A disease in the body, a prophet of the neck? If these three phenomena appear in the neck, it means that 'this disease' has visited

China is a high incidence area of ​​nasopharyngeal cancer, accounting for about 80% of the total number of patients worldwide. Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan and other places are high incidence areas of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma has developed into the first malignant tumor.

Early symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer have some typical features, such as blood in the nose, a lump in the neck, and hearing loss. But these symptoms are easily confused with rhinitis, lymphadenitis, otitis media, etc., so they are also ignored or misdiagnosed.

In fact, swollen lymph nodes in the neck are a common symptom of nasopharyngeal cancer. According to statistics, about 60% to 80% of patients with early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma will have symptoms of cervical lymphadenopathy, which is due to the metastasis of cancer cells to the cervical lymph nodes.

Due to the abundant blood and lymphatic drainage around the nasopharynx, the neck is the most likely site for nasopharyngeal cancer cells to metastasize. This is because when the nasopharyngeal carcinoma becomes cancer, the cancer cells have a high degree of malignancy and low differentiation, and are more likely to metastasize to distant sites, and lymph node metastasis is a common manifestation.

Lymph nodes are one of the important immune organs of the human body. When viruses and other substances invade the body, the lymph nodes stop and attack it, and as each lymphocyte eliminates one virus cell, it grows larger, causing symptoms of swollen or painful lymph nodes. So often when a lymph node is swollen or painful, it usually represents an infection, inflammation or lesion in the organs within its reach.

In addition to some common symptoms, a small number of people with nasopharyngeal cancer also experience headaches. For example, the symptoms of migraine, parietal occipital or neck pain are caused by nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells invading the bones, nerves, and blood vessels of the skull base.

Therefore, if there are some abnormal symptoms in the above-mentioned parts of life, it needs to be paid attention, especially for people in high-risk areas. In fact, in addition to nasopharyngeal cancer, other cancers may also send warnings through the neck. Next, let's tease out which abnormal necks to watch out for.

What are the abnormalities in the neck that need to be alerted?

thick neck

Generally speaking, a person's neck does not thicken without warning. But if there are cancer cells in the body, abnormalities in the neck may occur.

Generally speaking, if the symptoms of thickening of the neck are caused by cancer, it is due to the metastasis of cancer cells, which compresses or blocks the superior vena cava, causing poor blood return to the neck and swelling of the neck.

If the neck is noticeably thickened, you need to pay attention. Clinically, such as thyroid cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, lung cancer, etc., the neck will experience obvious changes such as thickening or mass during metastasis. When an abnormality in the neck is found, self-examination can be performed first. For example, if there is a lump in the neck, the hardness and movement of the lump can be seen by touch, and whether there is tenderness to the touch.

In recent years, thyroid cancer has become the fastest-growing malignant disease in China, with an incidence three times higher in women than in men. A lump in the neck is also the most obvious symptom of thyroid cancer.

skin spider nevus

In addition to thickening of the neck as a sign of cancer, there are spider naevi, which can also be an early warning of cancer.

Many people may not have heard of spider naevi. Spider moles are vascular moles caused by dilation of the ends of small arteries in the skin. At its center is a bulge around which multiple capillaries can extend. In appearance, it looks like a spider, also known as spider naevi.

Spider moles are different from ordinary moles. If it is pressed in its center, it disappears, and when it is released, it reappears. The formation of spider naevi is closely related to the increase of estrogen in the body. In the human body, the main organ that kills estrogen is the liver, and liver problems can lead to elevated estrogen levels. When the human body is invaded by cancer cells, it may lead to a decline in liver function, resulting in reduced estrogen inactivation and spider angiomas on the neck. In addition, when a woman's ovarian granulosa cell tumor secretes a large amount of estrogen, it can also lead to an increase in estrogen levels, which can lead to spider nevus in the neck. Although spider naevi are not necessarily the cause of cancer, after ruling out some factors, we need to be alert to the possibility of cancer.

black neck

Clinically, darkening of the neck may also be a sign of cancer. The most common cause of darkening of the neck is acanthosis nigricans, which occurs mainly on the back of the neck. In general, neck blackening is mainly related to metabolic abnormalities, and its common causes include diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, and certain tumors. Acanthosis nigricans, although not cancer, can be caused by cancer. Such as gastric cancer, gallbladder cancer, ovarian cancer, etc. , because these cancers secrete some active factors in the body, causing skin metabolic problems and acanthosis nigricans.

How to prevent cancer in your life?

There are many complex factors in the cause of cancer. Therefore, in life, we need to prevent from many aspects.

First, reduce factors that can lead to cancer.

Clinically, most cancers are actually related to our unhealthy lifestyles, such as long-term smoking, alcohol abuse, unhealthy eating habits, obesity, lack of exercise, etc.

In order to prevent cancer, it is necessary to reduce the possible causes of cancer, such as regular work and rest, not staying up late; for example, the diet should be nutritionally balanced, eat less high-fat, high-sugar, high-carb foods, and actively maintain exercise to help improve physical function operation. In addition, reduce intake or exposure to carcinogens, such as preserved foods or substances high in lead and mercury.

In addition, proper vaccination can also effectively prevent the occurrence of some cancers, such as human papillomavirus vaccine and hepatitis B virus vaccine.

Second, early identification of cancer, early detection and early treatment.

Cancer may or may not have obvious symptoms in its early stages, so we need to know more. For example, sudden weight loss for no specific reason, or physical fatigue, requires more attention.

Weight is the weather vane of health. If there are no special circumstances in daily life, if the body weight suddenly drops by about 10% within a month or two, it is necessary to be alert to the possibility of cancer. Or when the body is tired and cannot be relieved by adequate rest, then the possibility of cancer is greatly increased. Because cancer is a wasting disease that hinders the absorption and transformation of nutrients in the body, the body will experience symptoms of fatigue and even weight loss.

In addition, unexplained bleeding, unexplained pain in one or more parts of the body, and other symptoms need to be alerted.

Finally, do a good job of cancer screening.

First of all, for people with a family history of cancer, regular physical examinations are recommended to prevent the occurrence of cancer. .