Cancer Survivors Can Face A Problem of Faster Aging

Cancer survivors often consider themselves fortunate they have managed to beat the problem without bearing in mind they could have exposed themselves to other issues. Research conducted by the Mayo Clinic now reveals that cancer survivors become susceptible to premature aging and even mortality because of the treatments provided to them.

It is common for cancer survivors to age faster than the average individual while also developing health problems in the long-term which is related to aging despite being relatively young. They could face problems with gland and hormonal disorders, brittle bones, heart conditions, lung scarring and cancers of other varieties. Cancer survivors can also become frail with passing age. The life expectancy among childhood cancer survivors is around 30% lower than the average individual. Moreover, they are likely to develop another form of cancer during their lives by 3 to 6 times.

What Is The Medical Fraternity Doing To Help Cancer Survivors?

The Medical Fraternity Has Noted That Cancer Survivors Need Programs To Prevent Additional Complications From Developing.

The number of cancer survivors is increasing significantly and the medical fraternity needs to begin paying more attention and find out methods how they can keep these people in good health during their lifetimes. The medical fraternity has taken note of the multiple problems faced by cancer survivors and has realized that an essential requirement for programs to prevent further complications in millions of cancer survivors exists.

Presently, the numbers of cancer survivors throughout the world are close to 30 million and researchers are estimating that by the year 2025 an additional 19 million people will be diagnosed with this condition. The medical fraternity is considering how they can deal with the consequences of successfully treating cancer patients in order to deal with the increasing population of cancer survivors. They are aware that people have managed to overcome the scourge of cancer but are left with the problem of facing the consequences.

What Are The Reasons For the Complications Faced by Cancer Survivors?

The Treatment Provided To Cancer Patients Is Often Harsh And Leaves behind Consequences For The Survivor.

The treatment for cancer goes through various stages beginning from the diagnosis and continuing until radiation. Chemotherapy, which often follows surgery and radiation, are certainly helpful to kill cancer cells but also have the potential to damage healthy tissues within the body. Other medications used during the treatment also accelerate the aging process because they often include hormone therapy, steroids and cancer treatments which are targeted.

Steroid treatments which are offered over the long-term can leave cancer survivors with a heightened risk of cataracts, nerve damage, brittle bones, problems with immune response and impaired wound healing. Hearing loss has also been associated with cancer drugs which can also reduce thyroid levels while causing hypertension, heart failure, muscle weakness, infertility, constipation, arthritis and diseases of the kidney and the liver. Radiation has been linked to problems like dementia, loss of memory and secondary cancers along with hardened arteries.

Women Can Confront Early Menopause When They Are Required To Undergo Chemotherapy.

Women who undergo chemotherapy during their treatment for cancer are likely to encounter early menopause. Recipients of bone marrow transplants are eight times likelier to become frail as compared to their siblings who may be healthy.

Aging, at the genetic and the cellular level, can be caused by chemotherapy and radiation making the DNA to begin unraveling and killing the cells faster than normal. Clinical trials and studies are presently ongoing to evaluate methods which can de-escalate the treatment for cancers as mentioned by researchers.

There is also a need for cancer survivors to help themselves by choosing a healthier lifestyle and keeping away from habits such as smoking, having the right diet, exercising and limiting the consumption of alcohol. The steps suggested will prove helpful in reducing the chances of developing a new form of cancer or even heart disease. While suggestions and preventive measures can make cancer survivors confident by a certain margin, they will definitely be concerned with the problem of faster aging and early mortality.

Considering the problems cancer survivors are required to deal with, even after completing their treatment, the general population is likely to feel that the medical fraternity and pharmaceutical companies need to work harder. They need to ensure victims of cancer will not be subjected to additional problems after seemingly beating cancer by spending huge sums of money for the treatment. The average individual would not want cancer survivors to remain concerned throughout their lives and anticipate additional consequences simply because they were fortunate enough to overcome their initial problem with cancer.