

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

Why can't people with liver cancer drink milk?
Liver cancer patients are generally advised not to drink milk, particularly in cases of advanced liver cancer where there is a potential for hepatic encephalopathy. This is because, for patients in the late stages of liver cancer, liver function is compromised, and some may already exhibit symptoms indicative of pre-hepatic encephalopathy. Consuming a diet rich in protein can easily trigger hepatic encephalopathy, and since milk is high in protein, its consumption is usually limited or avoided in such patients. However, for the majority of liver cancer patients, drinking milk is permissible as it not only contains abundant protein but also rich calcium, which is beneficial for the recovery of liver cancer patients. Most liver cancer patients have hypoalbuminemia (low levels of protein in the blood) and some also have hypocalcemia (low levels of calcium in the blood), thus the intake of calcium and protein-rich foods can be very beneficial for their recovery.

How long does it take for melanoma to develop?
The duration of melanoma development varies because melanoma is a type of skin cancer with a relatively high degree of malignancy. However, clinically, the types of melanoma are diverse, and the onset time generally correlates with the patient's clinical phenotype. For some superficial types of melanoma with low malignancy, it generally takes several years to develop. For highly malignant melanomas, the disease generally progresses rapidly within about six months to a year. Once melanoma progresses, it can affect multiple parts of the body and severely impact the patient's lifespan.

Can occasional smoking and drinking be okay with thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck area, and currently, the exact mechanism and etiological causes of thyroid cancer are not clearly defined in the clinic. However, some research studies indicate that there are certain factors associated with the incidence of thyroid cancer. For example, ionizing radiation, prolonged exposure can lead to the occurrence of thyroid cancer. Both insufficient and excessive iodine intake can lead to a high incidence of thyroid cancer. Genetic factors also play a significant role in the development of thyroid cancer. Excessive smoking and drinking can promote the occurrence of thyroid cancer. Therefore, heavy smoking and drinking are not recommended, but occasional smoking and drinking do not significantly impact the condition of thyroid cancer and are deemed acceptable. Moreover, for patients with thyroid cancer, treatment is primarily surgical, as radiotherapy and chemotherapy are not very sensitive anti-tumor treatments.

Melanoma CT manifestations
The CT manifestations of melanoma vary depending on the location of the tumor. Generally, melanomas that occur on the skin can appear on CT scans as mass-like lesions, and the scans can show whether there are any urgent conditions involving the surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and tissues. Some patients may only show CT imaging changes such as localized thickening of the skin. In melanomas that occur inside the skull or in the vulva, the CT mainly shows localized mass-like lesions. These lesions are typically low-density foci with poor blood supply around them, and they generally have an irregular shape.

What should women with hepatic hemangiomas be cautious about?
Patients with hepatic hemangiomas in women need to pay attention to the following aspects clinically. First, be cautious with physical activity and reduce the intake of too many medications to prevent damage to liver function in patients with hepatic hemangiomas. Second, for smaller hepatic hemangiomas in women, regular imaging examinations such as ultrasound and MRI can be conducted to monitor changes in the hemangiomas. Third, for larger hepatic hemangiomas, it is necessary to regularly monitor liver function changes and provide timely treatment. Fourth, the usual diet should be low in fat and high in fiber to prevent the worsening of hepatic hemangioma disease due to hyperlipidemia.

Does early-stage lung cancer cause facial swelling?
Patients with early-stage lung cancer generally do not experience facial swelling. This is because early-stage lung cancers mainly include carcinoma in situ and stage I lung cancer. At this stage, the cancer tissue is confined to the mucosa, without invasion of the surrounding tissues or distant metastasis. Therefore, the clinical symptoms of patients with early-stage lung cancer primarily involve the respiratory system. Clinical symptoms mainly include coughing, often a dry cough without phlegm, or coughing up phlegm with blood, hemoptysis, and massive hemoptysis. Some patients may experience chest pain, or have a barking cough, or a metallic-sounding cough. Some patients may have shortness of breath after physical activity, and severe cases can experience breathing difficulties. In most cases, patients do not exhibit other clinical changes. However, as the disease progresses, and there is invasion into surrounding tissues, or distant metastases occur, symptoms of invasion into surrounding tissues or distant metastatic sites may appear. For example, metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes can cause enlarged lymph nodes, or compression of the superior vena cava by the patient, resulting in swelling of the face and neck.

Is vomiting in prostate cancer due to metastasis to the liver?
Patients with prostate cancer may experience vomiting due to the metastasis of the disease to the liver, causing damage to liver function. However, vomiting could also be caused by other reasons, such as the metastasis of prostate cancer to the peritoneum of the abdominal cavity. Clinically, this can lead to cancerous intestinal obstruction, with symptoms commonly including vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, reduced bowel movements and gas, or cessation of bowel movements and gas. When prostate cancer metastasizes to the brain, the increased intracranial pressure can also cause symptoms such as vomiting, headache, swelling of the optic disc, hemiplegia, and aphasia. Additionally, some prostate cancer patients may experience vomiting due to toxic side effects from treatments such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

Early symptoms of rectal cancer
The early symptoms of rectal cancer generally include the following aspects: many patients experience changes in their bowel habits, such as prolonged diarrhea, prolonged constipation, or alternating occurrences of diarrhea and constipation. Some patients also experience changes in the characteristics of their stools, with stools becoming thinner and more watery due to increased bowel movements. Additionally, some patients may excrete stools mixed with mucus, pus, and blood, or stools that contain blood, and may experience a feeling of urgency followed by a sensation of incomplete evacuation. Some patients also feel itching or a dull pain in the anal area. Moreover, the early symptoms of rectal cancer are not very prominent, and many patients can easily confuse them with benign rectal diseases such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures. This confusion leads many patients not to seek medical attention, and by the time symptoms like significant pain and lumps appear, the disease is typically in its intermediate or advanced stages.

What are the early symptoms of colon cancer?
The early symptoms of colon cancer mainly include discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen, which does not necessarily become more pronounced after eating and generally occurs intermittently. Some patients may also experience changes in stool shape, primarily manifested as narrower stools, or an increased frequency of bowel movements per day, leading to diarrhea. Some patients in the early stages may experience worsening of pre-existing constipation, or alternating symptoms of diarrhea and constipation. Some colon cancer patients in the early stages may experience bloody stools, or the presence of mucus, pus, and blood in the stool, which are some atypical gastrointestinal symptoms of colitis. Some patients may also experience nausea.

Is a fever in nasopharyngeal carcinoma a sign of deterioration?
Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may exhibit fever in a clinical setting. This fever can partially be due to the worsening of the carcinoma itself. However, not all cases are due to progression of the disease; some are caused by infections and other factors. For example, after receiving anti-tumor treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may experience a decrease in white blood cells, making them highly susceptible to infections, which can then manifest as fever. Additionally, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may have weakened immune systems, making them prone to infections and fevers. As the nasopharyngeal carcinoma progresses, it can release abnormal hormones, forming endogenous fever-inducing agents, leading to clinical manifestations of fever. Generally, this type of fever is referred to as tumor fever, which is often related to the progression of the disease. Tumor fever typically requires anti-tumor treatment for effective relief.