About 7.6 million people die a year from cancer worldwide. Approximately four million of those people die prematurely.There is a strong possibility that some of those premature deaths are a result of dangerous cancer treatments. As in chemotherapy and/or both radiation therapy. Chemo is a well-known therapy that uses strong chemical substances to kill fast growing cancer cells in one’s body. Radiation therapy is a dangerous treatment that uses high energy particles or waves to kill cancer cells. These are not the safest treatments to choose. As these treatments get rid of the cancer cells they also get rid of the healthy cells. Also many of the “short term” side effects become long-term side effects and can lead to death.
Radiation and chemotherapy …show more content…
Late effects are long lasting side effects from cancer treatment.Nausea is a common side effect of chemotherapy. But there are days where some patients feel sick to their stomach. Usually on the day of treatment. What side effects you obtain depend on the type of cancer you have and what treatments you receive, and also how often you receive that treatment. Since chemotherapy can damage our cells that make blood, we would have a low blood count. That could lead to a higher risk of many different infections or Anemia, and if the white blood cell count is low we would not be able to fight the infection(s).In some cases that leads to death.There are very few side effects of radiation. The common ones are fatigue or skin irritation like itching, peeling, dryness or blistering. Those eventually go away after treatment. There are possible last effects. Which include developing a second cancer.That could occur weeks, months, or even years after radiation therapy.
It is important to acknowledge the fact that chemotherapy and radiation therapy do not always do everything stated above. In fact about 50 % of people diagnosed with cancer live longer than five years.Perhaps from other treatments.With time both treatments might cure the cancer.But it is not guaranteed that the cancer will not return. Some cancers are easier to take care of than others. A lot of effort is put into early diagnosis when treatment is most
Radiation and chemotherapy …show more content…
Late effects are long lasting side effects from cancer treatment.Nausea is a common side effect of chemotherapy. But there are days where some patients feel sick to their stomach. Usually on the day of treatment. What side effects you obtain depend on the type of cancer you have and what treatments you receive, and also how often you receive that treatment. Since chemotherapy can damage our cells that make blood, we would have a low blood count. That could lead to a higher risk of many different infections or Anemia, and if the white blood cell count is low we would not be able to fight the infection(s).In some cases that leads to death.There are very few side effects of radiation. The common ones are fatigue or skin irritation like itching, peeling, dryness or blistering. Those eventually go away after treatment. There are possible last effects. Which include developing a second cancer.That could occur weeks, months, or even years after radiation therapy.
It is important to acknowledge the fact that chemotherapy and radiation therapy do not always do everything stated above. In fact about 50 % of people diagnosed with cancer live longer than five years.Perhaps from other treatments.With time both treatments might cure the cancer.But it is not guaranteed that the cancer will not return. Some cancers are easier to take care of than others. A lot of effort is put into early diagnosis when treatment is most