Can you believe that God actually gives people more than one type of cancer? A second cancer can be the late effect of your primary cancer or a separate one totally. Statistics say that one in every six people diagnosed with cancer has had a previous type of cancer. Does anyone else think this is frightening?
What is a common cause of secondary cancers? There are several. Mostly known as risk factors. These
may be the cause of a secondary cancer, and then with some people, they have no effect. These risk
factors are:
- Genetics: Genes passed from parent to child that cause a type of cancer can become a risk factor.
- Many Cancer Treatments: Lots of cancer treatments cause secondary cancers such as chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. The risks increase if you were treated as a child or young adult.
- Lifestyle: The choices we make such as tobacco use, drinking excessive alcohol, eating an unhealthy diet without exercising, and spending too much time in the sun without proper SPF cover can be huge risk factors.
Then there is the outside chance that there are no significant risk factors attached to your secondary cancer. The answer to all of this is that we do not control these diseases. So, who is to blame?
You can definitely classify a secondary cancer that develops from previous cancer treatment. A good example of this is getting AML, acute myeloid leukemia from chemotherapy for Multiple Myeloma. The most common secondary cancers are leukemias, lymphomas, and sarcomas. But there are others. Breast, lung, and thyroid cancers are now commonly found as well. Radiation is said to potentially cause these cancers. If you have any type of chemotherapy, you run the risk of getting a secondary cancer. So basically, the cure turns into another illness.
So, what are we all to do? Sit and worry every time we get treatment for our primary cancer? Look into how we can hide from these other horrible cancers? Rent an invisibility cloak so it misses you? Pay someone off so that it never happens? Is there a “mobster of cancer”? Can you put a hit on a secondary cancer? Ignore all of it with hopes it will just go away? Pray to God, he changes his mind about giving another one to you. After all, isn’t one just enough to ruin your life?
The answer lies in being proactive with your health. Yes, you can pray and pray forever, as I do, but there is something you can do. Make sure you get blood tests routinely. Pay attention to your body for additional or unusual symptoms. You can also have yearly PET Scans or MRIs if there is a genetic link to your cancer or other cancers. You can get genetic counseling and take tests to see if you carry a gene. This is never absolute. You can look for changes in your skin if you have had significant radiation.
Survivorship is an ongoing project. It can occupy many areas of your brain. But we are not totally in control of what our future holds. So just grin and bare it if it happens. Keep your head up, knowing that if you do get a secondary cancer, you know how to navigate care. It might not be as easy as the first one, but you are a warrior and a survivor. Just keep on going …
If you are wondering why the Lays potato chip image. The old ad campaign was, “you can’t just eat one!” Until next time, find something funny to share.
Best,
Cathy