Among many malignant tumors, lung cancer has attracted much attention due to its high incidence and mortality rate. To this end, Zhou Yunzhi, director and chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Emergency General Hospital, interprets the incidence, symptoms, high-risk groups, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this disease from a medical point of view, so that popular science knowledge can be closer to our lives.
Incidence and status of lung cancer: a wake-up call in the shadows
In recent years, the incidence of lung cancer has been increasing year by year, and it has become a major killer of human health. According to statistics, the number of new lung cancer patients in mainland China is huge every year, and this number is still rising. The high incidence of lung cancer is related to a variety of factors, including environmental pollution, smoking, occupational exposure, genetic factors, etc. This grim situation has forced us to re-examine our lifestyles and environments and raise awareness of cancer prevention.
Symptoms of lung cancer: distress signals from the body
The symptoms of lung cancer are varied and often difficult to detect in the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, patients may experience typical symptoms such as cough, blood in sputum, chest pain, and shortness of breath. In addition, lung cancer may also cause systemic symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and loss of appetite. The appearance of these symptoms may be that the body is sending us a distress signal to remind us to seek medical attention in time.
It is important to note that symptomatic presentation may vary from patient to patient, and the severity of symptoms is related to the size and location of the tumor. Therefore, once the symptoms of suspected lung cancer appear, you should seek medical attention in time and undergo relevant examinations to confirm the diagnosis.
People at high risk of developing lung cancer: the risk is always there
Lung cancer is not traceless, and some specific groups of people are more likely to become high-risk groups for lung cancer due to their lifestyle habits, working environment and other factors. First of all, long-term smokers are undoubtedly one of the high-risk groups for lung cancer. The harmful substances in tobacco can damage lung cells and increase the risk of cancer. Secondly, people who are exposed to harmful substances for a long time, such as miners and chemical workers, also face a higher risk of lung cancer. In addition, genetic factors also affect the incidence of lung cancer to a certain extent. People with a family history of lung cancer have a relatively high risk.
For these high-risk groups, we should strengthen health monitoring and conduct regular physical examinations in order to detect the signs of lung cancer early. At the same time, high-risk groups should also actively improve their living habits, stay away from carcinogenic factors, and reduce the risk of lung cancer.
How to diagnose lung cancer: Lifting the fog and clarifying the truth
The diagnosis of lung cancer is a complex and rigorous process that requires the use of a variety of examination methods. First, the doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis based on the person's symptoms and signs. Subsequently, patients may need imaging tests such as chest X-rays and CT scans to look for abnormal lesions in the lungs. If imaging tests reveal a suspicious lesion, doctors may perform further sputum cytology, bronchoscopy, or needle biopsy to obtain pathological evidence of the diseased tissue.
During the diagnosis process, the doctor will also pay attention to the patient's medical history, lifestyle habits and other information to comprehensively determine the possibility of lung cancer. Through these scientific diagnostic methods, we can unravel the fog of lung cancer, clarify the truth, and provide a basis for subsequent treatment.
How to treat lung cancer: scientific treatment to regain the light of life
The treatment plan for lung cancer varies from person to person, and it is necessary to develop a personalized treatment plan according to the patient's condition, age, physical condition, and other factors. At present, the treatment methods for lung cancer mainly include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
For patients with early-stage lung cancer, surgical resection is the treatment of choice. The tumor and its surrounding tissues are surgically removed to achieve radical cure. For patients with intermediate and advanced disease, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have become important adjuvant treatments. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells and inhibit the growth of tumors, while radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. In recent years, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, as an emerging treatment modality, are also playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of lung cancer. In addition, in addition to chemoradiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, there are also minimally invasive interventional treatments, such as transbronchoscopic arterial perfusion chemoembolization, "starvation" of tumors, percutaneous argon-helium knife or microwave radiofrequency ablation, "freezing to death" or "scalding" of tumors, and for patients with airway blockage, airway can also be dredged through bronchoscopy, so as to win time and opportunities for follow-up treatment.
During the treatment, patients should actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment plan and maintain a good attitude and living habits. At the same time, regular review and follow-up are also key to ensure the effectiveness of treatment.
How to Prevent Lung Cancer: Building a Healthy Line of Defense
The key to preventing lung cancer is to stay away from carcinogenic factors and develop good lifestyle habits. First and foremost, quitting smoking is the top priority for lung cancer prevention. Smoking is one of the main risk factors for lung cancer, and quitting smoking can greatly reduce the risk of cancer. Secondly, avoid prolonged exposure to environments with severe air pollution, such as industrial polluted areas, traffic congestion areas, etc. In addition, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as a reasonable diet, moderate exercise, and adequate sleep, can also help improve the body's immunity and prevent the occurrence of lung cancer.
For high-risk groups, regular check-ups and lung cancer screenings are especially important. Through early detection and treatment, the cure rate and quality of life of lung cancer can be greatly improved.
Let's start by understanding lung cancer, actively prevent, early detection, and scientific treatment, and jointly build a healthy line of defense. Through medical interpretation and easy-to-understand popular science knowledge, we can better understand lung cancer and protect the health and happiness of ourselves and our families.
Expert recommendation
Yunzhi Zhou, Director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Chief Physician, Professor, and Master's Supervisor of the Emergency General Hospital.
Technical expertise: He has been practicing medicine for more than 30 years, and has rich experience in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, chest infectious diseases, interstitial diseases, thoracic tumors and respiratory critical diseases, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of various benign and malignant airway diseases through bronchoscopic intervention. Since 2004, he has completed more than 10,000 cases of various microscopic diagnosis and treatment operations, and has rich experience in interventional treatment of respiratory diseases, especially in the combination of local treatment of lung cancer (transvascular intervention, transairway intervention, percutaneous interventional ablation and other minimally invasive treatments for lung cancer) and systemic treatment.
Academic positions: Vice Chairman of the Infectious Oncology Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, Chairman of the Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment Translational Medicine Branch of the Beijing Society of Integrative Medicine, Member of the Standing Committee of the Tumor Photodynamic Therapy Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, Member of the Oncology and Respiratory Disease Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, Member of the Respiratory Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, Member of the National Occupational Disease Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis Committee, and Expert of the Expert Database of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.
Scientific research achievements: participated in the compilation of more than 10 monographs and published more than 40 papers. As the main researcher, he has undertaken a number of projects, and has won 3 third prizes and 3 second prizes of the Science and Technology Progress Award of the Coal Industry Association.
Visiting hours: Monday morning, Wednesday afternoon
Source: Emergency General Hospital
Correspondent: Mo Peng
Editor: Zhou Yun
Reviewer: Chen Shirui
Issued: Daley Red