Uncle Liu has been recovering very well since he underwent bowel cancer surgery half a year ago. He has gradually gained weight, and his complexion has turned a lot more rosy. The results of the first two re-examinations were all normal.

However, the third time to review last week, it was found thatserum carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA72-4) increased by three More times, other examinations were normal. Uncle Liu panicked, thinking that his cancer had recurred, and was so frightened that he hurried to consult a doctor.

After repeated inquiries, the doctor learned that Uncle Liu had been taking the protein powder sent by his relatives after the operation. After comprehensive consideration, the doctor suggested that Uncle Liu stop taking the protein powder and come back for a review after one month. . A month later, Uncle Liu went to the hospital again for examination, and this time, the tumor markers returned to normal.

In this regard, the doctor explained that excessive “supplements” for tumor patients after surgery, such as taking sex hormone-containing health products, drinks, etc. , it is likely to increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, and may also cause falsely elevated tumor markers, increasing the risk of cancer recurrence. Therefore, we should also pay attention to diet, nursing, physical examination and other issues after surgery to prevent tumor recurrence.

First, cancer recurrence, five years is a difficult time

With cancer, after surgery and chemotherapy, everything is not all right, and the patient also faces the risk of recurrence. Cancer recurrence, that is, after receiving cancer treatment, achieving a complete remission with no visible tumor lesions. But after a period of time, the original tumor type reappears in and near the original tumor, or in other parts of the body.

Why is cancer making a “comeback”? This will take into account the characteristics of the tumor, tumor type, and medical treatment.

First, cancer cells “run around”, preferring to break away from the primary source The lesion “wanders” with blood and lymph. If cancer cells adhere to the mucous membranes of organs, they will “sublime” into cancer as they grow infinitely, infiltrate, and break through the basement membrane.

In addition, the body surface of cancer cells varies in size, and even very sophisticated instruments may have “oversights”

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The current surgery, chemoradiotherapy and other conventional treatments have certain limitations, It is impossible to completely eliminate all cancer cells. When subsequent adjuvant therapy and the patient’s own immunity is not strong enough, it will easily increase the chance of cancer cells recurring.

Recurrence of cancer is a hurdle in five years. rate” to assess the patient’s condition and relapse probability. The 5-year survival rate refers to the proportion of a tumor that survives for more than five years after various comprehensive treatments.

Why “5 years”, Deputy Chief Physician Zhang Jianwei, Cancer Center, Zhongshan Sixth Hospital Explained: The vast majority of tumor patients will experience recurrence and metastasis more or less after comprehensive treatment.

In general, about 80% of the recurrence or metastasis of tumors that can be removed by radical surgery occurs within 3 years after radical surgery, and about 10% Occurs within 5 years after radical surgery. If there is no recurrence and metastasis within 5 years after radical surgery, the risk and probability of recurrence will be low, and it can be considered as “clinical cure”. Therefore, the 5-year survival rate is often used to evaluate tumor treatment. curative effect.

However, it should be reminded that: no recurrence within five years does not mean that there will be no recurrence, but the recurrence probability is relatively low. Relapse, so that even after relapse, early detection and early treatment can be achieved.

Second, 5 things to be careful about during cancer recovery

The formation of cancer is not only affected by genetics, but also related to personal life, diet, stress, emotions, etc. These triggering factors will make cancer cells grow and develop again.

Therefore, during the recovery period, cancer patients should try to avoid these 5 things:

1. Smoking and drinking

A study found that about 33% of smokers can see a mild increase in carcinoembryonic antigen, and drinking alcohol can also cause fluctuations in tumor markers. Many patients will strictly control tobacco and alcohol in the early stage of recovery, but after a long time, they will start to relax, resulting in the increase of tumor markers.

2. Dietary supplements or taboos

Many cancer patients will Going to extremes, some are too supplementary, and some are too taboo. Some patients blindly eat sea cucumber, soft-shelled turtle and other supplements in large quantities, resulting in excessive protein intake, aggravating the burden on the stomach, and also promoting the progression of the disease. Some patients think that eating too much nutrition will lead to tumor growth, so they use clear soup with little water every day. Blind “taboos” and insufficient intake will inevitably affect the recovery of patients and also interfere with anti-cancer treatment.

3. Long-term “resting”

Many patients are weak after the treatment, and in their opinion “resting” is more beneficial to the body repair. But in fact, long-term inactivity can lead to muscle atrophy, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and it is not conducive to recovery. Therefore, patients can choose suitable exercises according to their own conditions, which are beneficial to muscles, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.

4. Trapped in a sad mood

A large number of clinical studies have found that whether it is a general disease or Cancer, the speed of recovery and prognosis of the disease are closely related to the patient’s mood. According to oncologist Ling Jianming, many patients died not from the cancer itself, but from sudden “negative news”. Due to the low mood, the immunity is weakened, and the treatment is ineffective after the cancer cells multiply. Therefore, cancer patients need to establish a positive attitude in order to achieve the desired treatment effect.

5. Ignoring review

In the consciousness of many cancer patients, they think that experience After a series of treatments, all the cancer cells in the body have been eliminated. As long as it takes 5 years, basically everything will be fine. In fact, cancer is a systemic disease. Even with effective treatment, there are still some cancer cells hidden in the body. If the body and cancer cells can maintain a balance, everything is fine, and once the balance is broken, cancer cells will multiply rapidly.

All in all, during the recovery period, it is recommended that cancer patients still need to adhere to regular check-ups. Means to find out the possible problems in time and deal with them in time, so as to prolong the life. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to a balanced diet, and increase the intake of vegetables and fruits in an appropriate amount, which can effectively reduce the chance of recurrence.