Experts explain why cancer is soaring to the top

At present, liver cancer has surpassed lung cancer, surpassed the No. 1 position on new incidence. This is a disease that kills more than 25,000 Vietnamese people every year.

According to the statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO), Vietnam has the third highest rate of liver cancer in the world, only behind Mongolia and Laos.

The incidence of liver cancer increased rapidly over the past 20 years. On average, every 100,000 Vietnamese people have 23.2 people with liver cancer. In Vietnam, after many years of standing at No. 2, currently liver cancer has surpassed lung cancer, reaching the number 1 position of new incidence with the number of cases in 2018 was 25,335 cases. It is worth mentioning that the number of deaths from liver cancer in our country is nearly equal to the number of new cases. It is estimated that about 25,000 people die of liver cancer each year, much higher than the number of deaths due to traffic accidents in Vietnam Nan.

Explaining this reason, Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Director of Central Hospital K, said the rate of death of liver cancer is high due to 80-90% of patients coming to hospital when they are in the late stage , at This intervention measures, treatment is very limited. While if detected at an early stage, prognosis is very good.

The image of the liver is invaded by tumors.

Doctor Pham The Anh, Head of the Department of External Hepatobiliary and Hepatology, Central Hospital K, said liver cancer is difficult to detect early because at the early stage of the disease manifestations are often vague, the patient has little attention. Most cases of detected liver cancer are late. Liver cancer includes primary liver cancer and secondary liver cancer . Primary liver cancer develops from cells in the liver, secondary liver cancer caused by cancer cells in other parts of the body and enters the liver causing metastatic tumors. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer that accounts for over 80%, occurring in both adults and children.

Experts say that in Vietnam, viral hepatitis (B, C) is the leading cause of cirrhosis or liver cancer. In addition, some high-fat eating habits, sweets, alcohol abuse and sedentary lifestyle, overweight, obesity (belly fat) are making Vietnamese people devastate their own liver. me

According to GS Thuan, to treat liver cancer, in addition to traditional methods such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drugs, there are now additional methods of circuit node, high frequency wave burning, burning u by microwave, laser, electrolyte, absolute skin injection, liver transplantation . The choice of treatment depends on the location, size, stage of the disease as well as the accompanying pathology. With hepatocellular carcinoma, surgery is the first choice because it helps to remove the tumor, but only about a third of patients at the time of the initial diagnosis can operate.

In addition, liver transplantation is a highly effective method for patients with liver cancer. In some hospitals such as Viet Duc and Cho Ray, liver transplant cases have been performed regularly. In which Viet Duc Hospital grafted more than 62 cases (accounting for 50% of all liver transplants nationwide). However, due to the high cost of liver transplantation (about 1.5 billion VND / transplant) and the source of liver transplantation is very scarce of organ resources, so the number of liver transplant only meets about 10-15% of demand.

Doctor K Hospital recommends to prevent liver cancer, the following measures should be taken:

• Regular health checks every 6 months with ultrasound, blood tests, . to detect liver damage early, especially in patients with high risk factors of liver cancer: viral hepatitis B, C, cirrhosis, .
• Fully vaccinated against hepatitis B.
• Limit or remove beer, alcohol, and cigarettes, especially for patients with cirrhosis and viral hepatitis.
• Do not use indiscriminate drugs, especially unknown drugs without consulting a doctor. Most drugs are metabolized through the liver, abuse of drugs can cause liver function impairment, especially patients who have chronic liver disease and this is a high risk for liver cancer.
• Avoid contact with toxic chemicals that easily damage the liver.

Things to know about liver cancer

Vietnamese liver cancer ranked 4 th in the world, now can be eliminated without surgery