Unfortunately, cancer is one of the main causes of death. Although science is making great strides, a definitive cure has not yet been found.
Prevention is key. Regular screening allows certain cancers to be caught in time. This is the case, for example, of breast or cervical cancer. These, in fact, can be recognized promptly by carrying out a regular breast examination, ultrasound, mammography and pap test. Here is a very useful insight into the fundamental exams that all women should take from the age of 30.
However, there are also forms of cancer that are difficult to diagnose well in advance and which consequently lead in most cases to fatal outcomes. In the next few lines we will talk about a case.
Few people know it but this is the most silent and aggressive tumor
We are talking about biliary tract cancer. Technically it is called cholangiocarcinoma. A very subtle disease because it has no clear symptoms and severe enough to lead us to seek medical advice. In fact, in most cases, by the time the diagnosis is made it is too late and there is nothing more to be done.
Fortunately, cholangiocarcinoma is also an infrequent tumor. From the data of the AIRTUM (Italian Association of Cancer Registries) we read that last year, 5,400 cases were detected in Italy.
Symptoms are very general
At first the disease is absolutely asymptomatic. The first symptoms are then often associated with other pathologies. As the disease progresses, there is a change in the color of the white part of the eye that tends to become yellowish, the so-called jaundice. Phenomenon that later also affects the skin.
Also, the urine gets darker while I make it lighter.
These symptoms, however, never reach a level that alarms the patient.
In this way, precious time is lost in order to be able to intervene with timely therapy.
Diagnosis and treatment
The first test your doctor usually prescribes is an ultrasound of the abdomen. To further deepen the diagnosis, more specific tests such as CT and magnetic resonance imaging (cholangio-MRI) may then be required.
On average, only one out of 5 cases can be operated on. In other cases, cholangiocarcinoma is treated with chemotherapy, a cure with an uncertain outcome and numerous side effects.
Few people know it but this is the most silent and aggressive tumor. So, in addition to scrupulously following prevention, in case of strange or unclear symptoms, we do not hesitate to contact the doctor. Better to do a diagnostic test in vain than to waste precious time!
Deepening
Few people know but this very common drug protects against colorectal cancer