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Lao Zhang, a 67-year-old retired worker, recently felt that something was wrong with his physical condition.
For the past six months, he has often felt tightness in his chest and shortness of breath, but to be honest, he hasn't paid much attention to it. He thought it was just the everyday situation of the elderly, after all, getting older, right?
One day, Lao Zhang was playing chess with his old buddies when he suddenly felt difficulty breathing, and this time the symptoms were worse than ever. Friends rushed him to the hospital.
In the hospital, the doctor conducted a series of examinations on Lao Zhang, and the final diagnosis was heart-wrenching - advanced lung cancer. The doctor sighed and said, "Lao Zhang, you had these symptoms half a year ago, why didn't you come for a check-up earlier?"
Lao Zhang had mixed feelings in his heart at this time. He recalled those small symptoms half a year ago, and his heart was full of regret. If you had taken this to heart at the time, perhaps the consequences would have been different.
The doctor saw Lao Zhang's remorse and said softly: "Many people ignore these initial symptoms and think that they are just normal changes brought about by old age. But in fact, for lung cancer, early detection is really important. ”
In the doctor's office, Lao Zhang asked a question, and he wondered: "Doctor, my symptoms are so obvious, why didn't I realize that it might be lung cancer?"
The doctor replied seriously: "Lao Zhang, this is not strange. Lung cancer generally has no obvious symptoms in the early stage, or the symptoms are not specific enough to be easily detected. For example, if you have chest tightness and shortness of breath, many people mistake it for heart problems or simple signs of old age. ”
"In fact, according to my previous cases, many lung cancer patients do not pay much attention to these 'minor problems' before they are diagnosed. More than half of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. That's why we always emphasize the importance of regular check-ups, especially for those with a history of smoking. ”
After hearing this, Lao Zhang nodded, and felt some comfort in his heart. He understands that although he can't go back in time, his experience may remind more people to stay alert to their physical condition, seek medical attention in time, and don't wait for the body to send a strong signal that cannot be ignored. After all, health is the foundation of everything, and without health, no amount of time can only be blank.
Let's dig a little deeper into the topic of lung cancer. Although Lao Zhang is an ordinary retired worker, his experience reflects a common phenomenon in society - neglect of one's own health, especially for lung cancer, a "silent" disease.
Did you know that the incubation period for lung cancer can be very long, and the early symptoms can really be easily overlooked? Just like Lao Zhang, many people will see chest tightness and shortness of breath as a normal reaction of old age, or blame it on physical decline, chronic bronchitis, etc.
But let's talk about the hard stuff. Half of patients with early-stage lung cancer do not have any symptoms at the initial stage, or the symptoms are extremely insignificant. By the time the situation arises, many patients have lost the best time for treatment.
Returning to Lao Zhang's situation, his experience tells us that ordinary people's understanding of lung cancer is far from enough. A lot of times, we emphasize early detection and early treatment, but in reality, not many people actually do it. It's not that I don't want to, it's that I lack enough knowledge and awareness.
For example, in addition to the well-known smoking factors, there are many risk factors for lung cancer, such as environmental pollution, occupational exposure, and even genetic factors.
Let's go back to Lao Zhang's ward, he has a question that bothers him: "Doctor, I know now that I should have come for a check-up earlier, but if I had come earlier, would my condition have been very different?"
The doctor replied, "Lao Zhang, it is true that if lung cancer is detected at an early stage, the treatment effect will be very different. Early-stage lung cancer can often be surgically removed, and the survival rate after surgery is much higher than that of advanced stage. ”
"Just like a case I encountered before, the patient accidentally found a small nodule in the lung during a physical examination, and after timely treatment, he has now recovered well and is almost the same as a normal person. ”
Lao Zhang listened, although he had regrets in his heart, but he also understood the doctor's words better. He realized that he couldn't be careless about his health, and even if he started now, it was better than not starting at all.
What are the signs of lung cancer?