The phrase secondary cancer can be used to refer to either a second type of cancer or to cancer that has grown from one area of the body to another (metastatic cancer); in this blog, we won’t talk about metastatic cancer, but merely a second primary cancer or secondary cancer. Cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy can increase your life, but these cancer treatments themselves can cause cancer (carcinogenic).
While the advantages of these cancer treatments generally considerably outweigh the threat, people must be aware of the chances. Second cancers or common secondary cancers appear mostly in individuals who have gone through radiation or chemotherapy at a young age to treat cancer such as Hodgkin lymphoma.
However, it happens rarely; at times, people grow the second type of cancer besides the first. Secondary cancer could be because of several factors, including:
- Hereditary cancer syndromes make patients more susceptible to developing several cancers.
- Genetic mutations can lead anyone to develop certain cancers.
- Side effects of the different types of therapies patients receive to treat their early cancer diagnoses,
- And lifestyle choices, such as tobacco or alcohol use.
What Causes Secondary Cancer
When discussing secondary cancers, we must know about the leading factors that cause them. It’s necessary to discuss the different types of secondary cancers. If someone grows a second type of cancer, it could be for some reason. The main reason for secondary cancer that results is the cancer-causing repercussions of treatments we use for cancer. If diagnosed early, second cancers after endometrial cancer and second cancers after breast cancer can get treated at University Cancer Centers.
There is another way the phrase second primary cancer or secondary cancer is at times used is when an individual grows secondary cancer — either in the area of primary or initial cancer or elsewhere — that is not connected to the reception of treatments of first cancer. These are fairly common as whatever leads someone to build cancer in the first location may be responsible for the later development of secondary cancer. This is referred to as the conviction of “shared risk factors.”
How To Detect Secondary Cancer In Early Stage
If you have earlier been diagnosed with cancer and received treatment for it, you are at higher risk of developing second cancer. However, it is rare, but if a patient is developing it, they need to treat it immediately. Detecting secondary cancer in the post-stage can be life-threatening.
However, if patients are lucky and detect their early-stage symptoms of cancer, several kinds of cancer are curable. Cancer treatment varies depending on the kind of cancer a patient has, but generally includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Surgery to treat secondary cancer is also common when surgeons require removing a tumor. Here are a few symptoms that can be seen in secondary cancer.
Persistent Cough
If a person is having a consistent cough with no other signs could simply be a symptom of an upper respiratory sickness such as sinusitis or bronchitis. Although both may need proper treatment, they are not serious concerns. However, if a considerable cough is associated with blood-colored saliva, a seamless cough may be an indication of cancer. If individuals spot a bit of blood in their saliva while coughing, it could be a sign of neck, lung, or head cancer. Thus, patients should take secondary cancer treatment as soon as possible if they are having a cough that remains more than a month with blood.
Blood In Stool
If you are experiencing blood in your stool, this could be a sign of an inflammatory bowel syndrome such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. These are irritating and painful conditions, but they are manageable. However, in a few cases, bloody stool may also be an indication of colon cancer, as tumors can develop and grow in the digestive tract and cause pressure. Repetitive occurrences of hemorrhoids or ulcers are also known to cause rectal bleeding. Even after they are pretty common, people should still need to see a doctor to inspect their digestive system and check if the bleeding continues to rule out cancer.
Lumps
Around ninety percent of patients with testicular cancer experience a bit of a painful or uncomfortable lump on their testicles. Just like, most breast cancers are detected early by a lump on or in the breast. Other fairly common symptoms of these kinds of cancer involve an inflamed testicle or abnormal breast discharge. In most secondary cancer cases, they need a biopsy to remove second cancer. Men and women need to conduct routine self-examinations to look for lumps. If someone is not sure of how to conduct one, they can consult their primary doctor for instructions. There are several ways to perform a self-assessment, so patients can choose which best suits them.
Changes In Urine
An unanticipated change in the color, frequency or smell of urine may be an indication of bladder cancer or pelvic cancer. Shifts in urine individuals require watching out for include recurring urination, slow flow, blood in the urine, and a variation in bladder function. People should also be aware if they pass small amounts of urine with increased pressure. These changes might be the consequences of a urinary infection or an enlarged prostate gland. However, as aforementioned, bladder cancer is also a probability. Hence, a doctor needs to check if a patient is experiencing these symptoms to rule out cancer or detect it at an early stage.
Primary Prevention and Risk Reduction
You can achieve cancer prevention with the help of primary, secondary, and tertiary methods. There are two mechanisms to achieve primary cancer prevention, including awareness of health and wellness and reducing life threats that are well-known to contribute to developing cancer. Primary precaution targets to inhibit or reverse the carcinogenic process through introducing changes in a patient’s diet or ecosystem with the help of pharmacologic mechanisms. Primary cancer prevention involves smoking discontinuance interventions and chemoprophylaxis in females at extensive risk for breast cancer. Second primary or secondary cancer prevention involves screening and early diagnosis. In general, screening for cancer refers to looking over for the existence of cancer disease in populations at risk, and initial 4 Advanced Oncology Nursing Certification Review and Resource Manual detection is termed as testing for cancer illness when no signs and symptoms are present. Secondary cancer prevention seeks to diagnose cancer illness at the most early possible stage when the illness is most probably to be treated effectively and successfully. Tertiary prevention of cancer is implemented to those patients who have already been diagnosed with cancer but are now candidates for screening and early diagnosis of secondary cancer.
Treatment For Secondary Cancer
If your secondary cancer has developed in another part of your body, you may receive one or more distinct treatments.
Treatments often used in secondary cancer include:
- Chemotherapy
- Endocrine or Hormone therapy—if your secondary cancer is hormone receptor-positive
- Targeted (biological) therapy
- Bone-toughened therapy—if the secondary cancer is in your bones.
- Doctors or surgeons use radiotherapy to control secondary cancer or relieve cancer symptoms if cancer has rolled out to the brain or bones.
- Surgery is not often used to treat secondary cancer but may intermittently be considered.
Types of secondary cancer are:
- bone
- liver
- lungs
- brain
- skin
If you also have been diagnosed with cancer and are suffering from symptoms of some second cancers caused by cancer treatment, don’t delay. Come to University Cancer Center and get the immediate and right secondary cancer treatment. Our staff and doctors are highly-qualified and experienced. At our cancer facility, patients receive the best possible treatment along with a great ambiance.
