Cancer is a dreadfully common disease. And of all the possible complications from its treatment, developing a second cancer might be the most unsettling.
Chemo and radiation therapy cancer treatments are linked to the development of second cancers. This fact can leave many cancer survivors edgy for years after their treatments.
Yet, not all second cancers are caused by cancer treatment. For instance, heredity or smoking may just as well be the cause of your second round.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy does put you at risk for certain second cancers. Your “at risk” also varies based on other factors too, such as:
- drug dosage
- length of treatment
- location for radiation
- intensity of treatment
Overall, second cancers are rare. But that fact doesn’t necessarily relieve the cause for anxiety.
What you can do to help minimize your second cancer’s health degrading outcome is:
- know the symptoms of your “at risk” second cancers
- have routine check-ups with a health care provider, especially an oncologist
Numerous health benefits can be reaped from an early cancer diagnosis.
Hodgkin disease cancer treatment survivors have a 3 times greater risk of developing one of these cancer:
- sarcoma
- lung cancer
- breast cancer
- thyroid cancer
- acute leukemia
- stomach cancer
- Hodgkin recurrence
- non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are at an increased risk of developing these second cancers:
- leukemia
- bone cancer
- colon cancer
- breast cancer
- mesothelioma
- thyroid cancer
- bladder cancer
- Kaposi sarcoma
- Hodgkin disease
- soft tissue cancer
- head, neck cancers
Cancer recurrence risk is less than those treated for Hodgkin disease.
The most common cancer seen in testicular cancer survivors is a second testicular cancer. This risk seems to have little to do with your initial cancer treatment.
The most common cancers seen after abdominal radiation, or radiation and chemo, for testicular cancer are cancers of the:
The risk of leukemia also increases.
The risk of second cancers in ovarian cancer survivors includes:
- leukemia
- colon cancer
- breast cancer
- rectum cancer
- eye melanoma
- bladder cancer
- pancreatic cancer
- connective tissue cancer
- ovarian cancer recurrence
Ovarian cancer survivors are watched closely for signs of its recurrence.
If you’ve experienced breast cancer, then you are at an increased risk of developing a new cancer in your other breast. Additionally, you are at risk after chemo and radiation for cancers of the:
- lung
- ovary
- colon
- uterus
- rectum
- leukemia
- melanoma
- connective tissue
Some of these second cancers may be related to cancer causing agents, like genetics or hormonal risk factor.
Cervical cancer has a causation link to human papilloma virus infection, and watching for its recurrence is crucial. Along with second cancers of the:
- lung
- anus
- vulva
- colon
- throat
- vagina
- rectum
- bladder
- stomach
- pancreas
- soft tissue
Radiation treated cervical cancer jacks up your risk for acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma too.
Finally, childhood cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatments may affect your child’s health later in life. Examples of late effects involve:
- cavities
- dry mouth
- impotence
- pneumonitis
- short stature
- osteoporosis
- early puberty
- fertility issues
- joint problems
- hypothyroidism
- delayed menses
- stunted bone growth
- premature menopause
- impaired heart function
- decreased sexual desire
- irregular menstrual bleeding
Accompanying your big C diagnosis, you’ll likely be presented with treatment benefits versus second cancer risks. Careful deliberation, coupled with a second opinion, is prudent under the circumstances.
