Preventing Secondary Cancer

You may have heard stories of people who have battled cancer, only to develop another cancer in a nearby or another area of the body. These victorious people might have developed what are called “secondary cancers.”

What are secondary cancers?

Secondary cancers can mean different things. They may be caused by the first one (or the old or the previous diagnosed cancer or the primary cancer) after you have undergone treatment or while being treated for cancer. In other words, primary cancer is where a cancer starts. Sometimes cancer cells can break away from the primary cancer and settle or grow in another part of the body. This new cancer is called secondary cancer.

Secondary cancers may also mean that they are unrelated to the primary cancer. They are not necessarily a spread or metastasis of the first cancer. These cancers can be new ones that have developed elsewhere in the body.

What factors can lead to the development of secondary cancer?

Several factors can make you more likely to develop a secondary cancer. Since some factors are not under your control, you often need to get screened in order to catch any new cancer early. These factors include:

1. Childhood cancer. Some tumors are inherited syndromes that contribute to a lifelong risk for cancer.

2. Family history. When you have many close relatives who were diagnosed with a particular cancer, that’s a very strong indication that you are genetically susceptible to develop one. If you have high genetic cancer risk, be screened and take other preventive measures.

3. Cancer treatment. Radiation, chemotherapy, and other cancer treatments, while they are necessary to cure your disease, can also trigger cellular changes that can make you vulnerable to develop new or secondary cancer.

4. Age. The older you are, the higher your cancer risk.

5. Lifestyle. This is one of the factors you can control. Many of the choices you make each day can lead you to getting future cancer.

Prevention

1. Eat cancer-fighting foods, like broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables, beans and peas, berries, cherries, tomatoes, whole grains, and nuts.

2. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

3. Keep your BMI within a healthy range.

4. Don’t smoke. If you do, stop the habit. Quit smoking. Avoid second hand smoke.

5. Limit your alcohol intake.

6. Wear sunscreen or protective sunblock when going out in the sun.