Cancer patients and survivors are susceptible to second cancer, as the treatment process through radiation and chemotherapy drugs may damage a body's healthy cells. The second developed cancer is different from the first one. It seems quite unfair for patients who have undergone cancer treatment and could have to face other cancer treatments. Even the survivors are at higher risk, and it does not mean that they will develop cancer again. The number of people who get a second cancer is relatively small.
A second cancer is not the same as a recurrence. When the first cancer returns with the same type of disease, even developed in a different part of the body, it is recurrence. At the same time, the second type of cancer is other from the previous style.
Types of second cancer as per Adelaide cancer centers
Some chemo medications may result in damaging the blood cell in the bone marrow leading to leukaemia, or myelodysplasia
After chemotherapy or radiation therapy, there is a risk of developing blood cancer after some years of treatment
The medicine bendamustine can cause to lead a secondary blood cancer or a secondary lung cancer
Radiation therapy holds a risk of cancer, causing to the areas included in the treatment field.
Every cancer survivor's experience is different from one another. Some of the significant risks involved in developing second cancers as per Adelaide cancer centers are:
Type of previous cancer –The original kind of cancer has a significant effect on the risk of second cancer. Since some cancer treatment requires radiotherapy or high doses of chemotherapy; they tend to damage healthier tissues of the body. This may result in developing second cancer cells in the body.
Patient's age at the time of treatment –Young ones and children are at a higher risk of developing second cancer when related to older adults. The younger generation should go for regular check-ups once they have undergone cancer treatment.
Type of chemotherapy –A high dose of chemotherapy is found to be responsible for a more number of second cancers in many survivors.
Types of radiation undergone –The risk of developing second cancer from radiation is relatively low, and it depends much on the amount of radiation given during the therapy. Higher the dose of radiation more will be the risk of second cancer.
Bone marrow transplant –Researches reveal that there is an increase in the risk of second cancer after hematopoietic stem transplant (SCT). This is because of related chemo and radiation effects on the immune system of the body.
Family History –A family with an old cancer history is likable of developing second cancers. Survivors with an ancient family cancer history should be more cautious and should participate in specialized care routines for early cancer detections.
Conclusion
Many factors work together to cause cancer, with a genetic and environmental component including your lifestyle, diets, and other things your body has been exposed to for years. Cancer treatment may include future cancer risks, but the therapy has considerably changed these days. Cancer treatment is not the way it used to be 50 years ago, and the medicines have become more targeted and less toxic.