurrence of esophageal cancer.

04

Smoking and heavy drinking

Foreign studies have shown that for esophageal cancer, the incidence of smokers increases by 3 to 8 times, while those who drink alcohol increase by 7 to 50 times. A survey in Sichuan Province, a large tobacco and alcohol country in China, found that for people who both smoke and drink, the incidence of esophageal cancer will be 8.86 times that of their peers.

05

Poor eating habits

Long-term consumption of overheated, hard, rough and spicy and irritating foods can cause damage to the mucosa of the esophagus, which eventually leads to cancer.

06

Genetic factors

Esophageal cancer has a family agglomeration phenomenon, and those with a family history of tumors are at high risk of developing disease.

How to break the curse of esophageal cancer?

Clinically, most of the esophageal cancers in mainland China are advanced once they are discovered. In fact, although the symptoms of early esophageal cancer are generally not obvious, they also release some key "signals". Once the following symptoms persist, please seek medical treatment in time to confirm the diagnosis, and avoid medical treatment.

1. Foreign body sensation or choking sensation when swallowing food;

2. Pain behind the sternum;

3. Feel "heartburn";

4. Frequent hiccups;

5. Hoarseness.

What methods can diagnose esophageal cancer early?

1. Endoscopy

Gastroscopy is currently the main means of diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Guidelines recommend prompt gastroscopy for people over the age of 50 who feel stagnant after eating or have difficulty swallowing. In addition, pigment endoscopy and ultrasound endoscopy can improve the diagnosis rate of early esophageal cancer.

2. Blood biochemical test

3. Tumor marker examination

4. Imaging

Barium-barium dual contrast contrast is currently the most direct, simplest, most economical and more reliable imaging method for diagnosing esophageal cancer. Imaging tests include CT, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.

Standardized diagnosis and treatment process for esophageal cancer

Write at the end

Change from now on, how effective prevention in life

1. Quit smoking, limit alcohol, and do not eat hot and overheated food;

2. Eat a balanced diet and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables;

3. Limit the intake of red meat and processed meat;

4. For those who live in areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer, are over 40 years old, and have a family history of esophageal cancer, they should pay attention to regular physical examination and gastroscopy if necessary to achieve early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment, and improve survival;

bibliography:

1. National Health Commission. Specifications for diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer (2018 edition)[J]. Chinese Journal of Digestive Diseases and Imaging (Electronic Edition). 2019,９(４): 158-192.

2. Yang,C., et al. Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer :aCase-control Study in South-western China. Asian Pacific J. Cancer Prev.2005,6,48–53.

3. [9] Esophageal cancer. MSD Manual

4. Malhotra,G.K, et al. Global trends inesophageal cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2017,115,564–579.

5. Wang Lidong; SONG Xin; Zhao Discipline; Han Wenli; Zhou Fuyou; Gao Shegan 60 years review and prospect of high-site prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer in Henan Province and laboratory research. Journal of Zhengzhou University(Medical Scienc) 2019, 54, 149–159.

Author | Prevention guidelines

Source | Cancer Prevention Guidelines Good Doctors