Before we begin, let's look at two cases:
Case 1:
Liu Xin (pseudonym) never smoked, usually there is no discomfort, a physical examination found that the right lung has a small nodule, almost 4mm, at that time the doctor gave the diagnosis plan is regular follow-up. 5 years have passed, and the lung nodules have never grown.
Case 2:
This is a girl, the father is an old smoker, the physical examination found a 4mm lung nodule, and Liu Xin, the doctor gave the plan is also regular follow-up, but because she has been ignoring, 5 years later when she returned to the hospital, it has developed lung cancer.
Why do similar diseases have very different results? As we all know, tumors are developed by a cancer cell, so how long does it take for cancer cells to grow into tumors?
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > how are cancer cells different from normal cells? </h1>
Although a cancer cell is also a type of cell, it belongs to a mutated cell. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells have three characteristics: unlimited proliferation, transformation and easy metastasis.
Liang Jun, director of Peking University Cancer Hospital, said that cancer cells grow autonomously. Normal cells in the process of division and reproduction, when it comes into contact with the surrounding cells will stop dividing, while cancer cells are just the opposite, it is out of the control of the body, can continue to grow and multiply. At the same time, cancer cells have the characteristics of invasion and metastasis, cancer cells are easy to shed, dissolve and invade the surrounding tissues, or invade the blood, lymphoid tissue, spread to other parts of the body, resulting in the spread and metastasis of cancer.
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" > how long does it take to grow from cancer cells to tumors? </h1>
We all know that cancer doesn't happen on a flux. Ji Xiaolong, former director of the Pathology Department of the Third Medical Center of the Platon General Hospital, said in an interview with reporters that it takes at least 10 years from cell mutation to cancer cell formation and then to lump. For example, liver cancer, stomach cancer, bowel cancer, and cervical cancer are typical cases.
In general, tumor cells are very slow in the early stages of cancer, taking colon cancer as an example, from colon polyps to cancer, it takes 5 to 10 years. The growth rate of tumor cells is affected by many factors, including the type of cancer, the nutritional status of the patient, the body's immunity and so on. The growth of tumor cells is geometric, although in the early stages, the proliferation rate of cancer cells may be slower, and once they accumulate to a certain number, they will increase in multiples.
Here are 4 types of cancers to elaborate on:
(1) Liver cancer
Liver cancer develops in a rough way: hepatitis → cirrhosis→ liver cancer. The liver is a very reclusive organ, even if the lesion can be silent for more than ten years or even decades, sometimes the liver is violated up to two-thirds, the human body is still unable to detect a little symptom. Hepatitis is the first step to becoming cancerous, so whether it is a fatty liver population or a hepatitis B population, if you do not pay attention to maintenance, then in about ten years, there is a possibility of liver cirrhosis, and even turn into liver cancer.
Recommendation: For patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis, it is best to have a physical examination every three months to six months, mainly to check liver B ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein.
(2) Stomach cancer
The development process of gastric cancer is rough: chronic superficial gastritis→ chronic atrophic gastritis→ intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia → gastric cancer. Lu Hong, director of the Department of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, said that the occurrence of gastric cancer is not transformed from normal cells into cancer cells, but from chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcers, gastric polyps, postoperative stomach residues and other diseases, most of which take years, decades or even decades.
Recommendations: Gastroscopy every 3 years for superficial gastritis and gastroscopy every 1.5 years for chronic atrophic gastritis, with active treatment.
(3) Bowel cancer
The occurrence and development of colorectal cancer generally goes through three stages: polyps→ adenomas→ colorectal cancer. Zhang Kai, deputy director of the Cancer Prevention And Physical Examination Center of the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said that from the development of polyps to adenomas to cancerous changes, it generally takes about 10 years, which is called the "golden decade". Examination within the "Golden Decade" can be detected early or even precancerous.
Recommendation: 1 coloroscopy after the age of 50, if the examination is normal, you can do a second time at intervals of 5-10 years; do not give up the fecal occult blood test every year for routine physical examination.
(4) Cervical cancer
Ren Qingling, chief physician of the Department of Gynecology of Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, gave a set of data: about 95% of cervical cancer is related to the persistent infection of high-risk HPV, so the process of cervical cancer is as follows: HPV infection → HPV persistent infection→ cervical precancerous lesions (CIN) → invasive cervical cancer. This process generally takes a minimum of 5-10 years and an average of 20-25 years.
Recommendation: Cervical cancer screening is started at 21 years old, and cervical cancer vaccine can be given if conditions permit to prevent cervical cancer. Couples should pay attention to the personal hygiene of sexual life and do a good job of protective measures.
Cancer is not a one-off, it lurks in our bodies, giving us plenty of time to discover it. Therefore, the anti-cancer screening physical examination is very important, so as to achieve early detection and early treatment. Early tumors can be removed simply by surgery, which can basically achieve cure and do not affect normal life. In the middle and advanced stages of cancer, when the tumor is widely metastasized, the treatment effect is very poor. #Health Science Ranking ##415 National Cancer Prevention and Control Publicity Week ##39健康超能团 #
Resources:
[1] What is the difference between cancer cells and normal cells? Five characteristics to bring you to re-understand cancer! 》. Xi'an Kyushu Medical Center.2018-12-24
[2] "Tumor formation takes at least 10 years". Health Times.2011-08-01
[3] Tumor formation takes at least a few years or even a dozen years! And how many people did not value this opportunity and let it become cancerous". Health Times.2019-09-04
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