

Yan Chun

About me
Graduated from the Clinical Medicine Department of Qingdao Medical College, has been working in the Oncology Department since 2001, obtained the qualification of attending physician in the same year. Promoted to attending physician in 2003. Qualified as associate chief physician in 2011. Participated in advanced studies at Jinan Cancer Hospital from June to November 2015. Serves as a youth member of the Chemical Therapy Committee in Shandong Province, youth member of the Elderly Therapy Committee of the Qingdao Anti-cancer Association, and a member of the Biologic Therapy Committee of the Qingdao Anti-cancer Association.
Proficient in diseases
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, deep hyperthermia, targeted therapy, and endocrine therapy for various tumors such as stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

Voices

How to rule out liver cancer when experiencing right shoulder pain?
Some liver cancer patients may experience abdominal pain that radiates to the shoulder and back, resulting in right shoulder pain. Therefore, when a patient presents with right shoulder pain, to rule out the possibility of liver cancer, some laboratory tests or radiological examinations can be conducted, and if necessary, histopathological examinations can also be performed. If hematological examination does not show an abnormal increase in AFP levels, and radiological examinations do not reveal any abnormal liver conditions such as large masses, nodular tumors, or diffuse liver lesions, and there is no history of hepatitis or cirrhosis, it is generally possible to rule out right shoulder pain caused by liver cancer. To determine the exact cause of the pain, examinations such as X-rays of the right shoulder, CT scans, and if necessary, MRI or bone scans can be conducted to exclude right shoulder pain caused by liver cancer lesions.

Can patients with advanced pancreatic cancer eat watermelon?
Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer can eat watermelon. This is because many patients with advanced pancreatic cancer experience liver metastasis. Cancerous tissues damage liver cells, leading to impaired liver function and abnormal glycogen metabolism. Many patients may experience episodes of hypoglycemia, and eating watermelon can help replenish blood sugar, which is beneficial for the patients. Additionally, many patients with advanced pancreatic cancer suffer from a decline in appetite, and watermelon can stimulate their appetite and increase their food intake, which is also beneficial for their recovery. Thirdly, watermelon has a certain diuretic effect. Since many patients with advanced pancreatic cancer also suffer from hypoproteinemia, they are prone to edema. Eating watermelon can promote an increase in urine output, thereby helping to alleviate edema.

Early symptoms and manifestations of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck area. Early symptoms and signs primarily include a thyroid mass discovered incidentally during a physical examination. This type of mass grows quickly, leading to localized thyroid enlargement, and patients may experience discomfort when swallowing. Additionally, some thyroid cancer patients, due to abnormal hormone secretion, might experience unexplained skin flushing or sweating symptoms. Besides, early symptoms and manifestations of thyroid cancer are not typical, and many patients do not exhibit obvious symptoms. Instead, abnormalities in thyroid function are often incidentally found during physical examinations.

What discomforts can thyroid cancer cause in the body?
Thyroid cancer is a common type of malignant tumor in the head and neck region. In its early stages, thyroid cancer has little effect on the body, and generally does not cause any discomfort. However, as the disease progresses and the tumor invades outward and metastasizes to distant areas, it can lead to various uncomfortable sensations. For example, if thyroid cancer invades surrounding tissues and organs, such as the recurrent laryngeal nerve, the patient may experience symptoms like a hoarse voice and choking while drinking. If thyroid cancer metastasizes to the cervical lymph nodes, the patient may also develop Horner's syndrome, which is characterized by a constricted pupil, drooping eyelid, and absence of sweating on the affected side of the face. If the patient develops superior vena cava syndrome, it can lead to difficulty breathing, chest pain, and swelling of the face and neck. If thyroid cancer metastasizes to the lungs or other distant areas, the patient may also experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing.

What are the symptoms of tongue cancer?
Tongue cancer is a type of oral cancer, with clinical symptoms primarily manifested in the following aspects. Many patients develop lumps on the tongue, which generally have unclear boundaries and easily adhere to surrounding tissues, showing limited mobility. The lumps exhibit persistent rapid growth, and when they invade nearby tissues, patients can experience ear pain and difficulties in tongue movement. In advanced stages, patients with tongue cancer may have a fixed tongue, drooling, difficulty eating, and unclear speech. Additionally, lumps in tongue cancer can undergo necrosis, ulceration, and secondary infections, bleeding, and some may have an abnormal taste. The disease can lead to lymph node metastasis, causing lymph node enlargement, often manifesting as neck lumps. Some patients may also experience metastasis to bone tissues, resulting in bone pain.

Vulvar cancer lymph node metastasis is stage III.
Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in the female reproductive system, commonly occurring in postmenopausal elderly women. The disease progresses to involve lymph node metastasis, and its clinical staging is either stage III or stage IV. If the disease spreads to the inguinal lymph nodes with no other site affected, then the clinical stage is considered stage III. If the vulvar cancer metastasizes to the pelvic lymph nodes, or distant locations such as the liver, lungs, or bones, then it is classified as stage IV. For cases of stage III and IV vulvar cancer, the main treatment methods are palliative surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The treatment strategy primarily involves a combination of surgery and radiation therapy along with chemotherapy. For patients with stage III and IV vulvar cancer, the prognosis is generally poor.

Does vulvar cancer spread quickly if not treated with chemotherapy?
Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in women. For patients in the early stages of vulvar cancer, chemotherapy is generally not required after radical surgery. Even without chemotherapy, the disease progression of early-stage vulvar cancer is relatively slow, and many patients can achieve clinical cure after the radical surgery. However, for patients with mid-to-late stage vulvar cancer, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is generally required after the radical surgery to reduce the chances of disease recurrence and metastasis. Without postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the disease can spread quickly, and many patients soon experience the spread of the disease, eventually leading to multi-organ failure and death. Therefore, it is essential for patients who need adjuvant chemotherapy to complete the supplementary treatment regularly and on time after surgery.

What tests are needed to determine the cause of vulvar cancer?
Vulvar cancer is a type of malignant tumor in female gynecology. Clinically, the following examinations can be used to identify the cause of vulvar cancer. First, testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) can be conducted. If the patient is found to be infected with HPV, then the cause of vulvar cancer can be considered to be due to viral infection. Additionally, herpes virus testing can also be performed, as many patients with vulvar cancer are caused by herpes virus infection. Thirdly, cytological examination of the vulva can be conducted to detect if there are any malnutritive lesions, such as vulvar lichen sclerosus, and other diseases like dermatophytosis, which are also reasons for the high incidence of vulvar cancer.

Early symptoms of tongue cancer
The early symptoms of tongue cancer patients are mainly manifested as ulcerous lesions on the surface of the tongue, which relapse frequently. The effectiveness of common anti-inflammatory drugs and ulcer treatments is poor. The edges of these ulcerative lesions are rough and the bottom is unclean, often accompanied by abnormal secretions. When infected, the area may exhibit bleeding, pain, and other symptoms. Additionally, some early-stage patients may develop nodular lesions on the surface of the tongue. These nodules have irregular edges and tend to adhere to the surrounding tongue tissues. They are relatively hard, and their surfaces are prone to friction, bleeding, and even exhibit signs of inflammation such as redness and swelling.

Does vulvar cancer ulceration infect family members?
Vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor of the female reproductive system with a low incidence rate clinically. Many patients with vulvar cancer experience ulcerations in their lesions. Even when ulceration occurs in vulvar cancer lesions, it is not contagious to family members because vulvar cancer is a malignant tumor and does not possess contagiousness. The occurrence of infectious diseases necessarily requires three core elements: a source of infection, a transmission route, and a susceptible population. The formation of an infection without these three elements is impossible. When ulceration occurs in vulvar cancer lesions, it is due to the tumor lesion and is non-contagious; however, it is prone to concurrent infections, causing clinical symptoms such as fever, localized pain, and bleeding, which greatly afflict the patients. In cases of ulceration in vulvar cancer, besides controlling the infection and managing local symptoms, it is also necessary to provide aggressive anti-tumor treatment.