In my career as a doctor, I have met a wide variety of cancer patients. Everyone's story is different, but their common challenge is the uncertainty and fear of facing cancer. Especially when the cancer has progressed to the middle and advanced stages, the difficulty and complexity of treatment increases significantly. At this stage, many patients and their families are full of doubts and helplessness about "why was my illness discovered so late?" and "why is it so difficult to treat?" Today, I would like to uncover some secrets of incurable cancer in the middle and advanced stages through the story of a special patient, Aunt Li.
Aunt Li is a very optimistic person, but when she was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer, her smile disappeared for a while. She came to my office with her family's worries and her own fears. Aunt Li told me that she used to feel stomach discomfort often, but always thought it was just ordinary indigestion, and she didn't realize the seriousness of the problem until she developed severe symptoms. This is not uncommon in my career, and many cancer patients are not diagnosed until the disease progresses to an advanced stage, which greatly increases the difficulty of treatment.
Cancer Latent and Detection: Early Detection, Early Prevention
Have you ever thought that people who seem to be incredibly healthy are suddenly diagnosed with cancer? As an oncologist, there are many similar stories in my clinic diary. Today, I want to talk to you about the incubation period of cancer and why it is often detected in the middle and late stages. Don't worry, I try to use the most plain language possible to avoid making this a dull biology lesson.
Stealth for cancer: the incubation period
The incubation period of cancer is like a cunning invisible person, you know it is somewhere, but you can't see or touch it. At this stage, cancer cells grow quietly and slowly, but often do not cause obvious symptoms, or symptoms are so mild that they are easy to ignore. For example, a small breast lump may be thought to be just plain swelling, and a persistent cough may be thought to be a sequelae of a cold.
Why is it often "caught" in the middle and late stages?
Lack of routine health check-ups: Many people wait until they have physical problems before going to the doctor, and they rarely do a comprehensive health check-up. It's like, your car needs regular maintenance to prevent breakdowns, and the same goes for your body. Regular check-ups can detect the signs of cancer early.
Ignoring early symptoms: Some early symptoms of cancer can be easily overlooked or misunderstood. For example, a new mole on the skin is rarely immediately associated with skin cancer, or constipation or diarrhea is more likely to be blamed on an improper diet.
Small changes, big differences
Make it a habit to have regular check-ups: Just as you would check the condition of your car regularly, schedule an "annual check-up" for your body. Especially friends with a family history of cancer should pay more attention to this.
Keep an eye out for small changes in your body: any new, unusual symptoms are something to look out for. Don't self-diagnose, don't delay, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Lifestyle modifications: Eating a healthy diet, exercising in moderation, getting enough rest, avoiding smoking and drinking too much alcohol are all examples of what sound clichés can actually be effective in reducing the risk of cancer.
The conundrum of treatment
The treatment of intermediate and advanced cancers faces many challenges. The first is the heterogeneity of cancer cells, which is like facing an army of enemies with different abilities, which means that even the most effective treatments may only be effective against some of them. In addition, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, which are commonly used to treat advanced cancers, have their limitations. For example, surgery may not completely remove metastatic tumors, and chemotherapy and radiation therapy may limit the dose used because of side effects.
The dawn of emerging treatments
The good news is that with the advancement of science, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, two emerging treatment methods, have brought new hope for the treatment of intermediate and advanced cancers. Targeted therapy is like a smart bomb with precise coordinates, directly attacking cancer cells without causing much damage to normal cells. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, activates our own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. While promising, these approaches are not a panacea, and treatment needs to be tailored to the patient's specific situation.
Facing challenges, move forward
In closing, I would like to say that while the path to treatment for mid-to-advanced cancer is challenging, that doesn't mean there is no hope. As doctors, we use all our knowledge and skills to find the most appropriate treatment for our patients. As patients and their families, the most important thing is to stay positive, believe in the science, believe in the doctors, and have the courage to face any challenges that may arise.
In this battle against cancer, we may feel scared, exhausted, and even hopeless at times. But remember, every day we are making progress and the science is constantly improving. In the face of cancer, we will never give up hope.