Using Hepatitis-B Carriers' Transformation to Cancer as an Example: The Pathogens That Bide Their Time
Recently, two relatives of mine who had been hepatitis-B virus carriers have both developed health problems. One was diagnosed with liver cancer; the other was found to have an elevated HBV viral load and to be showing clinical symptoms of hepatitis.
Can HBV carriers develop elevated viral loads and cancer? Many HBV carriers may be surprised. In their view, they are only so-called "small three positives" (小三阳, e antigen-negative chronic HBV) and do not count as hepatitis-B patients. This understanding is wrong. Under certain conditions, HBV carriers can progress to hepatitis B, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
The main factor behind this is age. People infected with HBV when young have strong immunity, and our immune system keeps the virus in check. But as we age, immunity weakens, and the HBV that has lurked in our bodies for years takes the opportunity to rise and multiply rapidly. If we do not notice and let it multiply for years, damaging the liver, the liver may develop cirrhosis or even cancer.
The period of carrying HBV without viral replication or hepatitis symptoms is the HBV incubation period. Its length varies: some with weak immunity develop HBV replication and hepatitis symptoms early; others with strong immunity have a long incubation period.
Our bodies harbor many hidden pathogens like HBV, dormant until our immunity drops, then rising to cause trouble. Examples include the varicella-zoster virus, rhinoviruses, and Helicobacter pylori. When our immunity is strong they live in peace with us. But when we catch cold, injure skin or mucosa, become over-fatigued, develop chronic wasting disease, or grow old and frail, they are no longer controlled by our immune system and multiply rapidly, triggering shingles, the common cold, gastroenteritis, and even various cancers.
Other culprits are not microorganisms but likewise cause trouble when immunity drops, such as hypertension and heart disease. These may be genetic; when patients with hypertension or heart disease stay up late, work overtime, or game for long stretches, over-draining their bodies, sudden death is easily triggered.
So we must not take these latent pathogens lightly. We should protect ourselves: keep warm as the seasons change, and avoid staying in a state of over-fatigue that would lower our immunity. In middle and old age, have regular checkups; once a virus or bacterium is found to be replicating out of control, treat it promptly. Do not, because you have been only a carrier of some pathogen in the past, mistakenly assume you will remain in that state for life.