Do Tumors Progress Faster in Spring?
People often ask me: do tumors progress faster in spring? Intuitively, there does seem to be such a phenomenon; every spring, some cancer patients' tumors do indeed progress rapidly. But without data to support it, we cannot firmly conclude that cancer develops faster in spring. In fact, in every season there are patients whose disease progresses rapidly; a dedicated study is needed before an accurate conclusion can be drawn. I hope you will not feel pressured by this circulating belief.
This spring, many tumor patients' disease has progressed rapidly. I think this is related both to spring being the season when all things revive and grow-cancer cells are relatively active in this season-and to the fact that, because of COVID-19, many tumor patients cannot receive multidisciplinary treatment.
At the same time, because of the epidemic, many people's moods have worsened and their physical activity has dropped sharply, both of which adversely affect tumor patients' disease. Many have also been financially affected; some anti-cancer drugs are expensive and they cannot afford them. Under the combined effect of multiple factors, it is not strange that some patients' tumors progress rapidly.
As a patient, you should still exercise as much as possible under current conditions and try to keep mentally relaxed. Though you may not feel cheerful, try as far as possible to reduce tension. These are beneficial for controlling the progression of the disease.
Non-terminal tumor patients should reduce time in bed and stay active as much as possible to promote gastrointestinal motility. For most cancer patients living with a tumor, progression may be an unavoidable reality; accepting reality and reducing anxiety can, on the contrary, slow the rate of progression and extend survival.
In any circumstance, exercise has positive meaning for cancer patients; for some cancers, such as prostate cancer, swimming can even serve as adjunctive therapy. Obesity is one of the important risk factors for cancer, and overweight patients especially need to maintain a certain amount of exercise. Generally, if physical strength permits, aim for at least five days a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise lasting thirty minutes or more.
In spring, a lighter diet is more beneficial for most cancer patients, but some purely vegetarian cancer patients are also going to an extreme, with long-term vegetarianism leading to malnutrition. Some patients show obvious anemia and emaciation yet still insist on a strict vegetarian diet; this borders on obsession. A ratio of 4:1 between plant-based and animal-source foods is most appropriate. Nutrition must be balanced; one should not, out of blind faith in vegetarianism, avoid high-protein foods.
In this extraordinary spring, I hope every cancer patient will, under difficult conditions, take whatever measures they can to control the tumor's rapid progression. I am also researching ways to use Chinese medicine to control cancer progression, but the road of anti-cancer treatment is truly no smooth path.