Before reading this article, I sincerely invite you to click "Follow" to share professional medical science knowledge with you every day to help you and your family improve the quality of healthy life, thank you for your support!
In the medical world, a single misdiagnosis can lead to irreversible consequences. Just like the case of Lao Gao, an ordinary person engaged in fishing work, because he ignored his symptoms for a long time and was misdiagnosed as simple rhinitis, and finally died of nasopharyngeal cancer. This is not only a tragedy, but also a wake-up call to the accuracy of medical diagnosis.
In the following, we will explore how to identify and distinguish lipomas from cancer, as well as the biological mechanisms of cancer metastasis, to help raise public awareness of these medical issues.
Lao Gao is a typical seaside dweller, who has been engaged in fishing and selling fish for a long time. One day, he felt a continuous nasal congestion and bloodshot nasal discharge, but blamed these symptoms on his old problem - rhinitis.
Over time, symptoms did not improve, but worsened, including severe headaches and blurred vision. It was only after his clinical symptoms had deteriorated significantly that he was persuaded by his neighbors to go to the hospital.
The diagnosis from the hospital shocked him and his family: not simple rhinitis, but advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.
This case reflects two problems: one is the patient's neglect of the initial symptoms, and the other is the misjudgment of the symptoms by the initial medical treatment. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is often overlooked or misdiagnosed in the early stages due to atypical symptoms, and by the time the truth is discovered, the disease may have progressed to an uncontrollable level.
A lipoma is a common benign tumor that usually appears in the subcutaneous tissue, has a soft texture, well-defined borders, is mobile, and usually does not cause pain. In contrast, malignant tumors (cancers) grow at a faster rate, have ill-defined borders, are unevenly stiff, and are often accompanied by pain or other systemic symptoms.
Doctors usually distinguish lipomas from malignancies by palpation, imaging tests (eg, ultrasound, CT scan), and biopsy (taking a small portion of tissue for pathological examination).
Biopsy is the "gold standard" for determining the nature of a tumor, and by looking at the characteristics of the cells at a microscopic level, doctors can determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
The horror of cancer lies in its ability to metastasize. Cancer cells separate from the original tumor and migrate through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body, forming new tumor foci.
The process involves several steps: first, the cancer cells must invade the surrounding tissues, second, enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, then escape fluid in a new location, and finally proliferate in that location to form a new tumor.
Changes in the microenvironment play a key role in cancer metastasis. Cancer cells are able to alter the extracellular matrix of the area in which they are located, making it more conducive to the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. Cancer cells can also induce surrounding tissues to support their growth and metastasis by secreting specific chemical signaling substances.
The outcome of cancer treatment is closely related to the timing of its detection. Early detection of cancer often means better treatment outcomes, higher cure rates, and a better quality of life for patients.
In the case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the five-year survival rate can reach more than 90% when diagnosed early, which is in stark contrast to the survival rate of only 9% at the advanced stage. Early diagnosis is key to improving the survival rate of cancer patients.
The medical community has developed a variety of methods to achieve early diagnosis, including regular check-ups, screening of high-risk groups, and the use of biomarkers for early warning.
For nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the potential cancer risk can be detected earlier by measuring the DNA levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Modern imaging techniques such as MRI and CT scans are also greatly contributing to the early detection and localization of tumors.
Although these technologies and methods have played an important role in improving the early detection rate of cancer, the medical community is still working to further improve the chances of early diagnosis through more sophisticated diagnostic tools and more universal health education. The increase in public awareness is also one of the important factors in increasing the rate of early diagnosis.
The field of cancer treatment has undergone a revolutionary change over the past few decades, from traditional surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy to the widespread use of targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Although traditional treatments are effective, they are often accompanied by large side effects and an impact on patients' quality of life. Targeted therapy works by targeting molecular markers specific to cancer cells, thereby reducing damage to normal cells.
Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer can be treated with specific targeted drugs, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), to greatly improve the cure rate and survival.
The advent of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors has changed the treatment landscape for many patients with advanced cancer, including melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
By adjusting one's lifestyle habits and choosing a healthier living environment, we can effectively reduce the risk of cancer. The state and social organizations should also provide more health education and resources to support the public in implementing these preventive measures.