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Liu Liang
Oncology
About me
Loudi Central Hospital, Oncology Department, attending physician, has been engaged in clinical work in the field of oncology for many years, and has rich clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of oncologic diseases.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in common diseases such as lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and lymphoma.
Voices
What is the level of cancer antigen for ovarian cancer?
Carcinoembryonic antigen is primarily found in malignant tumors of the digestive tract, such as colorectal cancer and gastric cancer, where it tends to be significantly elevated. It is also elevated in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In cases of ovarian cancer, carcinoembryonic antigen may be elevated, but the most primary, sensitive, and specific tumor marker is CA125, which usually shows a significant increase. However, CA125 is specifically elevated in the pathological type of epithelial ovarian cancer.
How is lymphoma diagnosed?
Most lymphoma patients initially present with painless swelling of superficial lymph nodes. The first examination typically includes an ultrasound of these superficial lymph nodes. If the ultrasound suggests a high probability of malignancy, a lymph node excision biopsy can be performed. A lymph node excision biopsy and subsequent pathological confirmation is the gold standard for diagnosing lymphoma. Furthermore, it is common for lymphoma patients to undergo PET-CT scans, which are used to determine the stage at initial diagnosis and to assess the effectiveness of treatment after therapy.
Lymphoma occurs in which part?
Lymphoma can develop in many different parts of the body and lymph nodes, with the most common being the enlargement of superficial lymph nodes, such as those in the neck, armpits, and groin. The pharyngeal lymphatic ring, including places like the oropharynx, base of the tongue, and tonsils, also commonly exhibit lymph node enlargement in cases of lymphoma. Additionally, lymphoma frequently occurs in the nasal cavity and the mediastinum in the chest, as well as in the abdomen, including lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract and primary lymphomas of the liver and spleen, and even the retroperitoneal mesentery and pelvic lymph nodes. The skin and bone marrow can also be primary sites for lymphoma. Thus, it can affect multiple parts of the body, with many areas being susceptible to lymphoma.
Can prostate cancer be contagious?
Prostate cancer is non-contagious; it is a non-infectious malignant tumor, and it generally does not transmit to others, meaning there is no risk of contagion. Thus, when caring for patients with malignant tumors, including those with prostate cancer, there is no need to worry about contagion. Clinically, many family members also inquire about this issue, concerned about the possibility of infection. Malignant tumors are non-infectious. Infectious diseases refer to conditions such as chronic hepatitis B and tuberculosis, among other contagious diseases. Malignant tumors are not contagious.
How to check for esophageal cancer?
One clinical symptom of esophageal cancer is primarily dysphagia, especially progressive aggravation of dysphagia and difficulty swallowing. When these symptoms occur, the possibility of esophageal cancer should be considered, and one should seek medical attention at a hospital. An esophagoscope examination, which is an endoscopy, should be performed. Usually, under endoscopy, morphological changes in the esophagus can be observed, and if a biopsy is taken and cancer cells are found, esophageal cancer can be diagnosed. Therefore, the primary diagnostic approach for esophageal cancer involves an endoscopic examination and biopsy of the esophageal mass, which is the gold standard for diagnosis. After diagnosis, it is also necessary to perform comprehensive examinations such as chest and full abdominal CT scans, superficial lymph node ultrasound of the whole body, barium meal tests for the esophagus, and other examinations like ultrasound and esophagoscopy to assess the stage of the cancer and decide upon further treatment plans.
Common symptoms of primary liver cancer
The initial symptoms of primary liver cancer are mostly pain in the liver area, which commonly presents as abdominal pain. Some patients may also experience bloating, fatigue, and weight loss as systemic symptoms. In advanced-stage liver cancer patients, there can be an enlargement of the liver, meaning a palpable enlarged mass can be felt in the abdomen. Other symptoms include jaundice and ascites, which can cause abdominal bloating. Upon physical examination, an obvious increase in abdominal girth and abdominal distension can be noted. Moreover, patients with advanced liver cancer may also suffer from complications such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding, rupture and bleeding of the liver cancer nodules, liver failure, and even hepatic encephalopathy, among others.
Is there a treatment for prostate cancer?
The treatment methods for prostate cancer include surgery, radical surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy. The choice of treatment is related to the stage of the cancer, as different stages require different treatment plans. Early-stage prostate cancer patients can choose radical surgery or radical radiotherapy. For patients with advanced prostate cancer, the first choice of treatment is endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy can be used after endocrine therapy fails, or some palliative radiotherapy, etc., depending on the specific situation.
What are the symptoms of gastric cancer?
Symptoms of stomach cancer patients are like those of early-stage stomach cancer patients, who generally present with some nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and discomfort or acid reflux in the upper abdomen, similar to gastrointestinal ulcers or gastritis. These are some of the clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal symptoms. As the tumor progresses and invades the abdominal cavity or surrounding organs, the patient's symptoms will worsen, possibly causing overall abdominal bloating, discomfort, and even severe pain. Other symptoms include ascites, which is fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, vomiting, weight loss, anemia, and clinical manifestations such as vomiting blood or black stools, which are symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Can late-stage liver cancer be treated?
In the late stage of liver cancer, treatment depends on the specific circumstances. If there is significant ascites or severe liver function damage, treatment may primarily involve optimal supportive care. If the patient's liver function is relatively good, such as in hepatocellular carcinoma, targeted therapy may be an option. If the patient's overall condition allows, other treatment methods such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy may be considered. Furthermore, if the pathology is cholangiocarcinoma with jaundice as the main symptom, a stent can be placed externally in the biliary tract to drain bile and alleviate jaundice symptoms. If there is no portal vein thrombosis, no significant ascites, and multiple liver metastases are present, chemotherapy embolization of hepatic veins and various local ablation treatments can also be considered. Thus, the specific approach should take into account multiple factors such as the patient's constitution, overall condition, and the severity of liver function impairment.
Can ovarian cancer that has spread still be cured?
If ovarian cancer has spread, it is generally considered to be at an advanced stage. The treatment for advanced ovarian cancer primarily involves chemotherapy. Epithelial cancer, the most common type of ovarian cancer, is particularly sensitive to chemotherapy. Most patients benefit from chemotherapy. However, once ovarian cancer has spread and is not caught at a very early stage, even with treatments like chemotherapy, it cannot be cured. The purpose of treatment at this stage is to alleviate the patient's pain and extend their survival, but it cannot be cured.