Cancer is a significant health issue in most developed countries, including Hong Kong. Compared to ten years ago, the number of new cancer cases has soared. 42%,Year-on-year increase 3.6%. According to the data, an average of 105 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Hong Kong each day in 2021. Of these, the number of people who lost their lives to cancer that year accounted for nearly 30 per cent of all deaths in Hong Kong.
With the rising rates of cancer diagnosis and mortality, we should pay more attention to our own health and that of those around us, with particular emphasis on cancer. In this article, we will analyse Hong Kong's common cancer killers one by one, including who is more susceptible to developing cancer and the related symptoms, as well as how to prevent different types of cancer.
Hong Kong's three most common fatal cancers
Know yourself and know your enemy. Before discussing cancer prevention, let's look at the top 3 most common cancers in Hong Kong. This will help us identify related risks in a timely manner and detect any physical discomfort early.
Lung cancer and lung cancer symptoms
Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer in Hong Kong; in 2021, 15.5% of all cancer patients in Hong Kong were diagnosed with lung cancer.Lung cancer is also the deadliest form of cancer. According to the data, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in 2021, accounting for 26.7% of all such deaths.
So who is prone to developing lung cancer?
- Smokers: Approximately nine out of ten lung cancer patients are linked to smoking. It is important to note that a longer smoking history, such as starting at a young age, increases the chance of developing lung cancer.
- Elders aged fifty and over.
If you are one of the above individuals and have the following lung cancer symptoms, please be aware:
- The body often feels persistently tired and cannot be relieved by rest.
- Appetite significantly decreased, with weight loss.
- Persistent cough.
- Asthma attack.
- Phlegm with blood.
- Chest pain, for example a dull ache or a sudden sharp pain in the chest when coughing or taking a deep breath.
- If cancer has spread, patients may experience swollen lymph nodes in the neck, swelling of the neck, face and arms, abdominal distension, bone pain, headaches, localised fits, or paralysis.
Bowel cancer and bowel cancer symptoms
Colorectal cancer has been consistently ranked among the top cancers for the past decade. In Hong Kong, since the implementation of colorectal cancer screening in 2016, it has successfully facilitated early detection and treatment of polyps. Currently, fatal cases of colorectal cancer have fallen to the2... but in 2021, 15.21 TP3T cancer patients died of colorectal cancer.
So, who is prone to bowel cancer?
- Previous history of colonic polyps.
- Long-term inflammation of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis.
- There are hereditary bowel diseases, such as "Lynch syndrome" or "Familial Adenomatous Polyposis".
- Family history of bowel cancer, especially in first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, or children).
In the early stages, bowel cancer may have no symptoms at all. If you fall into the above categories and experience any of the following common symptoms of bowel cancer, you should be particularly aware:
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen (abdominal bloating or intestinal colic).
- Sudden change in bowel habits (persistent constipation or diarrhoea), change in stool shape (pencil-thin stools), and feeling of incomplete bowel emptying.
- Bowel motions with blood, or black, or containing mucus, or rectal bleeding.
- Symptoms of anaemia include: cold hands and feet, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, pale complexion, dizziness.
Liver cancer and its symptoms
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hong Kong; 9.6% of patients who died from cancer were liver cancer patients.
The liver is a very important metabolic organ in the human body. Its daily functions include breaking down toxins and alcohol in the body, producing bile needed for digestion, and manufacturing essential substances like proteins. Hongkongers often have unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as a preference for refined carbohydrates, alcohol, and high-calorie foods, along with a lack of exercise, which can easily affect liver health and trigger liver cancer.
There are many causes of liver cancer. People at higher risk of developing bowel cancer also have a higher risk of liver cancer:
- Previous hepatitis B infection: 55% cases of liver cancer are caused by hepatitis B virus infection; people who are chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus haveOne quarterHepatitis can develop into cirrhosis and ultimately form liver cancer.
- Cirrhosis symptoms: After about 29 years of cirrhosis, liver cancer may develop, and the progression of the disease will vary depending on the activity of the hepatitis virus.
- Hepatitis C positive: people who carry the hepatitis C virus are approximately 150 times more likely to develop liver cancer.
- Alcoholic habits: Easily lead to alcohol-related cirrhosis.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseand non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NASH):For example, obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders can damage the liver.
- Eating toxic food
- Long-term exposure to certain environmental factors and pollutants
- Suffering from cholangitis or congenital choledochal cysts
Early symptoms of liver cancer are not obvious, as the liver can function normally even if only a part of it is working. However, if liver cancer becomes severe, the following symptoms may occur:
- Loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, and drowsiness, etc.
- There is a hard lump in the upper abdomen.
- There is fluid in the abdomen.
- Right upper quadrant abdominal pain.
- Jaundice, with yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, and itchy skin, due to the bile duct being blocked by a tumour.
- Urine is tea-coloured, and stools are pale grey.
- Right shoulder pain can be caused by an enlarged liver irritating the phrenic nerve, which is connected to the shoulder nerve.
Cancer prevention: Regular health checks are most effective
Advances in medical technology today mean that many cancers are no longer incurable. Therefore, regular health checks are crucial for high-risk groups, as prevention is better than cure, and early detection of any potential health problems can reduce the difficulty of cancer treatment.
According to the data, if discovered early, the survival rate for lung cancer is relatively high; data shows that for most cancers, if detected early, their5The survival rate in the initial year is much higher than in later years.
Five-year relative survival rate (%)* | Lung cancer |
First installment | 72.4% |
Second phase | 45.4% |
Third quarter | 24.6% |
Fourth quarter | 7.8% |
*Data source: Hong Kong Cancer Statistics 2021, Hong Kong Cancer Registry
那麼There are many tests available, which ones?麼Screening is suitable for cancer prevention, particularly for the prevention of lung, colorectal, and liver cancer.大「Assassin」？
Blood test/cancer marker analysis
When suffering from malignant tumours, protein concentration indicators in our blood or urine tend to show an unusual increase. At this point, a blood test can be performed.Cancer marker analysisA general analysis is being done, but an exact cancer diagnosis will still require other tests.
Lung cancer prevention and regular medical check-ups
Smoking is the most significant risk factor for lung cancer, so it is recommended to avoid starting or continuing the habit of smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke.
Heavy smokers require regular check-ups, which may include chest X-rays, sputum cytology, or low-dose CT scans, as recommended by their doctor.Computed tomography (CT).
Heavy smokers are generally advised to start lung cancer screening between the ages of 50 and 55, typically annually or every 2 years, up to the age of 74 to 80.
Heavy smokers, defined as those who have smoked more than 20 to 30 pack-years (the number of packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years of smoking) and are still smoking or have quit within the last 10 to 15 years.
Prevention and regular screening for liver cancer
To reduce the risk of contracting liver cancer, it is recommended to get vaccinated against Hepatitis B, and to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking. Additionally, unsafe sexual practices and sharing needles should be avoided, as should consuming foods that may contain aflatoxins.
The more common liver cancer screenings include:
- Alpha-fetoprotein blood test
- Abdominal ultrasound
However, both of these tests have limitations. If you are a higher-risk individual (e.g., with chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, or cirrhosis), you should consult a doctor to decide if cancer surveillance is necessary and how it should be carried out. Generally, clinical guidelines such as age, family history, and the presence of cirrhosis will be used to recommend regular (e.g., every 6 to 12 months) alpha-fetoprotein blood tests orAbdominal ultrasound.
Specifically, the types of examinations and their frequency required for cancer prevention can vary significantly depending on an individual's physical condition, family medical history, and lifestyle habits. It is recommended that if you have concerns related to cancer, you should consult a doctor first.
The prevention and regular screening of bowel cancer
Besides genetics and a family history, bowel cancer is linked to unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as insufficient dietary fibre, habitually consuming large amounts of red and processed meats, lack of physical activity, obesity, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
From August 2018, the Hong Kong Government has regularised the colorectal cancer screening programme, and through3In this phase, extensive funded screening was carried out on asymptomatic residents. From 1 January 2020, the funded scope included residents aged 50 to 75.
If you consider yourself to be in a high-risk group as mentioned above, but are not within the scope of the bowel cancer screening programme, you can still book a private clinic for a fee.Bowel cancer risk test.
