Hanoi: 20-year-old female student discovers metastatic cancer from back pain and fatigue

(Dan Tri) - A female student came to see a doctor with her friend because she often had back pain and a feeling of prolonged fatigue.

20 year old female student with metastatic cancer

A 20-year-old female student studying in Hanoi suddenly discovered metastatic cancer when she went for a health check because she often had back pain and fatigue.

This is a case recently examined directly by oncologist Nguyen Duy Anh.

According to Dr. Duy Anh, the patient came to the doctor with a friend because he often had back pain and a feeling of prolonged fatigue.

Previously, the patient had also participated in a health check-up at the university and had some unusual signs, but had not been thoroughly examined.

Female student discovered metastatic cancer at the age of 20 (Illustration: Getty).

“When we took a bone scan, we discovered atypical lesions. After moving on to a more in-depth examination, the biopsy results showed the presence of malignant cells. Unfortunately, the cancer was already in the bone metastasis stage,” Dr. Duy Anh added.

The patient was later diagnosed with bone metastases of thyroid cancer.

According to this expert, early stage thyroid cancer often has a good prognosis and a very high chance of successful treatment. However, when the disease has metastasized to the bones as in the above case, a complete cure has not yet been recorded in the world .

Treatment for this disease will take place in cycles of 6 months/time. The treatment goal will shift towards controlling disease progression, slowing the rate of metastasis, reducing pain and improving the patient's quality of life.

Signs that are easily overlooked

Thyroid cancer is known as the "silent enemy" because the initial symptoms are easily confused with common fatigue or benign diseases.

Some early symptoms may include a persistent feeling of pain, especially in the neck, shoulders, or back, or the appearance of a small lump in the neck, unusual hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty swallowing.

In many cases, patients only discover the disease when it is already in an advanced stage, because the tumor has spread to surrounding areas, affecting the laryngeal nerves, bones or lungs.

Dr. Duy Anh recommends: “Regular health check-ups are extremely important. Don’t wait until you have obvious symptoms to go for a check-up, because by then, the time for effective treatment may have passed.”

Although thyroid cancer can occur at any age, experts say certain groups are at higher risk and should be especially concerned about regular screening.

These include people with a family history of thyroid cancer, who have had radiation therapy to the neck, or who are middle-aged.

In addition, people living in polluted environments, regularly exposed to toxic chemicals or working in areas with radioactive elements should also proactively get screened to detect risks early.

Dr. Duy Anh emphasized the role of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in cancer prevention. A scientific diet, balanced nutrition and regular physical exercise can help strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of disease.

"People should eat lots of green vegetables, fresh fruit, drink enough water and limit fried, grilled, or processed or canned foods.

Exercising at least 30 minutes a day, in gentle forms such as walking, yoga, cycling or swimming, also helps regulate hormones, reduce stress and improve the body's immune function," Dr. Duy Anh recommends.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/ha-noi-nu-sinh-20-tuoi-phat-hien-ung-thu-di-can-tu-con-dau-lung-hay-met-20250607205441474.htm