This "king of cancer" is the most hidden

Regarding the so-called "king of cancer", some people say that liver cancer is the king of cancer, some say that pancreatic cancer is the king of cancer, and some say that lung cancer should be the king of cancer. It seems that there are still different opinions on which type of cancer can be called the "king of cancer". The so-called "king of cancer" is to illustrate how dangerous and terrifying a certain type of cancer is. The king means powerful and frightening. So which cancer is the real king of cancers? Or which cancer is the most terrifying?

Perhaps in the eyes of ordinary people, all cancers are terrible, and everyone is generally afraid of cancer.

This is of course true in general, but this is only because people lack a basic understanding of cancer and equate all cancers with "incurable diseases." They equate cancer with death. In this way, of course, they would think that all cancers should be considered "kings," which is obviously wrong.

In fact, most cancers can be cured if they are detected, diagnosed and treated early; some cancers can still be cured even in the late stages, such as certain subtypes of lymphoma, choriocarcinoma, testicular cancer, and so on.

Therefore, those cancers that are easier to detect and diagnose early cannot be called the "king of cancers", such as breast cancer and cervical cancer; those cancers that are difficult to detect and diagnose early, and even in the late stages, there are still more effective treatments that can cure or control them cannot be called the "king of cancers", such as colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, head and neck malignant tumors, thyroid cancer, ovarian cancer, etc.

The cancers that can truly be called the "king of cancer" are those that are difficult to detect early, have no effective screening methods, are dangerous and invasive, lack effective treatment methods, have poor treatment effects, and have a high mortality rate. But in fact, these standards will change. For example, before the emergence of effective chemotherapy drugs and regimens, leukemia, choriocarcinoma, etc. were the undisputed kings of cancer because they cannot be cured by surgery. They are cancers that use chemotherapy as the main treatment method. The disease progresses very rapidly. Before the emergence of chemotherapy, the mortality rate was very high. It can be said that having these cancers is equivalent to death. However, with the emergence of effective chemotherapy methods, these cancers can be cured and are no longer worthy of being called the "king of cancer."

After choriocarcinoma, liver cancer (primary liver cancer) is the well-deserved "king of cancer" because of its very poor prognosis, very high mortality rate, difficulty in early diagnosis, almost no effective treatment and control methods in the late stage, and an average survival period of only four to six months. However, with the advancement of screening methods, more and more cases can be detected early, and treatment methods have also made great progress compared with the past. Although liver cancer can still be called the "king of cancer", it is not as scary as before.

The cancer that can truly be called the "king of cancers" is pancreatic cancer. Why?

First, the pancreas is located deep, and pancreatic cancer has no special symptoms in the early stages, making it difficult to detect early. There is also a lack of effective screening methods, and most pancreatic cancers are diagnosed in the middle or late stages. Secondly, pancreatic cancer is dangerous, highly invasive, has a high mortality rate, and a short survival period, which makes people shudder. Finally, the most critical thing is that there is currently a lack of effective treatments for middle and late stage pancreatic cancer, and the current treatments are not ideal, with extremely poor prognosis. As the saying goes, it is hard to guard against, and it is also helpless!

"Impossible to prevent" and "there is nothing to be done about it". Only when these two conditions are met can it be called the "king of cancer".

Some people say that the ovaries are located deep and hidden, and ovarian cancer is difficult to detect in the early stages. This is true, but it is not the king of cancers because the overall treatment effect of ovarian cancer is good. Even in the late stages, it can be effectively controlled through chemotherapy. Some people say that lung cancer and esophageal cancer are not effectively treated. That's true, but they can still be detected relatively early. The key is to pay attention to them. Moreover, they also have more effective early diagnosis and screening methods. After diagnosis, there are more and more treatment options. Although the treatment effect is still not ideal, it is not the worst. Of course, esophageal cancer does have a poor prognosis, but the so-called "king of cancer" is determined by comparison, it is "choosing the most vicious among the vicious" and "choosing the most evil among the evil."

Finally, it should be noted that we must look at it from a developmental perspective. There is no eternal "king". With the development of medicine, pancreatic cancer will eventually find effective early diagnosis screening methods and treatment methods, and its "king" status will be lost one day. The so-called "king of cancer" is only a relative concept, not absolute. Discussing this topic is not to cause panic. We just hope that everyone will pay more attention to it. Although it is difficult to detect it in the early stages, it does not mean that it is completely impossible. If we do it well and if we pay attention to it, we can at least detect it as early as possible to the greatest extent possible.