Before reading this article, I sincerely invite you to click "Follow", which is not only convenient for you to discuss and share, but also to share more professional health knowledge with you, so as to escort your health, thank you for your support.
"It's really unlucky, I'm honest, how could I catch up with such an illness!" Aunt Li sat on the hospital bed, complaining and looking through her examination report.
Aunt Li, 57 years old this year, has worked at the local post office all her life, responsible for sorting and delivering mail, and is praised by everyone as a "mail elf" because of her serious work.
However, Aunt Li's luck doesn't seem to be permanent. Half a year ago, she was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Although she underwent an operation and was clearly told by the doctor that she needed continuous chemotherapy and strict life management to control her condition, she always fished for three days and dried her nets for two days.
"Didn't the doctor say that the surgery was good, I felt that I was recovering quickly, and I didn't have to run around so hard. Aunt Li's optimism is actually a kind of self-comfort.
Her husband, Mr. Zhang, repeatedly advised her to go to the hospital for re-examination and treatment on time, but each time she was rejected by her persistence and stubbornness.
Aunt Li's situation is not unique. A small percentage of cancer patients have recurrence or worsening after surgery because they neglect follow-up treatment.
Among them, many people are too optimistic about the initial treatment effect of doctors, lower their vigilance, and ignore the protracted nature of cancer treatment.
Behind this optimism is a misunderstanding of cancer. Even if the cancer cells appear to have been eliminated after initial treatment, tiny, undetected cancer cells may still be latent in the body, which requires further treatment with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, etc. to ensure complete clearance.
In Aunt Li's case, her neglect eventually led to a recurrence of the cancer. Treatment after recurrence is more complex and difficult than when it was first detected, which not only greatly reduces the quality of life, but also greatly increases the cost of treatment.
In fact, early and prompt treatment can greatly improve survival, and the cost and physical burden are much lower than treatment after recurrence.
"If the doctor had come in the morning, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad. Mr. Zhang regretted it and he clearly remembered the importance of every follow-up that the doctor emphasized after the surgery.
Cancer patients follow a comprehensive treatment plan from their doctor after surgery, including regular check-ups, chemotherapy, and lifestyle modifications, which are all key measures to prevent cancer from returning. For example, continued chemotherapy can reduce the recurrence rate of certain types of lung cancer to at least minimum.
That's why ongoing medical monitoring and treatment is essential for cancer patients. Disease management is not only about treating the symptoms that have already manifested, but also about preventing potential recurrence and further exacerbations.
Doctors often emphasize that even if our surgery has been successful, cancer patients must be careful and need to build a long-term commitment to treatment and active participation in their daily lives.
Mr. Zhang inevitably fell into deep self-blame when dealing with his wife's funeral, "If I had been more resolute, maybe I could have bought more time...... His helplessness and pain are the common aspirations of those family members who have persuaded their relatives but have not been heard.
At a public health talk, Mr. Zhang shared his experience with the people who came to the consultation, and one asked, "Doctors, how can we more effectively support and motivate family members to follow their doctor's instructions for treatment when they are facing such a serious condition?"
The doctor replied, "Family support is very important for cancer patients. It is recommended that you set up a family health group, participate in regular medical consultations together, and provide positive psychological support and practical help to patients in their daily lives. ”
Mr. Zhang's sharing at the public lecture resonated with many people, and everyone was actively discussing how to help cancer patients at home more effectively.
One of the young audience members asked a question: "Doctor, you just mentioned regular medical consultations, can you elaborate on how this works and does it cause additional psychological stress on patients?"
The doctor smiled and patiently replied, "That's a very good question. First of all, regular medical consultation is not simply about asking the patient to register for a doctor's appointment, but more about continuous communication with the treatment team.
We can set up a WeChat group to include the attending doctor, patients and their family members. In this way, not only can the patient's health status and treatment response be shared in real time, but also the questions of family members can be answered at any time, reducing unnecessary hospital trips. ”
As for the problem of psychological stress, in fact, in this way, patients can feel more family support and medical security, which is very helpful for their psychological adjustment.
Through the doctor's detailed answers, the audience had a clearer understanding of how to implement effective cancer treatment management at home. For families and patients, such information is not only part of the treatment, but also a soothing soul.
What do you think about the post-operative review?