Respond to symptoms in a timely manner, but do not look for cancer. 7 questions to an oncologist about how tumors are diagnosed and treated

In Russia with cancer are sick about four million people. Every year, 600 thousand patients hear this diagnosis for the first time. The prognosis depends on the type of disease, age, general health and other factors. But if a tumor is detected at an early stage, the chances of recovery are high.

Lifehacker talked to a specialist and found out what symptoms cancer may have, what treatment methods doctors now use, and how lifestyle affects the likelihood of developing cancer.

What symptoms should you see an oncologist for?

Oncological diseases do not have specific symptoms. Some diseases, such as gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancer, can manifest themselves in the same way. Also, similar symptoms occur with malignant tumors in the rectum and hemorrhoids - pain and bleeding of varying intensity. Therefore, there is no need to immediately go to an oncologist. The patient should not look for cancer on his own. His task is to consult a doctor if unpleasant and incomprehensible symptoms appear. Start with a therapist who will tell you where to go next - to a gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist, etc. The specialist will assess the person’s condition and, if there are indications, will refer him to an oncologist. There is also an option - directly contact a specialized doctor.

Is it true that alcohol, smoking and excess weight contribute to cancer?

When smoking, carcinogens enter the body, which increase the risk of developing lung tumors. Moreover, not only classic cigarettes are dangerous, but also any electronic devices. Using them, a person still receives a dose of nicotine. Drinking alcohol negatively affects the liver, pancreas and stomach. By the way, cancer in these organs is usually diagnosed in an advanced form, when it is difficult to cure.

Excess weight can cause an increase in the amount of the hormone estrogen in the body. Its high concentration increases the risk of developing breast, thyroid and other tumors.

But it is important to remember that cancer is a multifactorial disease, and it is difficult to name a specific reason why it arose in a patient. Mutation occurs at the cellular level: some kind of abnormal cell appears, which the body does not perceive as foreign and does not turn on the mechanism for its destruction. Therefore, even if a person does not have bad habits and leads an active lifestyle, he should make an annual check-up.

What minimum examination is desirable to undergo every year?

For men under 40 years of age, I recommend an ultrasound, or better yet, a CT scan of the abdomen and chest. In addition, it is advisable to perform a gastroscopy annually because today people often eat food that is not of the best quality, such as fast food. After 40 years, colonoscopy is added to these examinations. It is carried out once every 5–10 years, provided that no pathologies are found. If there are any benign neoplasms, the procedure must be performed more often to control them. Men over 50 years of age need to take a blood test for prostate-specific antigen, which allows one to suspect problems with the prostate gland.

Women should have their abdomen and chest checked. In addition, you need to see a gynecologist once a year before menopause, and once every six months after. It is also important to conduct a self-examination of the breast every month, because this is where tumors most often occur in women. I advise young girls to have an ultrasound of the mammary glands once a year, and for women after menopause to have a mammogram.

If cancer was found in an advanced form, is there any point in treating it?

The extreme stage of cancer is the fourth. Doctors call this a condition when a patient develops distant metastases in other organs. Let's say that with colon cancer, tumors appear in the liver. Situations here may be different. If the lesion is single and after a course of chemotherapy it has decreased in size so that it can be removed surgically, then there is a chance to go into remission.

But it happens that there are many metastases and they cannot be cut out. Then it is difficult to cure the patient, but there are ways to slow down the progression of the disease and improve the person’s quality of life. For example, chemotherapy may reduce tumor size and reduce pain. It makes sense to undergo treatment in any case: according to statistics, the survival rate of people who receive medical help is higher than that of those who do not.

What techniques do oncology surgeons use now?

I have been operating for 15 years and I see that even during this time surgery has made great progress. Many clinics have acquired equipment that allows for low-traumatic interventions under ultrasound, CT and MRI control. Patients recover faster after these laparoscopic surgeries, which do not require large incisions.

Open surgeries are also still being performed. They may be prescribed when there is a high risk of bleeding, rupture of the tumor capsule, or the tumor is so large that it cannot be removed through a small incision.

Is it possible to get rid of the disease by simply cutting out the tumor?

Cancer cells can spread throughout the body through the blood, lymph, and germinate into surrounding tissues and organs. Therefore, doctors prescribe a combination of different methods, depending on the stage at which the disease is detected. Together they allow you to get the maximum effect from treatment.

Side effects are possible during cancer treatment. Do doctors help cope with them?

Each cancer treatment method—surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—can cause complications. Doctors know what side effects occur and try to prevent them. For example, during a course of chemotherapy, patients often feel nausea and vomiting and experience alopecia. To make a person's life more comfortable, specialists may prescribe antiemetic drugs or recommend wearing a cooling helmet, which prevents hair loss.

5 tips from an oncologist on how to reduce the risk of cancer

1. Get rid of bad habits - alcohol, smoking. And also remove excess weight, if any.
2. Eat properly. Try to reduce the amount of fried foods in your diet, reduce the amount of sugar and salt.
3. To live an active lifestyle. To begin with, you can walk more often and include a short warm-up in your daily routine.
4. Listen to your body’s signals and respond to them in a timely manner - consult a doctor if something is wrong. Chronic diseases present in the body for a long time increase the likelihood of developing oncological processes.
5. Go through an annual checkup. For example, women should have an ultrasound of the mammary glands (after 40 years, a mammogram), and men should have a PSA blood test. Both should undergo a CT scan of the abdomen and chest.

LLC "SM‑Clinic" License to carry out medical activities No. L041-01137-77/00368259 issued by the Moscow Department of Health on September 19, 2019.