Can lung nodules become cancerous? How to prevent cancer?

Patients often ask me, "Director Zhang, is my lung nodule benign or malignant? Need an operation? Will it become cancerous? " At present, there is a basic dividing line for nodules in clinic-1cm. That is, nodules smaller than 1cm, doctors usually recommend follow-up observation and regular review to see if the nodules are enlarged and malignant. If the nodule has not changed, you can continue to observe; However, if the following situations occur, it is suggested that there is a possibility of malignant transformation:

1, the diameter of nodule increases or accords with the law of tumor growth;

2. The lesion is stable or enlarged, with realistic components;

3. The focus is reduced, but the realistic or substantive components are increased;

4. Angiogenesis conforms to the law of lung cancer;

5. Nodules are lobulated, spiculate, lobulated, spiculate, pleural traction, bronchiolitis with gas, blister sign, eccentric thick-walled cavity, etc.

For ground-glass nodules, when the nodules are ≥ 8mm or the nodules are found to be enlarged, the solid components are increased, and the cavity sign, vascular sign and marginal burr sign appear, malignant lesions are often suggested.

Many patients will choose surgical resection in this case, thinking that it will be more practical and have no worries. But is it really okay after the operation?

I have seen a patient with ground glass nodules before. I was very nervous after finding out the ground glass nodules in my lungs. The patient was accompanied by chest tightness, fatigue, poor sleep and other symptoms. I had a "lung space occupying lesion" resection. I thought I would get better after the operation. Results Not only did the symptoms not improve obviously, but it aggravated the problem of surgical incision pain. In desperation, I sought Chinese medicine to recuperate.

After a period of conditioning, the patient's chest tightness and fatigue improved obviously, and his sleep improved, and finally he was relieved.

In fact, such patients are not uncommon, and there are many new cases after nodule resection. Although it is important to remove the focus, it is equally important for Chinese medicine to improve the internal environment of the body, stop the growth of nodules, and treat complications such as loss of vitality and wound pain caused by surgical trauma.

Traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine have different theoretical systems and different methods in preventing and treating diseases. Huangdi Neijing thinks that the cause of tumor is "pathogenic factors staying in it for a long time", and it is recognized that cancer is caused by exogenous pathogens, fatigue, emotional imbalance, phlegm, dampness, fire poison, qi stagnation and blood stasis. Therefore, TCM treatment emphasizes the syndrome differentiation of asymptomatic constitution and symptomatic symptoms. Through traditional Chinese medicine treatment, we can control and reduce nodule growth, improve nodule-prone physique and relieve patients' pain.

In addition, Zhang, director of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology, Sihui West Hospital in Beijing, said that patients with pulmonary nodules after surgery should not forget to check regularly and seek medical advice in time to prevent postoperative complications.