Cancer, also known as malignant tumors, arises from abnormal cell proliferation and is not regulated by the body's normal mechanisms. It can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissues, and even spread throughout the body through the blood and lymphatic system. Its severity is manifested in high morbidity, high mortality and far-reaching impact on the quality of life of patients, and has become a health threat that cannot be ignored in modern society. In the face of this major challenge, the urgency of cancer screening has become more apparent. Today, experts from the Department of Oncology at Handan Mingren Hospital will talk to us about "cancer screening".
People at high risk of all types of cancer
1. People at high risk of lung cancer include:
(1) Smokers who have smoked for 30 years (i.e., the number of packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoking) reaching or exceeding 30 pack-years, including those who have quit smoking but have quit smoking for less than 15 years and have smoked for ≥ 30-pack-years before;
(2) People who have lived or worked with smokers for a long time and have been exposed to secondhand smoke for 20 years or more;
(3) people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
(4) People with a history of occupational exposure for at least 1 year, such as exposure to asbestos, radon, beryllium, chromium, cadmium, nickel, silicon, soot and soot;
(5) Those who have first-degree relatives (parents, children, and siblings) in the family who have been diagnosed with lung cancer.
2. People at high risk of gastric cancer include:
(1) People infected with Helicobacter pylori;
(2) People who maintain a high-salt diet for a long time, frequently consume smoked fried food, red meat and processed meat products, and have bad eating habits;
(3) People who smoke regularly;
(4) Heavy drinkers;
(5) People with a family history of gastric cancer in first-degree relatives.
3. People at high risk of liver cancer include:
(1) Hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection;
(2) excessive drinkers;
(3) People with liver diseases related to hepatic steatosis or metabolic dysfunction;
(4) people exposed to aflatoxin B1 in long-term diet;
(5) Patients with liver cirrhosis due to various reasons;
(6) People with a family history of liver cancer, especially men over 40 years old.
4. People at high risk of breast cancer include:
(1) Immediate family members (such as parents, children, siblings) with a history of breast cancer;
(2) women with a history of breast cancer;
(3) Those who have a history of thoracic radiotherapy before the age of 30 and the cumulative radiotherapy dose reaches or exceeds 10Gy;
(4) Women diagnosed with ADH, ALH, or LCIS before the age of 40.
5. People at high risk of colorectal cancer include:
(1) People with first-degree relatives with a history of colorectal cancer (including family history of non-hereditary colorectal cancer and family history of hereditary colorectal cancer);
(2) people with a history of colorectal cancer;
(3) People with a history of intestinal adenoma;
(4) people with inflammatory bowel disease that does not heal for 8 to 10 years;
(5) People with a positive fecal occult blood test.
Common cancer screening programs
1. Blood test: Detect tumor markers in the blood, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), to preliminarily determine whether there is abnormality in the body. These markers are associated with specific cancer types, for example, AFP is associated with liver cancer, while CEA is associated with colorectal cancer.
2. Imaging examinations: including X-ray, CT and MRI, etc., which can observe the structure and morphology of organs in the body, so as to find potential tumor lesions. For example, low-dose spiral CT of the lungs is effective in detecting lung tumors, while abdominal ultrasound or CT is useful for examining digestive system tumors.
3. Endoscopy: such as gastroscopy and colonoscopy, can directly show the internal conditions of the digestive tract and help to detect potential tumor lesions in time.
4. Breast examination: For women, breast examination is a very important cancer screening item. This includes breast palpation and mammograms (such as mammography) to detect lumps or other abnormalities in the breast.
5. Cervical examination: including cervical cytology (TCT) and HPV testing, etc., to check whether the cervix has abnormal cells or viral infection.
6. Prostate examination: For men, prostate examination is also an important cancer prevention screening item. These include prostate palpation and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing to check for abnormalities in the prostate.
Cancer screening is an important means of preventing and treating cancer. Regular screening can help detect and treat cancer early, which in turn increases the cure rate and reduces mortality. In addition, the introduction of modern technology has greatly improved the accuracy and efficiency of cancer screening, enabling us to use more precise and faster ways to protect our health.
Source: Handan Mingren Hospital