Common Questions After Mesothelioma Treatment

Common Questions After Mesothelioma Treatment

 

There are some questions that will be on the mind of mesothelioma patients after completing their course of the most common questions are: 1-therapy.The I be sure that the cancer will not come back? No, there is no guarantee that once you have completed cancer treatment that the cancer does not return. Although your doctor may tell you, "Your cancer is gone" or "I think I removed all the cancer" or "I see no evidence of cancer," the fact is that there is always a possibility that there is some cancer cells left surviving in the body, although it can not be seen or are any currently used test. These cells may start to grow over time and cause cancer recur.And while you do not ever want to think about the possibility of having a second cancer is possible. Having cancer does not make you immune to having a second or even third cancer.Some different people is very difficult to get this thought out of their minds. While it is useful to take steps to prepare for the possibility that the cancer may return, for some people the idea can become a fear that interferes with daily life. Some people deal with these thoughts by distraction or focus on what is most important to them in the day. Others must take other measures, such as joining a support group or see a mental health professional. After the stress of cancer, how to deal with the emotional pain can be the key to moving on with your life 2-is a "guarantee of non-cancer" possible? Cancer is not predictable. The prognosis for mesothelioma cancer p [articular is very sad, most people do not survive beyond 1 year for any doctor can ensure the cancer recurring cancer will stay gone forever.A cancer cells begins with the first treatment does not eliminate or completely destroyed. Some groups of cancer cells may have been too small to be detected in follow-up tests, scans or blood tests. This does not mean you have the wrong treatment. This does not mean you did something wrong after treatment, either. This means that a small number of cancer cells that had survived the treatment. Over time, these cells developed into tumors or cancer that your doctor could finally detect as recurrence.Just as happened the first time, there is also the possibility that normal cells can, for various reasons, the development of such damage DNA. (DNA holds genetic information on cell growth, division, and function.) This damage then causes a gene (a small section of DNA) to change (mutate). When genes mutate, they can become oncogenes, which allow cells to become cancer cells rapidly divide and outside control.There is also something called a tumor suppressor gene, which tells cells when to repair damaged DNA and when to die (a normal process called apoptosis, or programmed cell death). This gene is like the brake pedal in a car. Just as a brake keeps a car going too fast a tumor suppressor gene that keeps the cell from dividing too quickly. When tumor suppressor genes are mutated or off - ie when the brakes - the cells divide very fast, allowing cancer cells to develop. Changes in tumor suppressor genes can be inherited (born with them), or may occur during all factors life.Not growth of cancer cells have been found yet. Although treatment may seem to have gotten rid of all the cancer, it may be only a small cancer cell left somewhere in the body. This cell can not cause any harm for many years. Suddenly, something can happen that will change the immune system is activated and the cell grows and makes other cells. The result is a cancer recurrence -. Which should I know if I'm worried about repetition? It's easy to obsess about every ache and pain if you are worried about your cancer returning.But in reality, few major symptoms that could mean serious problems. If you have any of the problems listed below, tell your doctor immediately. * Return cancer symptoms as before (eg, a lump or new growth in cancer began before) * new or unusual pain that seems related to an injury and does not disappear * Weight loss without trying * bleeding or bruising * unexplained rash or allergic reaction such as swelling, itching, or wheezing * chills or fever * headache * shortness of breath * bloody stools or blood in the urine * lumps, bumps or swelling * nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or difficulty swallowing * cough * that does not stop other signs mentioned by your doctor or nurse or any unusual symptoms that you can not explainWhenever you have a symptom, your first thought might be that his cancer has returned.Remember that there are medical conditions and diseases that have nothing to do with his previous cancer.You can still get colds, infections, arthritis, heart problems, etc. - just like anyone else. As with any disease, your doctor is the best person to find the cause of your SYMPTOMS What about health problems in the future could come from cancer treatment? You should also know that some cancer treatments can cause health problems later. These problems may not appear right away and some do not appear until years after treatment. Ask your doctor: * if treatment is to risk becoming problems in the short or long term * what those problems are and how you can recognize them * what to do if you notice that * what to do to take care of your health What does "survival rate at 5 years?" The survival rate at 5 years is the percentage of patients who are alive at least 5 years after their cancer diagnosis. Many of these people live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis. The 5-year rate is used as a standard way of discussing prognosis and survival may also hear Outlook.You relative survival rate at 5 year term. Relative survival compares the survival of cancer patients to people not diagnosed with cancer, but of the same age, race and sex. Used to adjust the normal life expectancy when cancer is not present. The relative survival rates at 5 years old are considered a more accurate way to describe the prognosis (long term perspective) for the groups of patients with a certain type and stage of cancer. But they can not be used to predict single cases.Keep in mind that the 5-year rates are based on patients who were diagnosed and treated for the first time 5 years ago. These statistics may not be accurate due to improved treatments often result in a better perspective for those who were diagnosed more recently.There is another point to remember when discussing survival rates. Survival rates are only on survival, not whether the person is free of cancer five years after diagnosis. They are based on a group of people of all ages and health conditions diagnosed with certain cancers. These statistics include people diagnosed early and late diagnosis. As with all statistics, only be used to get an idea of ​​the overall situation. They can not be used to predict outcome of a particular person - why not the doctor say. "You are cured?" Most doctors avoid using the word "cure" because it means that the cancer is cured. As mentioned, this is almost impossible to say in any case of mesothelioma. The best thing a doctor can do is you can find signs of cancer in her body at this time. This is often indicated as "No evidence of disease."Your doctor may continue monitoring for many years and do tests to look for signs of cancer recurrence.There is no harm in making sure that you are cancer free if that's what all the evidence shows. Enjoy the feeling that you do not have cancer. But always remember that it is still possible that the cancer will come back, even after you have been cancer free for 5 years or more