How dangerous is the illness that makes Vu Cat Tuong worry about having cancer?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Vu Cat Tuong's story evokes much sympathy and also serves as a warning about a silent but extremely dangerous disease.

Appearing on the show "Weekend Date ," Vu Cat Tuong attracted attention when she shared for the first time about her current health condition. The female singer revealed that she is being treated for hepatitis B, a disease that her father once suffered from.

"I have to take medication every day and get a cancer screening every three months because I have a very high risk of developing cancer," the singer said.

Vu Cat Tuong revealed her health condition on television (Photo: Screenshot).

Hepatitis B was also the disease her father had before he passed away from liver cancer.

The artist's story evokes much empathy and also serves as a warning about a silent but extremely dangerous disease.

Hepatitis B can remain in the body for many years without causing obvious symptoms. However, by the time it is detected, many cases have already reached a late stage – with serious complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Is hepatitis B really that scary?

According to Dr. Le Van Thieu, Department of General Infectious Diseases, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, hepatitis B is one of the most common and dangerous infectious diseases today.

Hepatitis B, caused by the hepatitis B virus, affects over 10% of the Vietnamese population. Besides causing acute or fulminant hepatitis B leading to liver failure, the disease can progress silently and asymptomatically for many years, potentially leading to cirrhosis and, most notably, liver cancer.

Dr. Le Van Thieu, Department of General Infectious Diseases, National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (Photo: Quang Truong).

Hepatitis B virus is the most common cause (70%) of liver cancer in Vietnam today.

"The scariest thing is that the disease doesn't show obvious symptoms in the early stages. Patients can still live and work normally, but their livers are gradually being damaged. By the time symptoms like jaundice, weight loss, and liver pain appear, the disease is already in a late stage," Dr. Thieu explained.

The positive aspect is that hepatitis B is completely controllable if detected early through testing. In the less active form, patients only need to have regular check-ups every 3-6 months and do not yet require antiviral medication.

In terms of activity, current antiviral drugs are very good and widely available, with few side effects, such as TAF, TDF, and ETV.

These antiviral drugs help inhibit viral replication, clear the virus from the patient's bloodstream, allowing them to live healthy lives without the risk of spreading the virus.

However, a prerequisite is adherence to treatment; do not stop or discontinue medication without consulting a doctor.

"Medication should be used or stopped according to the doctor's instructions. Patients should have regular liver cancer screenings and tests," said Dr. Thieu.

Can hepatitis B be transmitted from father to child?

According to Dr. Thieu, hepatitis B is not a hereditary disease. It is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids such as blood transfusions, sexual contact, injections, and especially from mother to child.

For transmission through sexual contact, the patient will be infected with acute hepatitis B, meaning the time from infection to recovery is less than 6 months, and the rate of progression to chronic hepatitis is less than 10%.

Hepatitis B is not a hereditary disease (Photo: Getty).

However, in cases of mother-to-child transmission, the rate of children contracting hepatitis B and developing chronic hepatitis is greater than 90%. Therefore, the most common and primary cause in Vietnam is mother-to-child transmission.

"It is possible for a mother to contract hepatitis B from the father during pregnancy and give birth during the acute hepatitis infection period (within 6 months).

"After giving birth, the mother is fortunate enough to recover from the disease and develop antibodies, which protect her from hepatitis B infection throughout her life. However, if the child is infected by the mother during that period, they will develop chronic hepatitis B, because the cure rate for hepatitis B in this period is less than 10%," Dr. Thieu explained.

This may explain why hepatitis B can be transmitted from father to child via the mother. It also explains why other children in the family are not infected.

The most effective way to prevent the disease is still vaccination.

Dr. Thieu affirmed that the simplest and most effective measure to prevent hepatitis B is vaccination. The hepatitis B vaccine has now been included in the national expanded immunization program for newborns. For adults who do not have immunity, antibody testing is required, and all doses should be administered as prescribed by medical professionals .

Furthermore, preventing infectious factors is extremely important. The hepatitis B virus can be transmitted through blood, bodily fluids, etc., so sharing razors, toothbrushes, needles, or engaging in unsafe sexual practices should all be avoided.

In addition, doctors also recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle to protect the liver: eating a balanced diet, limiting alcohol consumption, not smoking, exercising regularly, and avoiding the use of unverified medications that may be toxic to the liver.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/can-benh-khien-vu-cat-tuong-lo-mac-ung-thu-nguy-hiem-the-nao-20250514074326725.htm