Signs to recognize 6 common cancers
This year’s World Cancer Day on February 4 has the theme “We can, I can”. The message aims to raise public awareness and call on the community to get screened and detect cancer early, contributing to effective treatment of the disease.
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. Every year, the world has 14.1 million new cancer patients, 8.2 million people die from this disease, of which more than 4 million die young, only between the ages of 30 and 69.
Every year, our country records 12,600 new cancer cases and over 94,000 deaths from cancer, 9 times higher than the number of deaths from traffic accidents.
The reason why the cancer mortality rate in our country is high is because over 70% of patients go for examination, detection and treatment late. While with cancer, the earlier it is detected, the simpler the treatment, the later it is detected, the longer the treatment, the less effective it is.
Some cancers such as liver, the rate of late examination and treatment is up to 87.8%, lung cancer is at 84.3%, so the cure rate is much lower.
In recent years, with the simultaneous combination of all four directions: disease prevention, early detection, enhanced diagnosis and treatment, and palliative care, the cancer cure rate in Vietnam has increased but is still only about 40%, much lower than that of developed countries (70% - 80%). The high cure rate is mainly for diseases that are easy to detect early.
Dr. Hoang Dinh Chan - Former doctor of the Central Cancer Hospital said that any cancer, if detected early, has a high chance of successful treatment, so everyone needs to remember the signs of the disease to be able to screen for the disease as quickly as possible.
Below are typical signs of common cancers:
Cervical cancer:Signs include abnormal vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, pelvic pain, or leg pain and swelling.
Currently, cervical cancer can be screened and detected early by measures such as regular gynecological examinations.
Uterine adnexal ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound, cervical endoscopy, vaginal cytology smear test, SCC tumor marker test.
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Prostate cancer:Symptoms include difficulty urinating, painful urination, blood in urine, digestive disorders, chronic constipation, pain during ejaculation, blood in semen, and edema of the lower limbs.
Screen for early detection of prostate cancer by prostate ultrasound every 6 months, PSA test, and prostate biopsy.
Thyroid cancer:Signs of neck tumors include hoarseness, chronic cough, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of tightness and pain in the neck.
Screening by thyroid ultrasound, thyroid function tests FT4, T3, FSH, early detection test for thyroid cancer TG.
Lung cancer:Symptoms: Prolonged dry cough, difficulty breathing, frequent chest pain, coughing up blood and phlegm, rapid weight loss, pneumonia, and recurrent bronchitis.
Screening and detection by chest X-ray, tumor marker testing and TB testing.
Breast cancer:Signs of breast lumps include palpable lumps in the breast, lymph nodes in the armpit, nipple discharge, changes in breast color, and changes in breast shape.
Screening by self-breast examination at home, breast ultrasound, mammogram, CA 15-3 breast cancer marker test, and breast biopsy if necessary.
Liver cancer:Signs of liver cancer include fatigue, loss of appetite, feeling of heaviness, pain in the right lower abdomen, palpable mass in the liver area, jaundice and sudden weight loss.
Detection is by general abdominal ultrasound, liver and kidney function tests, hepatitis B and hepatitis C tests, and liver cancer marker tests AFP and CA 199.