The classic movie "Mr. Zombie" is no stranger, and its starring Lin Zhengying has made countless people remember his image of Taoist chief. His acting skills and martial arts are amazing, and his character and demeanor are also admirable. The Mr. Zombie died of liver cancer on November 8, 1997, when he was 45 years old.
The news of his death shocked the entire entertainment industry and fans, making people feel regret and reluctance. Liver cancer is a very terrible cancer, its incidence and mortality are high, and often there are no obvious symptoms in the early stage, and by the time it is discovered, it is already advanced. How does liver cancer occur? What are the risk factors? Are there any ways to prevent and treat it?
A generation of Mr. Zombie
Lin Zhengying, formerly known as Lin Genbao, born in Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong actor, director, martial arts instructor, producer, dragon and tiger martial artist, action director. In 1963, he studied Peking Opera with Master Pink Chrysanthemum. In the early 1970s, he joined Shaw Brothers Film Company as a martial arts instructor and actor.
In 1979, he attracted attention for playing the role of the abbot of Shaolin Temple in "The Thirty-Six Rooms of Shaolin". In the mid-1980s, he began to work as a director and became a household star in the "Mr. Zombie" series of movies. In the early 1990s, he switched to television and filmed several TV series on TVB.
On November 8, 1997, he died of liver cancer in Hong Kong at the age of 45. Lin Ching-ying is a legend in the Hong Kong film industry, and he has won the love and respect of countless audiences for his superb martial arts and humorous performance style. The image of the Taoist leader he created in the "Mr. Zombie" series of movies has become a classic symbol and cultural phenomenon.
He is not only a good actor and director, but also a philanthropist and educator. He has sponsored many poor students and founded the Lin Zhengying Film Art Academy, which has cultivated a group of new people. The news of his death caused countless people to feel grief and regret, and his works have become timeless classics.
Liver cancer took his life
Lin Zhengying was diagnosed with liver cancer in early 1997 and underwent surgery. But because the tumor has spread to other organs, the results of the surgery are not ideal. Later, he tried radiation therapy and traditional Chinese medicine, but neither improved significantly. His health deteriorated and he eventually died at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong in November 1997 at the age of 45.
The cause of death was liver cancer, a very dangerous cancer. Liver cancer refers to malignant tumors that originate in liver cells, mainly including three types: hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and mixed hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type, accounting for 75%~85%.
Liver cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate, and is the sixth most common malignant tumor and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the world. In the mainland, liver cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor and the second leading cause of tumor death, affecting about 400,000 people every year.
Liver cancer: a terrible killer
Liver cancer is a terrible killer, and there are many causes and risk factors for it, the most important of which are chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Chronic hepatitis refers to the long-term infection or damage of the liver by viruses, bacteria, parasites, drugs and other factors, resulting in inflammation and fibrosis of the liver.
Cirrhosis refers to long-term damage to the liver by chronic hepatitis or other factors, resulting in irreversible changes in the structure and function of the liver, forming a large amount of scar tissue.
Both chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis disrupt the normal function of the liver, affect the liver's metabolism and detoxification ability, and increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinogenesis. About 80%~90% of liver cancer patients have a history of chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Risk factors for liver cancer
Alcohol consumption: Long-term excessive drinking can lead to alcoholic liver disease, which in turn can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Alcohol can damage liver cells, interfere with the liver's metabolism and detoxification function, and promote the expression of cancerous genes.
Food contamination: Some foods contain carcinogens that can increase the risk of liver cancer if consumed too much over the long term. Aflatoxin is a common mycotoxin found mainly in moldy grains, legumes, peanuts and other foods. Nitrosamines are common nitrite-like compounds, mainly found in pickled, smoked, fried and other foods.
Genetic factors: Some hereditary diseases or gene mutations can also affect the normal function of the liver and increase the possibility of liver cancer. Hereditary hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder that causes an imbalance in iron metabolism that causes excessive iron deposits in the body, especially in the liver. Too much iron can cause oxidative stress and free radical damage, promoting mutations in cancerous genes.
There are other factors that can also be associated with liver cancer, such as smoking, malnutrition, immune deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, etc.
Early detection is important
Because liver cancer often has no obvious symptoms in the early stage and develops rapidly, many patients are already in the middle and advanced stages when they are discovered. This brings great difficulties and challenges to treatment. Early detection and diagnosis are key to improving cure and survival rates.
How can liver cancer be detected and diagnosed early? This requires us to pay attention to our own physical changes and find some abnormal signals in time.
Weight loss: If there is no obvious reason for the sudden weight loss and it lasts for a long time, it is necessary to be alert to the possibility of liver cancer. Because liver cancer affects the metabolic function of the liver, leading to indigestion, loss of appetite, malnutrition, etc., resulting in weight loss.
Abdominal discomfort: often feel abdominal fullness, pain, pressure and other discomfort, especially in the right upper abdomen, pay attention to whether there is a possibility of liver cancer. Because liver cancer can cause the liver to enlarge, harden, deform, etc., compress the surrounding organs and nerves, and cause abdominal discomfort.
Jaundice: If you find that the skin and eyes are yellow, the urine is dark, and the stool is light, you should pay attention to whether there is a possibility of liver cancer. Because liver cancer affects the detoxification function of the liver, it leads to disorders of bilirubin metabolism, which accumulates in the blood and tissues, causing jaundice.
Ascites: If you find that the abdomen is significantly enlarged and there is a sense of fluctuation, it is necessary to pay attention to the possibility of liver cancer. Because liver cancer causes portal hypertension and hypoproteinemia in the liver, fluid leaks into the abdominal cavity, forming ascites.
Hemangioma: Some red or purple dots or patches appear on the skin or mucous membranes, so pay attention to whether there is a possibility of liver cancer. Because liver cancer causes blood circulation disorders and blood vessels to dilate, leading to the formation of hemangiomas.
These signals are not necessarily all manifestations of liver cancer, but may also be symptoms of other diseases. If you find that you have these abnormal signals, be sure to go to the hospital in time to check and confirm the diagnosis.
Blood tests: mainly to check the level of serum alpha-fetoprotein and other tumor markers. AFP is a protein that is present in the blood during the fetal period and is normally low or undetectable in adulthood. However, in some malignant tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma and testicular cancer, AFP will be significantly elevated.
AFP is a commonly used indicator for screening and monitoring hepatocellular carcinoma. Not all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma have elevated AFP, and not all elevated AFP is hepatocellular carcinoma. AFP can only be used as a reference indicator, not as a basis for diagnosis.
Imaging examination: ultrasound, CT, MRI and other equipment are used to scan and observe the liver to determine whether there are abnormal nodules or mass lesions. Imaging can provide more intuitive and accurate information, which can determine the size, location, degree of strengthening and other characteristics of the tumor. Imaging is one of the important methods for diagnosing liver cancer.
Histology: Tissue samples of the liver are obtained by needle biopsy or surgical resection, and microscopic observation and analysis are carried out to determine whether there are malignant cells and types. Histology is the most reliable and accurate way to diagnose liver cancer and is necessary to distinguish between types of liver cancer.
Treatment of liver cancer
Surgical treatment: mainly by removing the tumor or part of the liver, to achieve the purpose of radical cure or remission. Surgery is the most effective and commonly used treatment for liver cancer, especially for patients with early-stage, non-metastatic liver cancer.
Not all liver cancer patients are suitable for surgical treatment, and it needs to be considered comprehensively according to factors such as the size of the tumor, the location of the tumor and the relationship between the surrounding structure. Surgical treatment also has certain risks and complications, such as bleeding, infection, liver failure, etc., so it needs to be carried out under the guidance of professional hospitals and doctors.
Chemical therapy: intravenous or oral administration of some drugs that inhibit or kill cancer cells to achieve the purpose of controlling or alleviating tumor growth. Chemotherapy is an adjuvant or palliative method for the treatment of liver cancer, especially for patients with intermediate and advanced disease, extensive and metastatic liver cancer. Chemical therapy also has certain limitations and side effects, which need to be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.
Targeted drug therapy: through intravenous injection or oral administration of some drugs targeting specific molecular targets or signaling pathways, the purpose of inhibiting or blocking the growth and metastasis of cancer cells is achieved. Targeted drug therapy is a new or experimental method for the treatment of liver cancer, especially for some liver cancer patients who are ineffective or resistant to traditional chemical drugs.
Other treatments: There are some other treatments, such as interventional therapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, TCM treatment, etc., which are used for different liver cancer patients and conditions.
Interventional treatment refers to the direct injection of drugs or other substances into the tumor or its blood vessels through catheters or needles to achieve the purpose of local killing or blockage.
Immunotherapy is a method of fighting or destroying cancer cells by strengthening or modulating the body's immune system. Biotherapy refers to the use of some biological products or genetic engineering techniques to affect the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. A method of using some Chinese herbal medicines or prescriptions to regulate the body's qi, blood, yin and yang, eliminate humid heat, poisonous evil, activate blood circulation and remove stasis, and inhibit tumors.
Prevention is better than cure
Liver cancer is a very scary cancer, and its occurrence and progression are affected by many factors. Although there are many treatments available, the results are not ideal, and there are many risks and side effects. Preventing liver cancer is more important than treating it. How can we prevent liver cancer?
Prevention of hepatitis: Hepatitis is one of the leading causes of liver cancer, so preventing hepatitis is the first step in preventing liver cancer. We should pay attention to personal hygiene and dietary hygiene, and avoid contact or ingestion of contaminated water, food, blood, etc.
We should regularly carry out liver function tests and related tests such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C to detect and treat chronic hepatitis in time. We should be vaccinated against hepatitis B and other related preventive vaccines to enhance the body's immunity.
Abstain from alcohol and quit smoking: Alcohol and nicotine are substances that are harmful to the liver, and long-term excessive intake can lead to liver damage and cancer. Therefore, we should control the amount of alcohol and smoking, and it is best to quit completely. If you already have alcoholic liver disease or other liver problems, you should resolutely quit drinking and quitting smoking.
Healthy diet: We should pay attention to a balanced diet and balanced nutrition, and eat more foods rich in protein, vitamins, trace elements and other foods that are beneficial to liver health, such as milk, soy products, fish, vegetables and fruits. We should eat less or not eat some foods that contain carcinogens or are not conducive to liver metabolism, such as moldy foods, pickled foods, high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, etc.
Moderate exercise: exercise can promote blood circulation and metabolism, enhance physical fitness and immunity, and prevent liver disease and tumors. We should choose some exercise methods that suit us according to our physical condition and preferences. We should insist on exercising for more than half an hour a day to avoid being sedentary or overworked.
epilogue
Liver cancer is a very scary cancer, and its occurrence and progression are affected by many factors. It has no obvious symptoms in the early stage and develops rapidly, so many patients are already in the middle and late stages when they are discovered.
Although there are many treatments available, the results are not ideal, and there are many risks and side effects. Therefore, preventing liver cancer is more important than treating liver cancer. We should pay attention to our physical changes, find some abnormal signals in time, and be sure to go to the hospital in time for examination and diagnosis.
What are some good ways you can prevent liver cancer? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area below to tell us.