By Dr N Aditya Murali, Consultant – Medical & Haemato Oncology, and Dr. Kumara Swamy, Sr. Consultant & Head – Radiation Oncology Aster CMI Hospital
For long, a diagnosis of cancer has been predominantly associated with emotions like despair, fear, anger and frustration. Patients diagnosed with common diseases like hypertension and diabetes don’t generally ask their doctor whether they will be cured of diabetes but the primary question in the mind of any patient diagnosed with cancer is – Will I be cured?. Even after being cured of cancer, since cure cannot be established emphatically by the present day tests, fear continues and survivorship takes a huge physical and psychological toll on patients. This has two implications: first, worry happens to be unnecessary suffering and second, this anxiety can bring down the cure rate.The first Sunday of June is celebrated as the annual cancer survivor’s day and this is an occasion which commemorates the victory of every patient over this disease as well as help them cope with the rest of their lives.
Patients dread the hair loss which occurs with chemotherapy. This is however transient. What does persist however are post chemotherapy are side effects like hormonal changes. Chemotherapy can even induce early menopausal effects and the attendant changes in women of reproductive age group. The reproductive capacity is definitely impaired in both sexes. Children who receive chemotherapy are known to have growth abnormalities. There are some types of chemotherapy especially the ones used for treatment in breast cancer which predispose to early onset heart disease. In some rarely used chemotherapy protocols, long term lung damage and brain damage may also be seen. Radiotherapy has its own list of possible side effects, although it has dramatically reduced in occurrence and intensity in recent years. It is important to recognize these effects early and take steps to reverse the process. There is also the risk of disease coming back or the possibility of developing cancer at an altogether new site, known as – second cancer, which survivorship clinic can help in reducing the probability.
Oncologists everywhere have started developing survivorship clinics where patients who have conquered this condition are seen on a regular basis. Routine physical examinations, specific investigations if any to detect cancer coming back, physical rehabilitation programmes to cope with physical disabilities if any, support groups for psychological support, even vocational training all form a part of the survivorship clinic.
The importance of survivorship clinic are;
It is important for patients who are diagnosed with cancer to understand and look forward to a life after cancer treatment because the real journey of life begins where the cancer recedes.
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
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