Oncologist: The typical manifestations of 21 types of cancer are listed!

Reviewer of this article: Chen Haixu, Deputy Director and Master Supervisor of the Second Medical Center of PLA General Hospital

When cancer strikes, the body will have some reactions, so what are the typical manifestations? Pan Zhanhe, deputy chief physician of the Department of Oncology at Xiamen University Zhongshan Hospital, reminds us to pay special attention to the following typical manifestations of common cancers.

Beware! Typical manifestations of 21 types of cancer

1. Lung cancer: Unexplained, persistent, irritating dry cough or cough with blood in sputum.

2. Thymoma: A mediastinal mass is found with myasthenia gravis.

3. Esophageal cancer: progressive worsening of dysphagia.

4. Gastric cancer: upper abdominal pain, vomiting, hematemesis or black stools.

5. Colorectal cancer: frequent bowel movements, diarrhea or constipation, alternating constipation and diarrhea, tenesmus, a feeling of heaviness in the anus, blood in the stool, and other intestinal irritation symptoms and changes in bowel habits.

6. Pancreatic cancer: abdominal pain, back pain, jaundice, and weight loss.

7-8. Liver cancer, bile duct cancer: a mass felt in the right upper abdomen, right upper abdominal pain, and jaundice.

9. Brain tumor: headache, projectile vomiting, optic disc edema and decreased vision, which is the "triad" of increased intracranial pressure.

10. Oral cancer: Oral ulcers that do not heal for a long time.

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11. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: respiration of blood in the nose.

12. Breast cancer: progressive growth of painless breast masses, changes in the nipple and areola, and enlarged axillary lymph nodes.

13-14. Cervical cancer and uterine cancer: contact vaginal bleeding or irregular vaginal bleeding.

15. Ovarian cancer: abdominal distension, abdominal pain, lower abdominal mass, and ascites.

16. Lymphoma: painless lymph node enlargement, night sweats, fever, weight loss, skin itching, and alcohol pain.

17. Bone tumor: no traumatic pathological fractures, and unexplained bone pain.

18. Melanoma: Abnormal changes occur in the original pigmented nevus.

19. Bladder cancer: painless gross hematuria.

20. Prostate cancer: frequent urination, urgency, inability to urinate completely, difficulty and effort in urination, etc.

21. Testicular cancer: A painless mass that gradually enlarges in the testicle.

These are typical symptoms of common cancers. If you experience the above symptoms, you should highly suspect the possibility of a tumor and be sure to undergo further examination to confirm the diagnosis.

In addition, high-risk groups should take the initiative to undergo tumor screening and go to the hospital for medical examination in time.

Tumor screening, these items are critical!

If you want to screen for tumors, what tests should you do? Pan Zhanhe reminds you to choose the following tests in a targeted manner according to your specific situation:

1. Physical examination

That is, the doctor uses vision, touch, percussion, and auscultation (looking with the eyes, touching with the hands, etc.).

For example, visual inspection and palpation of the breasts to understand the appearance of the breasts, nipples, and whether there are nodules or masses can help detect breast cancer.

Palpate the abdomen to see if there is any mass. Sometimes liver cancer, stomach cancer, intestinal cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc. may manifest as an abdominal mass.

Digital rectal examination can help you understand the condition of your rectum and anus. This is a very basic and important examination for rectal cancer.

2. X-ray examination, including mammography (molybdenum target), CT, etc.

Ordinary CT can also be used to screen lung cancer, but the radiation dose of conventional ordinary CT examinations is relatively large, so low-dose spiral CT is recommended for lung cancer screening, which has become the most effective means of lung cancer screening.

Mammography is an X-ray test, called a breast X-ray, that is used to screen for breast cancer.

3. Ultrasound examination

It is mainly used for screening of liver cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, uterine and ovarian tumors, prostate cancer, etc.

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4. Various endoscopes

Including esophagogastroscopy, colon cancer, nasopharyngeal endoscopy, laryngoscope, bronchoscope, etc.

Esophagogastroscopy is mainly used for screening of esophageal cancer and gastric cancer.

Colonoscopy is mainly used for screening of colorectal cancer.

Nasopharyngeal endoscopy is mainly used for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

5. Cervical Smear

Used for cervical cancer screening.

6. Detection of certain cancer-related pathogens (viruses, bacteria)

For example, the detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) can assist in the screening of cervical cancer;

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) testing can help early intervention in hepatitis B and help prevent and treat liver cancer; HBV may also be helpful for nasopharyngeal carcinoma;

The detection and necessary treatment of Helicobacter pylori can help prevent and treat gastric cancer.

7. Others

For example, magnetic resonance imaging is generally not used as a routine test due to its high price. It is only used as a means of further examination when problems are found, or for screening certain people at high risk of breast cancer.

In addition, blood tests for tumor markers also have certain value, especially alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for liver cancer screening and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer screening, which are of great reference value. The key is to use them reasonably and have them scientifically interpreted by specialists.

In addition to screening, these cancer prevention details cannot be missed!

Dr. Pan Zhanhe said that the occurrence of many cancers is more or less, directly or indirectly related to an unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking, alcoholism, lack of exercise and sitting for long periods of time, unhealthy eating habits, staying up late, anxiety, etc.

If you can change your bad lifestyle and develop a good and healthy lifestyle, you can reduce the risk of cancer to a certain extent.

1. You must quit smoking completely

This is really a cliché. Smoking is the most harmful lifestyle to health and must be resolutely abandoned. Non-smokers should dissuade those around them from smoking and reject the harm of secondhand smoke.

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2. Don’t drink alcohol

Try to avoid drinking strong liquor such as liquor. If you can avoid drinking, try not to drink it. If you really have to drink, be sure to control the amount and drink it occasionally in small amounts.

3. Maintain a normal weight and avoid being overweight or obese

The body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters, that is, body mass index (BMI) = weight (kilograms) ÷ height (meters squared). A BMI of 18.5-23.9 is considered normal and healthy, below 18.5 is considered underweight, 24-27.9 is considered overweight, and ≥28 is considered severely overweight or obese. It is recommended to keep your weight at a low value within the healthy range.

4. Keep exercising and avoid sitting for long periods of time

Sitting for a long time and lack of exercise will lead to overweight and obesity, and increase the risk of various cancers such as colorectal cancer. It is recommended to get up and move around for 15 minutes every 1-2 hours of work. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and at least 150 minutes a week.

5. Ensure the necessary sleep time, have a regular work and rest schedule, and avoid staying up late

Staying up late may not cause any harm in the short term, but over time, problems will arise. It is recommended that adults get 6-8 hours of sleep a day, and the key is not to stay up late. In addition, do not turn on the lights when sleeping.

6. Eat a balanced diet and don’t be picky eaters

Eat whole grains, meat, vegetables and fruits, and avoid and reduce junk food, including street fried food.

7. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables

The variety and color of vegetables and fruits should be diversified. It is best to have more than five different fruits and vegetables every day. Eating less fruits and vegetables and insufficient dietary fiber intake will increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Eat more vegetables and less meat, and simple meals to stay healthy.

8. Eat meat in moderation

Eat mainly white meat such as fish, and eat less red meat such as pork, beef, and mutton. Avoid or try to eat less processed meat such as sausages, ham, bacon, bacon, and so on.

9. Eat regularly

Avoid skipping breakfast and overeating. Do not eat too much or too full.

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10. Don’t replace water with beverages

Do not drink or drink less sugary drinks, plain water is the best.

11. Don’t eat too much salt

Limit your daily salt intake and avoid or eat less pickled foods.

12. Avoid eating or drinking too hot water

Don't drink overheated food, drinks or tea in a hurry.

13. Eat separately if possible

Do not share food and daily necessities such as bowls, chopsticks, and towels to reduce or avoid infections such as Helicobacter pylori.

14. Avoid overwork

Pay attention to rest and combine work and rest.

15. Regular bowel movements

Develop the habit of regular bowel movements and don't hold your urine.

16. Avoid multiple sexual partners

Use condoms whenever possible to avoid spreading HPV.

17. Reduce or avoid exposure to occupational carcinogenic environments

Take necessary occupational exposure protection.

18. Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight

Sunbathing should be moderate, too much is as bad as too little.

19. Stay away from anxiety

Learn to reduce stress and relax, and don’t be in a state of anxiety and mental stress for a long time.

20. Vaccination

To prevent and control hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections, get vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine; to prevent and control human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, get vaccinated with HPV vaccine for people of appropriate age; to promptly and standardizedly handle precancerous conditions (precancerous diseases, precancerous lesions), etc.

Source: Health Times

Author: Pan Zhanhe, deputy chief physician, Department of Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University

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