When
our parents are elderly and ill, and a tumor is diagnosed, how should we make a
choice?
On one hand, there is the long-term coexistence of hypertension and diabetes, and on the other hand, there is the sudden onset of malignant tumors. The hearts of many children are tightly gripped by the dilemma of "to treat or not to treat". They fear that the intensity of treatment may be too much for their bodies to handle, yet they also fear giving up too early and missing the opportunity.
Professor Yang Nong, a specially-appointed expert at Hainan Cancer Hospital, would like to tell you: Don't panic, modern medicine has solutions.
Qustions & Answers
Q: My parents have been diagnosed with lung cancer, but they also have underlying conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Can they withstand the treatment under such circumstances?
A: It's human nature to worry about not being able to withstand the treatment, but please don't give up treatment just because of that fear. You may miss the right time for treatment.
Nowadays, there are many highly effective and low-toxic methods for treating elderly lung cancer patients, and treatment is not as terrifying as everyone might think. Doctors will dynamically adjust the treatment plan based on the patient's specific heart, liver, and kidney functions, as well as their overall health status. For example, if an elderly patient has severe heart disease, chemotherapy drugs that have a significant impact on the heart will be avoided; if their kidney function is not good, the dosage of the drugs will also be adjusted accordingly.
Of course, whether treatment is ultimately suitable requires a comprehensive evaluation by a doctor. Therefore, the safest approach is to bring the elderly person and all medical records to have an in-depth discussion with the doctor, and jointly develop a treatment plan that "suits their ability".
Q: What is the reason for the significant increase in the number of elderly patients with lung cancer nowadays?
A: This is indeed a noticeable trend in clinical practice, mainly stemming from three aspects
One is population aging. As people age, their bodily functions gradually decline, and the immune system is no exception. The ability to eliminate cancer cells naturally weakens, thereby increasing the risk of lung cancer.
Secondly, non-smoking factors have become prominent. For many elderly women who do not smoke, the degree of harm from long-term exposure to kitchen fumes also requires high vigilance.
Third, there has been progress in screening technology. Nowadays, low-dose spiral CT and other examinations are highly sensitive, capable of detecting very small pulmonary nodules during physical examinations. This has enabled the timely detection of many early-stage lung cancers, thus providing opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment.
Q: My elderly family member loves to eat pomelo, but they are currently taking targeted therapy medication. Can they consume pomelo?
A: If you are taking targeted drugs, avoid grapefruit, especially pomelo. This is mainly because grapefruit (especially pomelo) contains a substance called "furanocoumarin", which can strongly affect the body's metabolism of targeted drugs, akin to blocking the "exit" of the drugs. This can lead to an abnormal increase in drug concentration in the blood, which is equivalent to an invisible increase in dosage. Not only will it exacerbate side effects such as rash and diarrhea, but it may also damage the liver and heart, and even affect the treatment effect.
Please note that this effect not only comes from fresh pomelo, but also from products such as pomelo juice and pomelo tea, and the effect can last for several days. When unsure about which food to eat, it is advisable to communicate directly with the attending physician.
Expert Introduction / Visit Information
[Expert Introduction]
Yang Nong
Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor
Long-term employed experts of Hainan Cancer Hospital and Hainan Chengmei Hospital
He currently serves as Vice President of the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, head of the oncology department, and director of the "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Clinic" / "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Expert Team Clinic". He is also a chief expert of the National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project, a member of the Lung Cancer Special Committee of the National Tumor Quality Control Center, the director of the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer, and the director of the Hunan Provincial Respiratory Tumor Clinical Medical Research Center. He has been dedicated to precision targeted therapy for lung cancer and gastrointestinal tumors, as well as clinical, scientific research, and teaching work in complex, recurrent, and drug-resistant cases for nearly 30 years.
He was honored with the title of "National Famous Doctor - Excellent Style" in the 6th session, and has been recommended as "Annual Good Doctor" by patients for 8 consecutive years, as well as being awarded the title of "First Brain Doctor - Famous Doctor". He has authored national guidelines, has over 500,000 fans across the internet, and has garnered over 120 million views for his anti-cancer science popularization videos.
Medical expertise
Specialties: Precision treatment of lung cancer, breakthrough in difficult, recurrent, drug-resistant, and brain metastatic cases; individualized and precise treatment for brain metastatic tumors of lung cancer; early diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and lung cancer; personalized comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for pan-solid tumors; clinical trials of the latest immunotherapy/targeted therapy drugs.
With nearly 30 years of experience in precision immunotherapy for lung cancer, he has led nearly 400 phase I-III clinical trials of new anticancer drugs (including national Class 1 new drugs), and is particularly skilled in treating complex cases such as refractory, recurrent, and drug-resistant conditions, as well as brain metastases.
·Early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules and lung cancer, with an annual diagnosis of over 2,000 cases (over 10,000 cases accumulated from 2019 to 2024), and a detection rate of over 90% (retrospective study in 2023).
·Proficient in comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of multiple cancer types, individualized, and interdisciplinary, covering pan-solid tumors (such as stomach, intestine, brain, etc.).
Professor Yang Nong has received over 14,000 visits annually (data from 2023).
·Managed the "Lung Cancer Immunotherapy Patient Group", with long-term follow-up management of over 4,000 lung cancer patients who have achieved long-term survival, accumulating rich clinical experience.
[Visit information]
01 [Visit Time and Location]
November 29th, 14:00-17:00
The sixth consultation area of Hainan Cancer Hospital
02 [Appointment Registration]
Follow the official account of Hainan Cancer Hospital to "make an appointment and register"
03 [Health Consultation]
13876807106
04 [Friendly Reminder]
To facilitate the experts in understanding your condition as soon as possible, please bring:
1. ID card, medical insurance card, mobile phone
2. Accompany immediate family members (with decision-making authority)
3. Arrange the relevant examinations you have undergone in chronological order
4. Paper medical records of previous visits
5. Surgical case biopsy: wax block or 20-30 white slides
6. Pathological diagnosis report
7. Inpatient medical records and notes
8. Recent relevant examinations
9. The patient's current treatment plan
10. The most pressing questions I want to inquire about