Do cancer cells prefer "sugar" or "protein"?

 According to scientific research, starting from a single cancer cell, its reproduction and growth into a tumor with a diameter of approximately 1 centimeter can contain an astonishing number of cells, reaching about 1 billion. The length of this process is also astonishing, usually taking 15 to 30 years.

This means that during this long period of cancer development, many patients actually have enough time to detect subtle signs of cancer and have the opportunity to take timely action to control the progression of the disease.

However, the reality is not so optimistic. In life, there are many people who accelerate the growth rate of cancer cells due to neglecting their health or engaging in unhealthy lifestyle habits.

They may suffer from immense work pressure for a long time, have irregular eating habits, lack necessary exercise, or be exposed to harmful environments for a long time. These factors can all become catalysts for the rapid growth of cancer cells, gradually worsening the cancer that could have been controlled in its early stages.

Therefore, we should deeply recognize that although the development process of cancer is long, every step of progress may cause irreversible damage to our health.

As a result, we should always be vigilant, pay attention to every subtle change in our bodies, and actively adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Only by doing so can we maintain calm in the face of the invasion of cancer, take timely and effective measures, and safeguard our precious lives.

The increasing incidence of cancer may be related to the following four reasons:

Environmental factors

With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization, the problem of environmental pollution is becoming increasingly serious. Pollutants in the air, harmful substances in water sources, and heavy metals in the soil may all increase the risk of cancer.

In addition, changes in lifestyle during the urbanization process, such as dietary habits and decreased physical activity, may also contribute to the rising incidence of cancer.

Population aging

As people age, their immunity gradually declines, reducing their resistance to cancer cells. At the same time, many cancers are age-related, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. Therefore, the increase in the elderly population has led to a corresponding rise in the incidence of cancer.

Advancements in medical technology

In the past, due to limited diagnostic methods, many cancer patients may not have been able to receive timely diagnoses in the early stages of the disease.

Today, with advancements in medical technology, such as the widespread use of advanced equipment like CT and MRI, as well as the continuous development of techniques like genetic testing, the early detection and diagnosis rate of cancer has been significantly improved, leading to an increase in the reported incidence of cancer.

Changes in lifestyle

In modern society, people's pace of life has accelerated, and stress has increased, leading to the emergence of many unhealthy living habits, such as staying up late, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. These unhealthy living habits can all increase the risk of cancer.

In addition, modern people's dietary habits have also undergone significant changes. Excessive intake of high-fat, high-calorie, and low-fiber foods may also contribute to the rising incidence of cancer.

How do cancer cells gradually take away the life of patients?

On the microscopic stage of life, cancer cells are like a group of cunning invaders that sneakily penetrate our bodies. They cleverly disguise themselves to evade detection by the immune system, and then grow and reproduce crazily within the human body. Their uncontrolled proliferation constantly erodes normal cells and tissues, disrupting the physiological balance of the human body.

As cancer cells continue to spread, they begin to invade various organs of the human body, causing gradual organ failure. They are like a group of greedy predators, constantly devouring the body's nutrients and energy, causing patients to gradually lose weight and weaken physically.

Even more terrifyingly, cancer cells release various harmful substances that damage the body's immune system, making patients more susceptible to various infections. These infections not only exacerbate the deterioration of the condition but also bring tremendous suffering to the patients.

During this process, the patient's psychological state also undergoes tremendous changes, from initial fear and uneasiness to later despair and helplessness. These emotions are like a double-edged sword, both intensifying the patient's pain and weakening their desire to survive.

Eventually, when cancer cells completely overrun the patient's body, when the immune system collapses, and when the force of life is exhausted, the patient will quietly pass away in endless suffering. This is a cruel and helpless process, as well as an inevitable end that life cannot avoid.

The preference of cancer cells for "sugar" or "protein" has always been a focal point of debate in the scientific community. In the past, it was generally believed that cancer cells consumed a large amount of sugar, leading to the proposal of limiting sugar intake to fight cancer. However, a study published in the journal Nature in 2021 overturned this belief.

In this study, scientists conducted in-depth research on six different tumor models, including kidney cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer. Surprisingly, they found that during the competition between tumor cells and immune cells, it was actually the immune cells within the tumor that consumed the most sugar.

On the other hand, tumor cells prefer a protein called "glutamine". The intake of this protein allows tumor cells to suppress sugar metabolism pathways, thereby avoiding excessive sugar intake.

This discovery has completely altered our understanding of tumor cell metabolism and prompted us to re-examine cancer treatment methods. Some people have even proposed starving cancer cells by reducing protein intake.

However, this approach poses significant risks in practical application. Cancer patients are already prone to symptoms of nutritional deficiency such as weight loss and muscle weakness. Long-term restriction of protein intake may further exacerbate the condition.

Therefore, researchers emphasize that a low-protein diet should only be adopted at specific stages, such as a brief one to two-week period before the start of radiotherapy or chemotherapy, to improve the effectiveness of subsequent treatments. Meanwhile, doctors recommend adopting a "sugar control" strategy for sugar intake, minimizing the consumption of artificially added sugar.

In summary, neither sugar nor protein should be completely eliminated. For cancer patients, it is crucial to follow a reasonable diet plan under the guidance of a doctor to ensure that their nutritional needs are met. Only by doing so can we move further along the path of fighting cancer.

How should cancer patients reasonably supplement their nutrition?

Cancer patients need to ensure adequate intake of calories and protein.

Due to the rapid proliferation of cancer cells, which consume a large amount of energy, patients need to maintain normal physiological functions by obtaining sufficient calories through food.

At the same time, protein is the basis for cell repair and regeneration. For cancer patients, it is particularly important to consume sufficient high-quality protein. It is recommended that patients increase their intake of protein-rich foods such as lean meat, fish, poultry, and beans in their diet.

Cancer patients should consume foods rich in antioxidants.

Antioxidants can help eliminate free radicals in the body, reduce oxidative stress reactions, and thereby mitigate the deterioration of cancer.

Common antioxidant-rich foods include various fresh vegetables and fruits, such as spinach, carrots, broccoli, and citrus fruits.

Cancer patients should pay attention to supplementing appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for maintaining normal physiological functions in the human body, and their intake is even more crucial for cancer patients.

For example, vitamin C can enhance immunity, vitamin E can inhibit the growth of tumor cells, and minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc help maintain normal body metabolism.

If the growth of most cancer cells is uncontrolled and wild, like a fierce storm sweeping through, then prostate cancer cells behave in a remarkably calm and steady manner. They move forward leisurely, like snails, and even under certain conditions, they may choose to temporarily stop growing, as if waiting for the right moment.

For this reason, prostate cancer is often discovered at an advanced stage. Surprisingly, however, it still has a high cure rate even in such circumstances.

Despite the risks involved, the overall 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer is still as high as approximately 99%, undoubtedly bringing a ray of hope to patients. To detect prostate cancer early, digital rectal examination and PSA blood tests have become important screening methods. Men should be highly vigilant and seek medical attention promptly if they experience problems such as difficulty urinating or bloody urine, as these may be early signs of prostate cancer.

Unlike other cancers that spread in a "branching out" manner, thyroid cancer tends to be "extremely homebound" and reluctant to move easily. For this reason, even if the tumor of thyroid cancer grows very large, surgical resection can often solve most of the problems and effectively contain the further development of the disease. However, surgical resection does not mean the end of treatment. Patients need to take medication that replaces thyroid-secreting hormones for a long time after surgery to maintain normal body functions.

Although the treatment process of thyroid cancer is relatively complex, the overall prognosis for patients is quite optimistic. According to statistics, the 5-year survival rate for thyroid cancer patients is over 98%, a figure that is reassuring. However, we cannot let our guard down because there is no particularly effective way to screen for thyroid cancer.

In daily life, we need to pay close attention to our physical condition. Once we discover symptoms such as a lump in the neck or difficulty swallowing, we should seek medical attention immediately. These may be early signs of thyroid cancer. Timely detection and treatment will help improve the survival rate and quality of life for patients.

The occurrence of melanoma is often deeply hidden and difficult to detect. However, as long as we maintain sufficient vigilance in our daily lives and have a deep understanding of its early symptoms, we can identify it at a crucial moment and prevent the condition from further deteriorating.

Especially in the early stages of melanoma development, when it has not yet metastasized to areas outside the skin, we have more options and a better prognosis. In the medical field, surgical resection is a very effective treatment method for melanoma that has not metastasized.

Through precise surgical procedures, doctors can accurately remove the tumor and reduce the risk of recurrence. According to statistics, melanoma patients who are diagnosed early and undergo surgical resection have a 5-year survival rate of over 92%, which undoubtedly gives great confidence and hope to patients.

Breast cancer, a "hidden killer" threatening women's health, has given doctors sufficient technology and confidence to combat it in its early stages, especially in stages 0 and 1.

Thanks to the continuous development of medicine and the increasing attention of women to breast health, timely treatment of early-stage breast cancer has become possible. Through drug or surgical treatment, the overall survival rate of these early-stage breast cancer patients is close to 100%, which undoubtedly brings hope and brightness to many patients.

Scientific methods such as molybdenum target and mammography can help us capture the slightest trace of breast cancer. Experts recommend that women should undergo regular breast screening starting from age 45 to build a solid defense for their health.

Scientists are still exploring the reasons for the natural recovery or regression of tumors, and have not yet found a perfect explanation. One view is that this may be related to a special immune response triggered in cancer patients, which specifically targets specific antigens displayed on the surface of cancer cells.

As we all know, cancer often arises from genetic mutations in normal cells. However, there are also voices suggesting that tumor recovery may be related to certain genetic mutations. In certain populations with special genetic characteristics, this immune response may play a key role.

Some experts point out that further studying the complex relationship between genetics and immune response may reveal the mystery of cancer self-healing, which will open a new door for us to design more precise and effective cancer drugs based on individual genomes.