In this era of rapid medical advancement, rumors and misconceptions about cancer are spreading like wildfire. Among them, there is a saying that is always worrying - "cold hands and feet are cancer beckoning".
1. Cold and Cancer: The Intricate Relationship
When it comes to cold hands and feet, you may think of those days when you shrank back in winter, or those moments when the soles of your feet were cold after sitting for a long time. However, it would be a bit of a stretch to say that this is a side of cancer.
You see, cancer doesn't pick the temperature. If you take the oral cavity and rectum, the temperature in the mouth is usually half a degree lower than that of the rectum, but if you see, statistics from all over the world tell us that the number of people who get oral cancer is much lower than colorectal cancer.
This doesn't mean that those brothers and sisters with cold hands and feet don't actually have a higher chance of causing cancer.
2. Cold hands and feet: possible physiological causes
So, what's the deal with cold hands and feet? Don't worry, there's something to say here. First of all, it may be that you are wearing too little, or the material of the clothes is not good, and the warmth effect is poor, so that the blood circulation will be affected, and the hands and feet will naturally be cold.
Again, it may be that your diet is unbalanced and your nutrition can't keep up, your body's calorie production will be reduced, and the feeling of coldness will follow. On top of that, low blood sugar, cardiovascular problems, and even hyperthyroidism can make your hands and feet feel cold.
One thing to mention here is that about the relationship between cold hands and feet and cancer, there is a study that says that about 35% of people with non-small cell lung cancer and 4% of people with small cell lung cancer have a condition called clubbing on their fingers.
Some patients with mesothelioma will also have this manifestation. But don't forget, clubbing can also be a sign of pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, heart disease, or liver disease.
Therefore, we can't generalize, let alone choke on food, and equate cold hands and feet with a precursor to cancer.
3. Non-cold symptoms: possible early signs of cancer
In the early stages of cancer, cold hands and feet may not be the most direct signal, more often than not, we need to focus on those non-cold symptoms that are not so obvious. For example, clubbing is a prime example.
Studies have shown that about 35% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and 4% of patients with small cell lung cancer will exhibit symptoms of clubbing, as well as mesothelioma.
This symptom is due to increased blood circulation to the ends of the fingers (or toes) and the nail bed, resulting in hypertrophy of the finger (toe) end, and an increased angle between the nail bed and the tip of the finger (toe) that looks like the pestle of a piledriver.
In addition to clubbing, other non-cold symptoms include abnormal pain or lumps in the limbs, which may be the body telling us that there is a tumor growth inside.
For example, breast cancer may cause an asymmetrical lump in the breast in the early stages, prostate cancer may cause difficulty urinating or urinating frequently, and stomach cancer may present with persistent abdominal discomfort and indigestion in the early stages.
It is important to note that these symptoms are often overlooked, as it is easy to blame them on work fatigue, frailty of old age, or other common physiological changes.
4. High-risk groups: preferred choices for cancer
When it comes to cancer preferences, we have to face the harsh reality that some people's lifestyle and genetic factors make them a high-risk group for the disease, for example, smoking is recognized as the leading risk factor for lung cancer. Research data shows that smokers have a much higher risk of lung cancer than non-smokers.
This is because inhaled smoke contains a variety of carcinogens that can directly damage the cellular DNA of the lungs, increasing the chance of mutations occurring, thereby promoting the formation of cancer.
In addition to aspiration, intake is also a risk factor that should not be ignored. Long-term excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of oral cancer, pharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer and other cancers.
Alcohol is metabolized to produce carcinogenic acetaldehyde, and it can also increase levels of hormones in the body, such as estrogen, which is especially important for the development of breast cancer.
Eating a diet high in fat and fibre is also an important factor in determining cancer risk. Long-term intake of foods high in fat and low in dietary fiber is closely linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer.
Dietary fiber can help increase intestinal motility and reduce the residence time of carcinogens in the intestines, thereby reducing the risk of cancer.
A high-fat diet may increase the production of certain carcinogens in the body, and it will also affect the balance of intestinal flora, further increasing the risk of bowel cancer.
5. Cancer screening: early detection and early treatment
Cancer screening is a preventative medical measure designed to detect underlying health problems before symptoms of a disease appear. The goal of cancer screening is to diagnose cancer early before it progresses to an irreversible stage, thereby improving the success rate of treatment and reducing the mortality rate of cancer. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. are the types of cancer that are currently recognized for effective screening.
Breast cancer screening usually includes regular self-breast exams, clinical breast exams with doctors, and regular mammograms (mammography).
For cervical cancer, regular Pap smear and HPV virus testing are currently recognized as effective screening methods. Colorectal cancer screening can be done through fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, etc.
The frequency and age at which cancer screening begins usually depends on the individual's risk factors, including age, gender, family history, lifestyle habits, etc. For example, for breast cancer, it is generally recommended that women over the age of 40 have a mammogram every 1-2 years;
For women with a family history of breast cancer, screening may need to be done earlier and more frequently. For colorectal cancer, a colonoscopy every 10 years is usually recommended for men and women over the age of 50, or a fecal occult blood test once a year.
6. Cancer treatment: individualized and precise
Cancer treatment has evolved from traditional surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy to today's individualized and precise treatment. Precision medicine relies on big data and gene sequencing technology to provide the most suitable treatment plan for each patient by analyzing the patient's genomic information.
Targeted therapy is an important part of precision medicine, which mainly targets specific gene mutations or protein overexpression of tumor cells, so as to achieve the goal of killing tumor cells.
For example, Herceptin is a targeted drug for HER2-positive breast cancer, which can effectively inhibit the growth and division of HER2-positive tumor cells.
Immunotherapy is another important breakthrough in the field of cancer treatment in recent years. It works primarily by activating or strengthening the patient's own immune system, allowing it to recognize and destroy tumor cells.
At present, a variety of immunotherapy drugs have been approved for clinical use, such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, CTLA-4 inhibitors, etc., which have achieved remarkable results in the treatment of lung cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer and other cancers.
summary
Cancer is a complex disease that involves many factors in its occurrence, development, and treatment. We need to keep an eye on the body's various signals, especially those that may indicate early symptoms of cancer.
At the same time, we also need to understand our cancer risk and reduce our cancer risk as much as possible by making lifestyle changes and getting regular cancer screenings. Cancer prevention and treatment is a long-term process that requires our sustained efforts and firm faith.