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In China, whenever liver cancer is mentioned, it is worrying. According to statistics, among all malignant tumors, liver cancer has the highest mortality rate.
The most heart-wrenching thing is that the five-year survival rate of liver cancer patients in mainland China is less than 20%, which is much lower than that of some developed countries. What is the reason behind this?
Mr. Zhang, a well-known infectious disease expert, pointed out that the key problem is that "the patient is found too late".
Liver cancer is silent
The reason why liver cancer is called the "silent killer" is mainly because its early symptoms are extremely insignificant.
Many patients may experience only mild fatigue or loss of appetite in the early stages, symptoms that can easily be overlooked or mistaken for work stress or irregular lifestyles.
By the time there is significant jaundice, ascites, or a sharp drop in body weight, liver cancer is often in the middle and advanced stages.
The liver is an organ with a strong regenerative capacity, and even if part of its function is impaired, it is able to maintain basic physiological functions through the remaining healthy part, which further masks the severity of the disease.
By the time the symptoms do become apparent, the prime time for treatment is often missed.
Inadequacy of the screening system
In China, the prevalence of liver cancer screening is relatively low. Although high-risk groups, such as those with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C, should have regular liver function tests and liver ultrasounds, the implementation of this policy needs to be strengthened.
Many high-risk groups do not have regular check-ups due to lack of awareness of disease prevention or distrust of the healthcare system.
Some primary care facilities have a shortage of equipment and professional technicians, which limits the efficiency and accuracy of liver cancer screening.
Even if screening is performed, it may not be possible to detect lesions in a timely manner due to limitations in technology and equipment.
Lack of knowledge and awareness
"Liver disease is no small matter, and slightesting it is tantamount to self-harm. Although this sentence has been circulated for a long time, in fact, most people's understanding of liver cancer is still very limited.
Many people are not aware of the risk factors for liver cancer, such as chronic hepatitis, long-term alcohol consumption, etc., let alone be alert to the early symptoms of liver cancer.
The lack of public health education has left many people in a passive state when facing liver cancer. When the disease is detected, it is often the lesion that has progressed to a stage that is difficult to reverse.
This widespread lack of awareness and knowledge of prevention has become a major obstacle to the treatment of liver cancer.
Dr. Zhang stressed that to change this situation, it is necessary to raise public awareness and knowledge about liver cancer, and at the same time improve the capacity of early screening and diagnosis of liver cancer in the healthcare system.
And for each of us, we should also pay more attention to our own health, and we should not take any abnormalities in our bodies lightly.
Current status and comparison of liver cancer screening at home and abroad
Globally, the implementation of liver cancer screening varies widely. Japan and South Korea, for example, have a much higher five-year survival rate for liver cancer than China, largely due to their systematic screening programs and high public health awareness.
In Japan, the government has implemented a wide range of free or subsidized liver screening programs for hepatitis virus carriers and other high-risk groups, which greatly improve the chances of early detection and treatment of liver cancer.
In contrast, in China, although there has been some progress in the prevention and treatment of liver cancer in recent years, the overall screening system is still insufficient.
In many areas, liver cancer screening is not widely included in the routine health check-up program, and there is a lack of continuous and systematic screening programs, resulting in many liver cancer patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage.
As a direct consequence of this difference, there is a significant difference in the survival rate of liver cancer patients between the two countries. The five-year survival rate for liver cancer patients in Japan and South Korea can reach more than 60%, while in China it is much lower.
Behind this is not only the difference in medical technology, but also the improvement of the screening system and the popularization of public health awareness.
It can be seen that the early detection of liver cancer is closely related to the improvement of the screening system.
In order to improve the survival rate of liver cancer patients, China needs to fundamentally improve the coverage and quality of liver cancer screening, and at the same time improve the public's awareness of the early symptoms of liver cancer.
Limitations and progress in treatment
Although the medical community has made some progress in the treatment of liver cancer, the treatment options faced by patients in China are still relatively limited, especially in the later stages of the disease.
At present, the main treatment methods for liver cancer include surgery, local ablation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
Because most patients are in the middle and advanced stages at the time of diagnosis, only a small percentage of patients are candidates for surgery or local ablation.
Targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy have shown good therapeutic prospects in recent years, and have become important means to improve the survival rate of liver cancer patients.
For example, a variety of targeted drugs have been shown to be effective in prolonging the survival of liver cancer patients.
The high cost of treatment and the adverse reactions of some patients to drugs limit the availability of these advanced treatments.
Individual differences in the treatment process also greatly affect the effectiveness of the treatment. Genetic factors, virus type, liver function status, and concomitant diseases all affect a patient's response to treatment.
This requires the doctor to consider the treatment individually in order to achieve the best possible outcome.
Influence of socio-economic factors
Economic conditions are one of the important social factors affecting the treatment effect of liver cancer.
In China, residents of economically underdeveloped regions often abandon high-cost treatments, such as targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy, due to financial difficulties.
This has a direct impact on the patient's treatment choice and treatment outcomes. The level of education is also closely related to the prevention and early detection of liver cancer.
In general, the more educated people are more likely to be aware of the risk factors and early symptoms of liver cancer, and are more willing to participate in regular check-ups.
On the contrary, in areas with scarce educational resources, residents often lack these basic medical and health knowledge, thus missing the best opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment.
Moving Forward: A Dual-Track Driver of Policy and Public Education
In the face of the severe challenge of liver cancer, China needs to make efforts in both policy and public education.
Governments can increase the coverage of liver cancer screening, especially among high-risk groups, by developing specific policies.
For example, through government subsidies, the financial burden of liver cancer screening and treatment will be reduced, so that more people can receive early screening and effective treatment.
It is equally important to strengthen public health education. Through a variety of channels such as the media, schools and the community, people are raised to raise awareness of liver cancer risk factors, sensitivity to early symptoms, and importance to regular check-ups.
These measures can increase public awareness of self-care, thereby reducing the difficulty of treatment due to late detection.
Innovative research and cutting-edge technology
Advances in science and technology have brought new hope for the treatment of liver cancer. Gene editing technologies such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system provide the possibility of precision medicine, allowing us to intervene in liver cancer cells at the molecular level.
The application of artificial intelligence in medical image analysis is improving the accuracy and efficiency of early diagnosis of liver cancer.
Multiple research teams around the world are developing novel immunotherapeutic approaches, such as modified CAR-T cell therapies that specifically target specific antigens in liver cancer.
These emerging therapies demonstrate the potential for a cure, and although they are still in clinical trials, their prospects are encouraging.
With the gradual maturity of personalized medicine, future liver cancer treatment may pay more attention to individual differences of patients, including genomic information and lifestyle habits, in order to design more accurate treatment plans.
The importance of international cooperation and exchanges
In today's globalized world, the progress of liver cancer treatment is not only the task of a certain country or region, but the common responsibility of all mankind.
International medical research cooperation can facilitate the exchange of knowledge and technology, and accelerate the development and application of new treatments.
China has cooperated with the World Health Organization and other international institutions in various forms of liver cancer research.
These collaborative projects not only enhance China's status in international medical research, but also help Chinese scholars understand and introduce advanced international treatment technologies and concepts.
International cooperation can also contribute to the co-design of epidemic control and public health strategies for areas with a high incidence of liver cancer, especially in prevention and early screening.
Humanistic care and future prospects
The treatment and care of liver cancer patients is not only a medical issue, but also involves deep humanistic care.
The medical team needs to pay attention to the patient's psychological state and quality of life, and provide them with necessary emotional support and psychological counseling.
Looking to the future, with the deepening of medical research and the development of technology, we can expect to see more revolutionary treatments for liver cancer.
Through continuous public health education and policy support, the incidence and mortality of liver cancer can be effectively reduced, and the effective control and prevention of this major health threat can be achieved.
At the end of the day, what experiences and opinions do you want to share?