The famous Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto unfortunately passed away last month. He had been fighting cancer for many years. He first suffered from throat cancer in 2014, and was diagnosed with stage IV rectal cancer in 2020. He underwent multiple surgeries to remove the tumor. Why can one person get two types of cancer? Dai Yanping, a specialist in clinical oncology, explained to everyone.
According to foreign statistics, as many as one in six cancer survivors may suffer from another cancer. Dai Yanping pointed out, “If two cancers have common carcinogenic factors, the risk of developing them successively will be higher. For example, smoking is related to lung cancer, esophagus cancer and laryngeal cancer respectively.”
genetic influence
Genes are also part of the reason. “Inherited Familial Cancer Syndrome (Inherited Familial Cancer Syndrome), a gene mutation, may cause a variety of related cancers, such as carriers of BRCA2 gene mutations, suffer from hereditary breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer, etc. The risk is higher than ordinary people.” Dai Yanping continued, “Although strictly speaking, it is not a different tumor, but the first primary cancer will also affect other organs if it metastasizes.”
Ninety percent of early laryngeal cancers are cured
As for the throat cancer suffered by Ryuichi Sakamoto, the initial symptoms include hoarse voice, bloodshot sputum, difficulty swallowing or foreign body sensation, etc., which are relatively easy to detect. If the disease is more serious, it may lead to cervical lymphadenopathy. However, the throat is deep and difficult to self-examination. If you have any doubts, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Endoscopy, biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and other imaging examinations can assist in the diagnosis.
Dai Yanping said, “If laryngeal cancer can be detected early, such as the first and second stages, radical radiation therapy or partial laryngectomy can be used, and the cure rate can exceed 90%. Larynx combined with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or concurrent chemotherapy has a cure rate of about 50% to 80%. Once laryngeal cancer has distant metastasis, anticancer drug chemotherapy and targeted therapy can only be used to relieve the disease.”
change in bowel habits
The rectum is a section of the intestine between the sigmoid colon and the anus, about 12 to 15 cm long. If cancer occurs, blood or mucus in the stool, changes in bowel habits such as constipation or thinner stools, and a feeling of unclear defecation are common. Dai Yanping pointed out, “Through colonoscopy, polyps can be removed immediately or tumor tissue can be taken for testing.” In the event of a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, surgery alone can be used for radical cure at the earliest stage, and adjuvant electrotherapy before or after surgery may be required in the middle and late stages Chemotherapy to shrink tumors and reduce the chance of cancer cells spreading and recurring. “If distant metastases occur, some patients who can resect all lesions can still achieve the goal of radical cure, but if the metastases are large, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy can only be used to control the disease and prolong life. “
away from carcinogenic factors
To prevent the second cancer after cancer recovery, of course, quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption. If there are other environmental factors related to cancer, they should also be avoided. Dai Yanping suggested, “Maintaining a healthy weight, that is, a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24, can help prevent cancer.” Good eating habits include eating more whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables, and eating less processed meat and high-fat foods , with regular exercise habits, while helping to control weight and stay away from cancer.
