The chief oncologist of the Ministry of Health called three rules to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence
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- 18 Jul 2022
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WHAT IS THE MAIN DANGER OF CANCER RECURRENCE
“The danger of recurrence is that up to a certain point it can be asymptomatic,” explains the chief oncologist of the Ministry of Health, head of the National Medical Research Center (NMIC) for radiology, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, practicing surgeon-oncologist Andrey Kaprin in his official telegram channel . And he lists the symptoms that patients may feel - often such signs are confused with the consequences of severe stress, covid , overwork, and other diseases.
Relapse can signal :
- weight loss,
- Weakness and fatigue
- changes in stool, appetite,
- temperature rise,
- the appearance of signs of intoxication: sweating, chills, itching,
- inflammation of the lymph nodes.
HOW GREAT IS THE RISK OF CANCER RECURRENCE
Whether a relapse will occur in one case or another is difficult to predict 100%, academician Kaprin notes. At the same time, there is a pattern: the earlier the disease was initially diagnosed and treatment started, the lower the risk of relapse in the future. “In general, the likelihood of recurrence depends on the form of the tumor process and the histological type of the tumor, the treatment performed, the stage of the disease, and the location of the tumor,” the doctor explains.
Observations show that:
- some types of tumors do not metastasize, so the risk of recurrence is quite low. Such diseases include, in particular, thyroid cancer and basalioma of the skin;
- other types of cancer, on the contrary, have a high recurrence rate. “For example, glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive brain tumor. She almost always comes back despite the treatment, - describes Dr. Kaprin. “Also, some types of ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and pancreatic cancer are often recurrent”;
- the probability of recurrence depends on the age of the patient and concomitant diseases.
And a very important role is played by lifestyle and compliance with medical recommendations, the doctor emphasizes.
THREE RULES TO REDUCE THE THREAT
It is impossible to protect yourself 100% from the recurrence of cancer, as well as from cancer itself, admits the chief oncologist of the Ministry of Health. But there are recommendations that allow you to minimize these risks.
1. Undergo regular preventive examinations.
This is the main and basic rule that every patient must strictly observe, even if nothing bothers him, Academician Kaprin emphasizes.
The timing of medical examinations is determined as follows:
- in stage 1 and 2 cancer, as a rule, examinations and consultations are scheduled every 6 months for the first 5 years after completion of treatment. Then once a year;
- at stages 3 and 4, control examinations are performed every 3 months in the first year after the treatment, then every 6 months. “The list of surveys in this case is much wider. It is not permissible to ignore these instructions. During the control check, the doctor not only determines the presence of complaints in the patient, but may also suspect any changes in the body. In the event of a relapse, this will help to start and carry out effective treatment in a timely manner, ”explains Dr. Kaprin. Read More…
