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"I've had shoulder pain for months, and I thought it was normal wear and tear in old age. Uncle Huang said helplessly to the doctor in the hospital bed.
Uncle Wong, a 56-year-old retired postman, has always been in good health, but recently he noticed that his right shoulder often hurts, and he didn't pay much attention to it at first, blaming it on a strain at work.
However, this hospital examination was like a basin of cold water, which completely woke him up. The results of the examination showed that Huang Dabo was unfortunately diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer. This sudden news made him, who was originally optimistic, suddenly feel deep helplessness and fear.
The doctor explained in detail the link between Uncle Huang's shoulder pain and lung cancer. Although it may seem unrelated, in reality, lung diseases, especially tumors located at the apex of the lungs, can invade adjacent shoulder nerves, causing what is known as "Pancoast syndrome".
This is a typical manifestation of persistent shoulder pain. This pain usually doesn't go away with traditional pain treatment because it's not the shoulder itself.
This was the case with Uncle Huang, whose lung cancer was located in the upper lobe of the lung, which pressed on the adjacent nerves and shoulder tissues, causing his early shoulder pain. Doctors emphasize that this pain is often overlooked because it is difficult for people to directly associate shoulder discomfort with lung health.
To further educate the public, doctors held lectures on early identification of lung cancer at community centres. He mentioned that in addition to shoulder pain, early-stage lung cancer may have no obvious symptoms, or only manifest as persistent cough, dyspnea, persistent chest pain and other more common symptoms, which are often easily ignored or misdiagnosed as other respiratory diseases.
Doctors also discussed risk factors for lung cancer, such as a long history of smoking, long-term exposure to asbestos, radioactive materials, and other chemicals. He recommends regular check-ups, especially for those with high-risk factors for lung cancer, and a chest X-ray or low-dose CT scan for early detection of lung cancer.
In the Q&A session after the lecture, a worried audience member asked, "Doctor, the shoulder pain you mentioned may be a sign of lung cancer, so are there any other early symptoms that we should be wary of?"
"It's true that in addition to shoulder pain, there are some more insidious symptoms that may indicate the presence of lung cancer," the doctor said. For example, if you notice that you have painless hoarseness, it may be because the tumor is pressing on the recurrent laryngeal nerve. If these symptoms persist, especially in conjunction with your personal and family medical history, it is advisable to seek medical help for a professional evaluation as soon as possible. ”
The doctor continued to explain to the audience that in addition to factors such as smoking in the traditional perception, environmental pollution is also one of the causes of lung cancer that cannot be ignored. In particular, residents living near industrial areas have a significantly higher risk of lung cancer.
He advises residents to minimize their activities in heavily polluted areas in their daily lives, use air purification equipment to improve indoor air quality, and recommend regular lung function tests to detect problems early.
In addition, the doctor also mentioned a lesser-known idea: malnutrition may also be associated with the development of lung cancer. He explained that the body's lack of essential trace elements and vitamins, such as vitamins A, C and E, as well as selenium and zinc, weakens the body's immune system and reduces the effectiveness of fighting cancer cells, thereby increasing the chance of developing the disease.
"We can supplement these nutrients by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, but we can also consider supplementing with some good quality vitamin and mineral supplements. Doctors recommend that this not only help improve overall health, but also help reduce the risk of serious diseases such as lung cancer.
Towards the end of the lecture, an audience member asked the question: "Doctor, you mentioned that avoiding environmental pollution and improving nutrition are important to prevent lung cancer, is there any more concrete way for those of us who are already in high-risk environments to reduce our risk of disease other than eating and using air purifiers?"
"In addition to the measures already mentioned, I also recommend regular lung health screenings, especially low-dose CT scans, which allow for early detection of abnormal changes in the lungs and timely treatment for high-risk groups," the doctor said. ”
"It is also extremely important to avoid passive smoking and occupational exposure as much as possible. Through these comprehensive measures, the risk of lung cancer in people living in high-risk environments can be effectively reduced. The doctor's answers were detailed and specific, providing the audience with practical health protection strategies.
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