Breaking news
A 27-year-old woman, identified as Ms. Lee, sounded the alarm to prevent pulmonary nodules after a health crisis. Two years ago, a routine health check-up revealed a nodule in her right lung, but she ignored it due to her lack of symptoms and lack of consciousness. Last year, a physical examination of the company showed significant enlargement of the nodules, and further examination indicated suspected malignancy and lymph node metastases, leading to a diagnosis of lung cancer. Fortunately, surgeons from Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Xiamen University performed a radical resection of the right middle lung, and she is currently in stable condition.
Fuel risks are exacerbated by public misunderstanding and subsequent neglect
Ms. Lee’s case is not isolated. The public often holds two extreme views about lung nodules: either the fear that “nodules mean cancer” or the belief that “small nodules do not require treatment”. Medical advice such as “recommended follow-up” in CT reports is often overlooked and is rooted in three key questions:
- Inadequate health literacy: many people lack knowledge about nodule classification (solid/mixed ground-glass) and malignant risk factors (>8 mm diameter, lobulation,).
- Unbalanced medical resources: The follow-up compliance of primary hospitals is low, and the professional referral system needs to be improved.
- Psychological disorders: Some people avoid screening due to “cancer phobia”, while others mistakenly believe that “young people don’t get cancer”.
Malignant transformation is closely related to survival
Progression of pulmonary nodules directly affects prognosis:
- Early (<1cm): Prompt surgery with a 5-year survival rate of more than 92%.
- Lymph node metastases: survival decreases to 50% to 60% and requires chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
- Distant metastases: survival rate less than 30%.
For example, intervening when Ms. Li’s nodule was first found to be at 1 cm would greatly improve the outcome. Clinically, > 8 mm nodules growing > 1 mm per year have a >70% risk of malignancy.
A three-pronged approach to prevention
The medical community advocates a stratification strategy:
- Individuals: Screening of smokers, people with a family history of cancer, or occupational hazards on an annual basis; Seek thoracic surgery consultation within two weeks of the “follow-up” recommendation; Access to science-based information.
- Hospitals: Strengthen the follow-up reminder system and use low-dose CT/AI to assist in diagnosis.
- Policy: Promote subsidized screening for high-risk groups.
Scientific assessment of daily prevention
WHO guidelines emphasize comprehensive imaging analysis – lobulation, phallation, and vacuolar signs predict potential malignancy. The Brock scoring system is widely used to quantify risk. Daily prevention includes:
- Smoking cessation (reduces lung cancer risk by 50%, enhanced by smoking cessation aids).
- Eat foods rich in antioxidants (cruciferous vegetables, nuts).
- Monitor for warning signs (unexplained weight loss, persistent cough).
- Use an air purifier and limit outdoor activities on polluted days.
Ms. Li’s experience highlights the urgent need for “early screening and early treatment”. Managing pulmonary nodules requires collaboration: individuals must prioritize health reporting, hospitals must improve follow-up systems, and policymakers must expand screening networks. There are three key steps to remember: consult with a specialist within two weeks of discovery, adhere to a follow-up plan, and intervene promptly if surgical criteria are met. Protect your health screening results first to establish the first line of defense against lung cancer.
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