On an ordinary weekend, Mr. Li accompanied his elderly father to the hospital for a routine annual check-up, hoping to ensure the health of the elderly. For Mr. Li, the physical examination has always been a routine and there has never been any abnormality. However, this medical check-up unexpectedly changed his life.
Mr. Li decided to do a comprehensive medical examination by the way, after all, he has heard a lot of the phrase "prevention is better than cure". The result was unexpected - the doctor's expression on the examination report was solemn, telling him that an abnormality in the stomach had been detected. After further detailed examination, it was diagnosed as early-stage gastric cancer.
This is undoubtedly a huge blow to Mr. Lee. He couldn't help but wonder if his diet Xi and whether his lifestyle had deviated. But what shocked him even more was that if it weren't for the chance, the disease might have continued to go unnoticed.
This incident not only shocked Mr. Li, but also sounded the health alarm bell for us. What are the important check-up items that we often overlook in our daily physical examinations, and how can we understand and grasp our health status more comprehensively? This article will explore this topic in depth, hoping to provide readers with practical health management knowledge in order to better take care of their own health and the health of their families.
Early diagnosis and prevention of gastric cancer
Stomach cancer, this term carries an ominous omen in the minds of many people. But in reality, if stomach cancer is detected at an early stage, the probability of cure is quite high. Early stomach cancer often presents with subtle symptoms, such as occasional stomach pain, indigestion, or loss of appetite. These symptoms can easily be overlooked, or mistaken for ordinary gastritis. Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness of the early symptoms of gastric cancer.
In addition to being alert to these symptoms, lifestyle modifications are also key to preventing stomach cancer. In terms of diet, you should reduce the intake of high-salt and pickled foods, increase the intake of fresh vegetables and fruits, and maintain a balanced diet. In addition to this, maintaining a moderate amount of physical activity and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and smoking can all help reduce the risk of stomach cancer.
However, the most effective means of prevention is still regular stomach examinations, such as gastroscopy. Gastroscopy can not only help diagnose stomach cancer, but also detect and treat other problems in the stomach before it becomes cancerous, such as Helicobacter pylori infection, which is an important risk factor for stomach cancer. Therefore, even if there are no obvious symptoms, regular stomach tests are recommended for high-risk individuals.
An item that is often overlooked in a physical examination
In the routine medical check-up, some important tests are often overlooked. For example, many people rarely choose to have a gastroscopy when they have a physical examination. Part of this may be due to misconceptions about gastroscopy, such as concerns about pain or discomfort, or the belief that there are no symptoms that don't require testing. However, as mentioned above, gastric cancer often has no obvious symptoms in the early stage, and gastroscopy is an effective means to detect gastric cancer at an early stage.
In addition, screening tests are often overlooked for certain genetically predominant cancers, such as colon cancer. Regular colonoscopies are essential for the early detection of this type of cancer. However, due to concerns about the examination process or lack of awareness of the risk of the disease, many people miss the opportunity for early diagnosis.
Therefore, when conducting a physical examination, it is important to communicate with the doctor in detail, choose the appropriate examination items according to the individual's health status and family medical history, and do not neglect those tests that may seem unnecessary but are actually very important.
The necessity and misconception of gastroscopy
The importance of gastroscopy as a diagnostic tool is self-evident. However, some misconceptions surrounding gastroscopy have led to many people avoiding it. First of all, regarding the pain problem of gastroscopy, modern medicine has made great progress. Minimally invasive techniques are used, along with appropriate analgesia and sedation, to greatly reduce the discomfort. Secondly, there are concerns about the safety of gastroscopy, which is actually very safe when performed by an experienced doctor.
Gastroscopy can not only check the gastric mucosa for abnormalities, but also perform a biopsy if necessary to confirm the presence of cancer. Regular gastroscopy is especially important for people with a family history of stomach cancer, or for people with precancerous gastric lesions such as chronic gastritis.
Therefore, a correct understanding of the necessity and safety of gastroscopy is of great significance to improve the diagnosis rate of early gastric cancer.
Case Study: Effectiveness of Early Intervention
Through specific case analysis, we can more intuitively understand the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. For example, studies have shown that the five-year survival rate of patients with early-stage gastric cancer can be greatly improved with prompt treatment.
One patient, who had a history of stomach cancer in his family, insisted on having a gastroscopy once a year, although he had no obvious symptoms. During a routine examination, the doctor noticed slight changes in the lining of the stomach. After biopsy, it was confirmed that it was early-stage stomach cancer. Due to the timely detection, the patient recovered well through surgery and subsequent treatment, and the quality of life was hardly affected.
This case highlights the importance of regular check-ups even in the absence of symptoms. Early detection is not a rare lucky event, but an outcome that can be achieved through scientific health management and regular check-ups.