stomach cancer

If you are infected by bacteria or viruses, it is recommended to seek medical treatment in time to prevent the progression of the disease. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Talk about “cancer” discoloration,cancerThe high morbidity and high mortality rate are frightening.According to the data of the International Union Against Cancer, 12 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the world, and about 20% of the cases are attributed toVirusorbacteriaInfect.

In daily life, we will inevitably come into contact with various bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc. Therefore, we should pay more attention to cancers caused by infections. The human body is a unified whole, and damage to local organs may cause abnormalities in other organs. If you are infected by the following bacteria or viruses, it is recommended to seek medical treatment in time to block the progression of the disease and remove harmful bacteria or viruses at the same time, so as to avoid the aggravation of the disease and prevent the occurrence of cancer.

Be wary of 3 types of viruses that may become carcinogens

1. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) – primary liver cancer

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection will increase the probability of liver cancer. “Hepatitis-cirrhosis-liver cancer” is the “trilogy” of viral hepatitis developing into liver cancer. Surveys show that about 70-80% of liver cancers develop from hepatitis B. Therefore, if hepatitis B is not treated in time, it may develop into liver cancer.

HBV infection itself has no direct cytotoxic effect, but the continuously replicating virus in the body is processed by phagocytosis, which will activate the immune response and induce the immunopathological damage of the liver.

When the liver cells are damaged, they will generate collagen fibers to repair them. However, if the collagen fibers accumulate too much, the liver will change from soft to hard, forming cirrhosis. If it is not controlled, liver cancer may come to the door.

Routes of transmission: blood transmission, mother-to-child transmission, sexual transmission.

Patients with chronic hepatitis B generally experience clinical symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and discomfort in the liver area, accompanied by abnormal laboratory indicators.

prevention method

(1) Vaccination against hepatitis B is the best way to prevent hepatitis B. Especially high-risk groups such as those with low immunity, family members of hepatitis B patients, and medical staff who have been in contact with patients for a long time must be vaccinated in time.

(2) Ordinary people can have a physical examination once a year, including liver function, hepatitis B five items, etc. These items are helpful for early detection of whether the liver is infected by the virus.

2. Human papillomavirus (HPV) – cervical cancer

Women infected with human papilloma virus are more likely to get cervical cancer than women without infection, but this does not mean that being infected with HPV is equivalent to getting cervical cancer. Among hundreds of HPV viruses, only one that may cause cervical cancer There are 13 high-risk types and 5 medium-risk types.

Relevant data show that up to about 75% of women have been infected with HPV in their lifetime, and more than 80% of HPV virus infection can be cleared by the human immune system, but those higher-risk viruses that cannot be cleared may cause persistent infection and increase cervical cancer. cancer risk.

Ways of transmission: The way of transmission of HPV virus is mainly through sexual transmission, so it is also important to pay attention to sexual life and menstrual hygiene to prevent cervical cancer.

prevention method

(1) HPV vaccination: There are three types of HPV vaccines, bivalent, quadrivalent, and nine-valent, on the market, and the nine-valent vaccine can prevent 90% of cervical cancers.

(2) Regular screening: The screening methods for cervical cancer mainly include HPV examination, TCT examination, and colposcopy examination.

It is recommended that women aged 21 to 29 undergo a TCT examination every 3 years; women aged 30 to 65 undergo a TCT examination every 3 years, or a TCT and HPV examination every 5 years; women over 65 years old with normal regular examination results , no further screening is required.

If you have symptoms such as irregular vaginal bleeding, contact bleeding, bloody or rice soup-like vaginal discharge, warts on your lower limbs or private parts, low back pain that is more obvious after lying down, you should be alert to cervical cancer.

3. Epstein-Barr virus – nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lymphoma

Epstein-Barr virus is a herpes virus that is ubiquitous in the world. Not only nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphoma, but also studies in recent years have proved that gastric cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer are also related to it.

Usually, the Epstein-Barr virus entering the human body will remain latent in B lymphocytes for a long time, and the virus does not replicate and only expresses a small part of genes.

When there is no external incentive and the infected person’s immunity is normal, they can remain latent; but when the body’s immune function is low, the latent Epstein-Barr virus will be activated and cause infection. In cooperation with other factors, it may eventually lead to Nasopharyngeal cancer or other diseases.

Transmission route: Epstein-Barr virus is mainly transmitted through saliva, so the key to prevention is to pay attention to oral hygiene, including using public chopsticks during dinner parties.

Early symptoms of Epstein-Barr virus infection: red rash on the palate of the mouth, or clusters of reddish small pimples on the face.

2 Dangerous Bacteria That May Cause Cancer

In addition to viruses, certain bacteria are also related to the occurrence of cancer, the most representative of which is the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and gastric cancer. The World Health Organization has listed Hp as the number one factor causing gastric cancer.

1. Helicobacter pylori – gastric cancer

Many patients are infected by Helicobacter pylori. This bacterium will enter the stomach along with food and damage the gastric mucosa. When the gastric mucosa is repeatedly damaged and repaired for a long time, it may mutate and form a tumor.

Ways of transmission: Helicobacter pylori can be transmitted through mouth, saliva, etc., so there is a certain family aggregation, and the disease must be prevented from entering through the mouth.

Pay attention to the hygiene of tableware, clean it, and disinfect it regularly; eat less raw and cold food; it is best to develop the habit of using serving chopsticks when having meals; you can usually eat foods that can protect the gastric mucosa, such as fungi.

The harm of Helicobacter pylori to the human body is not limited to the stomach, but also increases the risk of diseases such as peptic ulcer, liver lesions, unexplained iron deficiency anemia, and lymphoproliferative gastric lymphoma. Standardized treatment is necessary. At present, the more commonly used is “quadruple therapy” – proton pump inhibitor + bismuth + two antibiotics, and the course of treatment generally ranges from 10 to 14 days.

In addition, it is recommended to carry out gastric cancer screening from the age of 40, including gastroscopy, Hp detection, etc.

2. Long-term imbalance of intestinal flora – colorectal cancer

The beneficial and harmful bacteria in the intestinal flora are normally in a balanced state, but when the ecological balance in the body is out of balance, some harmful bacteria will quickly occupy a dominant position.

Although no studies have confirmed that colorectal cancer is associated with specific microorganisms, a considerable number of cancer-promoting bacteria have been found in the human gut, including Bacteroides fragilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Helicobacter hepatica, Bacteroides, Firmicutes and Clostridium Bacteria, Lactococcus and Fusobacterium.

Both the structure of intestinal flora and its metabolites can affect the susceptibility of the body to diseases, and may even directly induce pathological conditions such as colorectal cancer. Therefore, maintaining the stability of intestinal flora is very important.

Maintain Gut Health

(1) Dietary fiber: It can shorten the residence time of feces in the intestinal tract, reduce the absorption of harmful substances, enhance probiotics, and improve the barrier function of the intestinal tract. Therefore, you should eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

(2) Resistant starch: It can be fermented by intestinal microorganisms to produce short-chain fats such as butyric acid, which can enhance the immunity of intestinal cells and help inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

You can usually add a small amount of sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn and other foods containing resistant starch.