After recovering from physical fatigue, he was diagnosed with "10 centimeters of liver cancer"! Doctor: 1 kind of people must have regular check-ups
Issey Miyake died of liver cancer without warning! B and C livers are susceptible to cancer without treatment?
Internationally renowned Japanese designer Issey Miyake has died of liver cancer. The number and incidence of liver cancer in Taiwan has remained high for many years. According to the latest statistics on the top ten causes of death released by the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, liver cancer ranks second in the top ten cancer mortality rates after lung cancer, with 7,970 deaths. Since there are few signs of early-stage liver cancer, those who are not sure whether they have hepatitis B or hepatitis C should get checked early and follow up closely.
Dr. Hu Ruiting, director of the Ultrasound Department of the Department of Gastroenterology at Cathay General Hospital, said in an interview that the prevalence of hepatitis in Japan and Taiwan is different. In Japan, hepatitis C is the most common, while in Taiwan, hepatitis B is more prevalent. Since oral medicines for hepatitis C have only come out in recent years, if elderly people like Issey Miyake have hepatitis C carriers, early treatment will not be effective and may also affect the incidence of liver disease and liver cancer.
Taiwanese people don’t know whether they have hepatitis B or C! Is fatty liver also a factor in liver cancer?
Liver cancer used to be called a “national disease”, and chronic hepatitis such as hepatitis B and C were the main risk factors for liver cancer. Dr. Hu Ruiting pointed out that many Taiwanese people do not know whether they have hepatitis B or hepatitis C, which may increase the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. At present, adults over 45 years old can receive a health checkup as long as they have not been tested for hepatitis B or C in the past. The public should make more use of health checkup resources and be alert to liver health in a timely manner.
Dr. Hu Ruiting said that in the past, hepatitis C was mainly treated with interferon, but the treatment rate was unsatisfactory due to severe side effects. Nowadays, convenient oral drug treatments are available, which are not only fast and effective, but also provide health insurance benefits. As for hepatitis B drugs, they have a suppressive effect. Hepatitis B patients must follow up for a long time to avoid missing the opportunity to detect early liver cancer.
In addition, the number of people suffering from fatty liver in Taiwan is gradually increasing. Could it be a potential crisis of liver cancer? Dr. Hu Ruiting pointed out that according to statistics from the National Health Research Institutes of Taiwan, about 27% of liver cancers in Taiwan have not been tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In addition to those who have suffered from hepatitis B in the early stages, fatty liver is also a risk factor and may develop into one of the major causes of liver disease in the future. The public is reminded that they should still pay attention to weight control, healthy diet, and appropriate exercise to reduce the occurrence of fatty liver.
Only when I was tired, I found that the liver tumor was more than 10 centimeters! Abnormal liver function should alert you
Dr. Hu Ruiting said that many liver cancers have no symptoms, which makes it easy for patients to ignore potential tumors. It is common to find very large liver tumors during an abdominal ultrasound due to abnormal liver function tests during blood tests. This year, a Taiwanese businessman felt tired and weak when he was quarantined in China. After returning to Taiwan, he underwent a check-up and found that the tumor on his right liver had grown more than 10 centimeters and the cancer had metastasized to his lungs. The patient had almost no symptoms other than fatigue.
“When abnormal liver function is found during a health check-up, you should pay attention to whether hepatitis B or C. It is also recommended to undergo an abdominal ultrasound examination!” Dr. Hu Ruiting said that in the past, the concept of health check-ups was not popular, and many elderly people aged 8 to 90 years old When I went to the hospital, I was found to have advanced liver cancer. The feasibility rate of surgery for advanced liver cancer is low, embolization therapy combined with systemic therapy may be required, and the prognosis is even less ideal.
Liver cancer may develop in 3 months? Doctor: This group must be followed closely
What concepts on liver cancer prevention and treatment should Taiwanese pay most attention to? Dr. Hu Ruiting reminded that adults should regularly undergo blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibodies. When infection is confirmed, they should be followed closely for 3 to 6 months. People with a family history of liver cancer or cirrhosis are at higher risk. National health insurance provides free hepatitis B and C screening tests for adults over 45 years old. You can know whether you have been tested through your health insurance card, and we urge the public to take advantage of it.
Dr. Hu Ruiting said that before the epidemic, there was a patient who did not return for a blood test for two years. Only when he returned to the hospital for examination was he found that the liver cancer tumor had grown to 6 centimeters in size. Liver cancer is often silent and may even appear between two examinations. However, regular follow-up can help detect early-stage liver cancer and increase cure and good prognosis. People who have had hepatitis B are reminded to follow up regularly.
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