An update on all questions regarding cancer

Many forms of cancer display no obvious symptoms during their initial stages. However, if you suspect that you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is advised that you seek medical attention at the earliest opportunity:

• Irregularities affecting bowel movements, including difficulties passing solids or urine, bloody stools, and alternating between constipation and diarrhea
• Wounds taking a long time to heal
• A lump appearing in the breasts or in another area of the body
• Feeling like food is not being properly digested or having trouble swallowing
• Finding a mole or wart that is changing in shape or growing larger than before
• A chronic cough or dry throat of unknown cause

Patients and their relatives often feel a degree of confusion and lack a sufficient understanding of cancer treatments as there may be a number of different techniques utilized to treat the same form of cancer. Some patients may undergo a course of chemotherapy prior to surgery while others may require surgery alone. It may be necessary for some patients to undergo chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy but others may be suited to targeted cancer therapy due to their specific type of cancer. The understanding of cancer treatments is constantly shifting, leading some to make comparisons between doctors’ decisions at different institutions. However, the truth is that the diagnostic process requires a great deal of additional testing to ensure accurate staging of the cancer can take place. Consultations involving doctors from various fields, such as surgeons and radiologists, are a crucial part of this process. It is through these doctors working together and giving careful consideration to each option that an effective and realistic treatment plan can be formulated. There are currently a number of treatment techniques used in the fight against cancer.

Radiotherapy treatment involves training a high dose of radiation onto the patient’s skin tissue, penetrating down into the target area. The objectives of this technique are:

• Radiotherapy is capable of destroying the cancer, for instance in cases of early stage cancer affecting the head and neck or in cases of lung cancer that would be unsuitable for surgery.
• Supplementary radiotherapy may be necessary in post-surgery cases of breast cancer, or in head and neck cancer cases that are often treated with radiotherapy alongside chemotherapy.
• Radiotherapy can be used as a form of pain relief, such as in cases where the cancer has spread to the bones.
• Radiotherapy can be used to stop blood hemorrhaging from the cancerous tissue, such as in cases of bowel cancer that cause patients to frequently pass blood.
• Radiotherapy can be used to halt the spread of the cancer, for example in cases of cancers that are at risk of spreading to the spinal cord, and which place the patient at risk of losing power in the legs or being unable to walk altogether.

Immunotherapy drugs help to improve the functioning capabilities of the body’s white blood cells and, like targeted cancer therapy, produce minimal side effects when compared to chemotherapy. And while the body will gradually adjust to the medication, increased white blood cell efficiency can cause a number of unwanted symptoms, including rashes, colon inflammation, diarrhea, pneumonia, an over- or under-functioning thyroid, or heightened blood glucose levels. Medical staff will consider the type of drug to be used depending on the form and stage of the cancer involved. Immunotherapy drugs are well suited for the treatment of a large number of cancers, including melanoma skin cancer, some forms of lymphoma, lung cancer, cancers of the head and neck, bowel cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, some types of breast cancer, stomach cancer that is resistant to chemotherapy and certain types of colon cancer.

Immunotherapy may be used in isolation or alongside other forms of cancer treatment, depending on the symptoms resulting from the disease. Statistics show that immunotherapy increases the 3-year survival rate among melanoma skin cancer patients from 5% to 42%, and the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer patients from 6% to 15% compared to chemotherapy.

• It is possible to cure early stage cancers with surgery, surgery alongside radiotherapy, or chemotherapy.
• It may still be possible to cure cancer that has begun to spread with chemotherapy, including leukemia, lymphoma, testicular cancer and gestational trophoblastic disease.
• Some forms of cancer are curable with radiotherapy in conjunction with chemotherapy, such as small cell lung cancer, oral and throat cancer, and anal cancer.

Most cancer patients require understanding rather than pity, although many will likely feel a sense of dread when they are first diagnosed with cancer, especially those who are responsible for taking care of their families. They may feel anxiety, stress and denial when confronted with cancer, which makes it difficult for close family members to get close to the patient during those early days. It is important that the family use this time to find out more information regarding the type of cancer their loved one is suffering from by consulting medical staff or reading about the condition through a reliable source. This will help them provide a level of care that can improve the patient’s overall quality of life. While genuine sympathy may be shown, it is important that this doesn’t exceed appropriate levels because engaging in normal, fun conversations can also help to relieve some of the stress they may be feeling. Be sure to listen carefully to the person in those early stages because this will be a difficult time for which they will require sufficient support if they are to continue leading their normal life.

Current treatment techniques mean that cancer is now curable if detected before cancer spreading, making health check-ups a crucial aspect of anyone’s life. People aged 50 and above, whether male or female, should undergo a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer, while women over 40 should be undergoing screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer. In addition to health screening, making the aforementioned lifestyle changes is vital because, despite cancer treatments now being more effective than ever, isn’t it better to prevent cancer in the first place?