In ordinary parts of life, the word inflammation is frequently mentioned and has become a part of our lives. The traces of inflammation seem to be invisible, from the slight redness of the skin to the heavy inflammation of the lungs. Do you realize that inflammation and cancer may be intertwined with subtle links?
1. Inflammation and Cancer: An Unexpected Encounter
Inflammation, in short, is the body's resistive response to external intrusions. When our body is attacked by bacteria, viruses, or other harmful substances, the immune system quickly kicks in, releasing a range of chemicals to eliminate these "invaders". During this process, symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, and fever appear in parts of the body, which is what we call inflammation.
If the inflammation does not heal for a long time or recurs, the situation becomes more difficult. Long-term inflammation can lead to repeated cell damage and repair processes, which may trigger genetic mutations in cells that increase the risk of cancer. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between the frequency of cancer and chronic inflammation.
For these four types of inflammation, we must be vigilant and not take them lightly.
Inflammation of the liver requires close attention.
Hepatitis, a common inflammation of the liver, has a variety of causes, including viruses, alcohol, and drugs. Long-term hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, which in turn increases the risk of liver cancer. About 80% of liver cancer patients in the global liver cancer population are closely related to the history of hepatitis. For patients with hepatitis, timely treatment and regular check-ups are particularly important.
Case Study: Mr. Li is a middle-aged entrepreneur who often drinks for entertainment due to his busy work. In the past, he was addicted to alcohol for a long time, and was declared an alcoholic hepatitis patient by doctors. Although the doctor repeatedly reminded him to quit drinking and get treatment, Mr. Li always excused himself on the grounds of work. Recently, he suddenly felt severe pain in his abdomen, and under the diagnosis, he was already suffering from liver cancer.
Inflammation of the stomach mucosa, known as gastritis, requires prompt attention and treatment.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining that can be caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, improper diet, and other factors. If gastritis continues to be ignored, ulcers will appear repeatedly, blood stains the stomach, and the threat of stomach cancer is quietly looming. Prevention of H. pylori infection is so critical that the World Health Organization has listed it as a significant increase in the risk of gastric cancer.
Case sharing: Ms. Wang, a young elite in the workplace, often works overtime late at night due to the pressure of work, and disorderly eating has become the norm. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with chronic stomach inflammation. Although stomach pain was occasional, she often understated it, thinking that it was not a big deal, so she did not delve into it. As time passed, her stomach pain became more and more intense, and she was even accompanied by black stool. After a detailed examination, it was confirmed that she had stomach cancer.
Intestinal inflammation, referred to as enteritis, needs to be diagnosed and treated promptly.
Enteritis begins with intestinal lesions and often originates from the invasion of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Long-term enteritis may lead to problems such as damage to the intestinal mucosa and imbalance of intestinal flora, which in turn increases the risk of bowel cancer. In particular, patients with chronic enteritis such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have a significantly higher risk of developing bowel cancer.
Case Spotlight: Uncle Zhang, an elderly man enjoying retirement, loves to taste greasy and spicy food every day. In the past, Uncle Zhang learned that he was suffering from ulcerative colitis. Although the doctor repeatedly told him to pay attention to his diet and take medicine on time, Uncle Zhang always felt that it was a minor illness and didn't pay much attention to it. Until one day, he was shocked to find blood in his stool and rushed to the hospital for examination. Unfortunately, he has already been diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer.
Pancreatitis is the name for inflammation of the pancreas.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that can be caused by factors such as gallstones, alcohol abuse, and a high-fat diet. Long-term pancreatitis may lead to problems such as impaired pancreatic function and abnormal insulin secretion, which in turn increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. In particular, patients with chronic pancreatitis have a risk of pancreatic cancer that is several times higher than normal.
Case Study: Miss Zhao is a young foodie who likes to eat all kinds of food. Due to her unhealthy diet, she developed acute pancreatitis. After treatment, her condition was brought under control. But the doctor reminded her to pay attention to her diet and lifestyle habits to avoid recurrence. However, Miss Zhao didn't take it to heart and continued to do her own thing. A few years later, she had another episode of pancreatitis and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
3. How to deal with these inflammations?
Seek medical attention in time: Once you find that you have the above symptoms of inflammation, you should seek medical attention and receive professional treatment in time. Don't delay your condition so you don't miss the best time for treatment.
Lifestyle modifications: Maintaining good lifestyle and eating habits is essential to prevent and treat inflammation. For example, quit smoking and limit alcohol, regular work and rest, and a balanced diet.
Regular check-ups: Regular check-ups can detect underlying diseases and treat them accordingly. This is especially true for people with a history of chronic inflammation.
Maintain a positive mindset: A positive mindset can boost your body's immunity, which can help fight inflammation. Therefore, we should learn to adjust our emotions and maintain an optimistic attitude.
In conclusion, there is a close link between inflammation and cancer, and it is important to be vigilant at all times and take effective measures to prevent and treat various types of inflammation to reduce the risk of cancer. Let's take care of our physical health from now on and welcome a better future together!
I'm Dr. Want Want, welcome everyone to like and follow, and say your views in the comment area, let's chat