April 15-21, 2022 is the 28th National Cancer Prevention Awareness Week, The theme of this year’s publicity week is “Early Action for Cancer Prevention and Control”, which aims to actively advocate everyone to be the first responsible person for their own health, correctly understand cancer, actively prevent and control cancer, establish the concept of tertiary cancer prevention, and practice a healthy and civilized lifestyle , take the initiative to participate in cancer prevention health examinations, achieve early prevention, early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment, reduce cancer incidence and mortality, improve cancer early diagnosis rate and survival rate, effectively curb the harm of cancer, and improve the health of the people.

In people’s daily life, we will always hear some people say that something can’t be eaten because it will cause cancer! For example, some people say that “eating MSG can cause cancer”, but in fact MSG has not been identified as a “carcinogen”, and there is no data to prove that MSG can cause cancer.

1. What are the carcinogens we really need to guard against?

Carcinogens, in simple terms, are substances that increase the risk of cancer and may eventually lead to cancer. Currently, the world’s most authoritative list of “carcinogens” is published by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US Toxicology Program (NTP).

NTP classifies carcinogens into “definite carcinogens” and “suspected carcinogens”, and IARC classifies carcinogens into 1 to 4 categories, of which category 1 is a definite carcinogen. A definite carcinogen is a substance that is supported by data and experiments and is believed to have a definite causal relationship with the occurrence of cancer in humans.

Second, in the list of carcinogens, which are the clear carcinogens hidden on the Chinese table?

1. Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is one of the reasons for the high incidence of gastric cancer in China.

World Gastrointestinal Organization conservatively estimates that at least half of the world’s people are infected with Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori spreads easily at the dinner table.

Detection: At present, the simplest detection method is the carbon 13 and carbon 14 urea breath test. Other detection methods include gastroscopic biopsy, HP test strips, etc.

Suggestion: We call on everyone to use public chopsticks and public bowls during dinner parties, which can prevent Helicobacter pylori infection on the dining table. Once infected with Helicobacter pylori, it is recommended to eradicate it. The standard four Combination therapy can be eradicated.

2. Chronic infection of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus is an important factor leading to the occurrence of liver cancer.

In China, there are about 90 million HBV carriers. The main transmission routes of hepatitis B and C are blood, mother-to-child and sexual transmission. Usually, it is not transmitted through saliva, but if there are oral ulcers or damage to the oral mucosa, it may become infected.

Testing: Hepatitis B can be checked for two and a half pairs of hepatitis B first. If infection is confirmed, further check for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA; for hepatitis C, check for hepatitis C virus antibody first. Confirmation of infection is followed by further testing for (HCV) RNA.

Recommendation: For hepatitis B, it is recommended that people of appropriate age receive hepatitis B vaccine. my country has anti-hepatitis B virus drugs, such as entecavir, which can effectively inhibit virus replication and slow down the development of hepatitis B. . For hepatitis C, although there is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, hepatitis C patients can be cured by active treatment with oral antiviral drugs.

3. Fried food and barbecue can be said to be the most common food on the Chinese table, but fried food contains a class 1 carcinogen – benzo Pyrene.

Benzapyrene is mainly derived from food oil. Under the action of high temperature, the oil will decompose into benzopyrene, and the higher the temperature, the more benzopyrene is produced. In addition, charred foods also contain benzopyrene.

Recommendation: reduce the intake of fried and grilled foods, and avoid charred foods.

4. Moldy food contains one of the most toxic substances in the world – aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin is more common than we usually The said “arsenic” is 60 times more toxic, and “potassium cyanide” is 10 times more toxic. Moldy food often contains aflatoxin, which is common in the mildew of peanuts, rice, corn and other foods. .

Recommendation: Do not eat moldy food; keep household kitchenware and tableware clean and dry; in addition, regular cooking cannot destroy aflatoxin, so do not feel that moldy food is cooked Ready to eat.

5. Aristolochic acid is also one of the strongest carcinogens, which can cause mutations in genes.

Aristolochic acid mainly exists in aristolochic acid organisms, and common sources are aristolochic acid, angelica vine, green wood incense and other foods.

Recommendation: Try to avoid eating Aristolochia plants.

6. Betel nut and betel nut products appear in many areas of China.

According to statistics, about 60 million people in China are eating betel nut.

Suggestion: Eat as little or no betel nut as possible.

7. Processed meat.

With the improvement of people’s living standards, meat intake is increasing. In order to make meat taste better, people reprocess it, and the additives and other substances in the process can lead to increased cancer rates.

Recommendation: Control the intake of processed meat and eat more fresh foods such as vegetables and fruits.

8. Chinese-style salted fish.

Long salting time and high salt consumption will not only lead to excessive intake of salt, but also increase the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer and colorectal cancer.

Suggestion: put less salt when pickling; don’t eat pickled food too often; don’t eat too much each time.

9. Tobacco is one of the main reasons for the increased incidence of lung cancer.

Both smoking and secondhand smoke increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Tobacco smoke residue is often found on Chinese dining tables.

Suggestion: smoke less and try not to smoke.

10. Alcohol and its products are frequent guests on the Chinese dining table.

Recommendation: Reduce the intake of alcoholic beverages.

11. Residual pesticides.

The components in the residual pesticides will cause damage to the human body and further promote the occurrence and development of cancer, such as trichloroethylene (trichlorfon, dimethoate, etc.) in the NTP carcinogen list. etc.), pentachlorophenol (paddy field herbicide) among IARC class 1 carcinogens, etc.

Recommendation: Reduce pesticide use; use detergents that remove pesticide residues.

Understanding these definite carcinogens “lurking” on the dinner table, we can reduce the risk of carcinogens ingested to reduce the risk of cancer. Prevent “disease from the mouth”. Of course, these carcinogens on the list do not mean that you will get cancer if you eat a little or touch a little, there is no need to panic too much.

The original intention of making this list is to hope that everyone understands these high-risk factors for cancer and avoids them as much as possible. After all, developing a good diet and living habits is the best way to prevent cancer.

Let’s eat healthy and live healthy!

[author of this issue]

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Tong Xin, Attending Physician of the Third Department of Oncology, Shenyang Fifth People’s Hospital. Member of the Professional Committee of Hematology of Liaoning Provincial Association of Integrative Medicine Diagnosis and treatment operations such as pleural and ascites puncture and drainage, perfusion therapy and standardized treatment of cancer pain, etc.