Cancers & Treatments
knowledge base
From 13 common cancers to 6 major treatments — we turn dense medical knowledge into language patients and families can understand. Understanding your disease is the first step to a good decision.
Cancer Types13 articles
Colorectal Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Screening, and Treatment at a Glance
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Hong Kong. This article covers the causes, early symptoms, screening methods, staging concepts, and treatment options for colorectal cancer, helping you detect and address it early.
Gastric Cancer: A Complete Guide to Causes, Early Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Gastric cancer is closely linked to Helicobacter pylori infection and dietary habits. This article covers risk factors, early warning signs, endoscopy, staging, and treatment options including surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Liver Cancer: The Complete Guide to Hepatitis B and C, Cirrhosis Risks, Symptoms, and Treatment
Liver cancer is closely linked to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and cirrhosis. This article covers high-risk groups, early symptoms, AFP and imaging tests, staging, and treatment options including surgery, ablation, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Breast Cancer: A Complete Guide to Self-Examination, Mammography, Subtyping, and Treatment Options
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Hong Kong. This article covers breast cancer risk factors, early symptoms, mammography screening, molecular subtyping (hormone receptors, HER2, triple-negative), and treatment options including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy.
Pancreatic Cancer: Why Is It Hard to Detect Early? Symptoms, Diagnosis, and New Treatment Advances
Pancreatic cancer often has no obvious early symptoms and is known as the 'king of cancers.' This article covers risk factors, warning signs such as jaundice, diagnostic methods, surgery and chemotherapy strategies, and the latest research advances including RAS-targeted drugs.
Lung Cancer: Can Non-Smokers Get It Too? A Guide to Symptoms, Low-Dose CT Screening and Targeted Therapy
Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in Hong Kong, and many patients have never smoked. This article covers the causes and risks of lung cancer, early symptoms, low-dose CT screening, the difference between non-small cell and small cell lung cancer, and advances in targeted and immunotherapy.
Cervical Cancer: A Complete Guide to HPV Vaccines, Pap Smears, and Treatment
Cervical cancer is almost always caused by HPV and is one of the most preventable cancers. This article covers HPV vaccines, cervical smear screening, management of precancerous lesions, and surgical, chemoradiotherapy, and immunotherapy options.
Ovarian Cancer: The Gynecologic Cancer with Hidden Symptoms — CA125, Diagnosis, and Treatment Explained
Early symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague and often mistaken for digestive discomfort. This article covers risk factors (including BRCA gene mutations), warning signs such as bloating and abdominal pain, CA125 and imaging tests, surgery and chemotherapy, and maintenance therapy with PARP inhibitors.
Prostate Cancer: A Complete Guide to PSA Testing, Staging, and Hormone Therapy
Prostate cancer is a common cancer in men, and most cases grow slowly. This article covers PSA blood testing, digital rectal examination, Gleason score, active surveillance, and options such as surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy, helping men face it early.
Thyroid Cancer: Neck Lumps, Diagnosis, and Treatment — One of the Best-Prognosis Cancers
Most thyroid cancers grow slowly and have a high cure rate. This article covers the types of thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, and others), warning signs of a neck lump, ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration, surgery and radioactive iodine therapy, and new targeted therapy options.
Esophageal Cancer: Difficulty Swallowing Is a Warning Sign — Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Esophageal cancer is hard to detect early, and difficulty swallowing is a typical warning sign. This article covers risk factors (smoking, alcohol, acid reflux), endoscopic diagnosis, staging, and treatment options including surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and immunotherapy.
Skin Cancer: How to Tell a Mole from Melanoma? The ABCDE Rule and Treatment Options
Skin cancer falls into three main types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. This article covers the ABCDE self-check rule, UV protection, diagnostic methods, and treatment options including surgery, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Brain Tumors: Are Headaches and Seizures Warning Signs? Types, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Brain Tumors
Brain tumors can be benign or malignant, and symptoms depend on their location and size. This article covers common types of brain tumors (such as glioma and meningioma), warning signs like headaches and seizures, MRI diagnosis, and treatment options including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and newer therapies.
Treatments6 articles
What Is Chemotherapy? How It Works, Side Effects, and What to Know During Treatment
Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used cancer treatments. This article explains how chemotherapy works, when it is needed, how to manage common side effects (nausea, hair loss, low blood counts), and offers diet and lifestyle tips during treatment.
What Is Radiotherapy? How It Works, Side Effects, and Common Questions
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to precisely kill cancer cells. This article explains how radiotherapy works, the difference between external and internal radiotherapy, how to manage common side effects (skin reactions, fatigue), and answers common questions such as 'Will I be radioactive after radiotherapy?'
What Is Targeted Therapy? Principles, Genetic Testing, and Common Drugs Explained
Targeted therapy precisely attacks specific genetic mutations in cancer cells. This article explains the principles of targeted drugs, why genetic testing is needed first, common types of targeted drugs (EGFR, HER2, ALK, etc.), side effects, and drug resistance.
What Is Immunotherapy? How PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors Work, Which Cancers They Treat, and Side Effects
Immunotherapy awakens the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells and has reshaped the treatment landscape for many cancers. This article explains how immune checkpoint inhibitors work, when they are used, PD-L1 and MSI testing, and how immune-related side effects are managed.
What Is Hormone Therapy? A Complete Guide to Endocrine Treatment for Breast and Prostate Cancer
Hormone therapy works by blocking the hormones that feed cancer cells, and it is the cornerstone of treatment for hormone-positive breast cancer and prostate cancer. This article explains how it works, the commonly used drugs (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, androgen deprivation), treatment duration, and side effect management.
Surgery: Goals of Cancer Surgery, Minimally Invasive Techniques, and What to Know Before and After
Surgery is the main way to cure solid cancers. This article explains the goals and timing of cancer surgery, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, the role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgery, surgical risk assessment, and key points for recovery and follow-up after surgery.