Gene Dog Blog

It’s probably the most deadly disease known to mankind; it not only causes immense suffering and pain, but is also fatal in most cases. It’s extremely rare to find cancer survivors who’re completely cured of the disease, and even if they are, they have to live in the fear that it will strike anytime again, and with a vengeance that is harsh and almost sadistic. Scientists and researchers are constantly working on methods and ideas to help reduce the brunt of cancer’s effect on our bodies and psyches, and we’ve seen breakthroughs in many areas, from diagnosing the disease early to treating it without destroying healthy cells too. With advances in cancer biology, we now have hope that survivors of cancer can prevent a relapse and live a long and healthy life.

Researchers at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis have found that breastfeeding helps women who have survived cancer in childhood, and decreases their risk of obesity and weak bones, conditions which are typically associated with cancer survivors. People who have been affected by cancer early in their lives and who beat the disease are known to be prone to health problems later in life – known as “late effects”, these conditions weaken survivors and affect their ability to lead a normal and healthy life, even though they are free of the cancer.

In women who have survived childhood cancer, there are three late effects that are commonly observed – bone mineral density deficits which lead to brittle bones and the development of early osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome which generally leads to increased BMI, obesity (survivors of lymphocytic leukemia and those who have had bone marrow transplantations are at a high risk for obesity), diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and the risk of developing cancer (most commonly breast cancer). Cancer survivors who breastfeed their children have shown that they are at the least risk for all three late effects. In addition to this, they can improve the quality of their health by adhering to the right diet, following a regular exercise routine, avoiding smoking, and engaging in safe sexual behavior.

Survival rates for childhood cancers are improving by the day – according to Cancer Research UK, for every 10 children diagnosed with cancer, as many as 8 beat the disease and survive for five years or more, a higher number when compared with the 3 out of 10 that survived in the late 1960s. These numbers can be boosted by encouraging women who have survived cancer to breastfeed their children.

Studies in cancer biology have also allowed us to realize that children who have survived cancer may have their growth hormones affected by the radiation and chemotherapy, and as a result, may be unable to lactate as young mothers. They should be provided with the right support to be able to breastfeed, whenever it is possible for them to do so. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast cancer which women cancer survivors are easily prone to.

Thanks to the advances in cancer biology and health science programs, we can improve the quality of life for cancer survivors, and minimize their future cancer risks as well.

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This guest post is contributed by Tina Marconi, she writes on the topic of online vet tech programs .  She welcomes your comments at her email id: tinamarconi85[@]gmail[.]com.

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