Cancer treatment normally combines one or more of the following procedures: Surgery Chemotherapy Radiotherapy Hormone therapy Targeted therapies All these procedures necessitate the use of strong anti-cancer medications, steroids, and multiple medications. This leads to many side effects. Some side effects are mild and are present only for the short term. They will go away as the overall health of the person improves. Some patients are likely to feel just one or a few of the side effects. As per treatment protocols, the team of doctors and nurses will have to brief the patient and the family about possible side effects, the impact on their health, and how to manage them. They will also be advised to watch out for abnormal or specific symptoms that should not be ignored and when they should immediately reach out to a doctor. A few of the main short-term side effects of cancer treatments are: Neutropenia This is the reduction of white blood cells, which could be destroyed along with cancer cells. This leads to symptoms of fever, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, and an urge to urinate constantly. One could also feel shaky or feel trembling and shaking movements. However, these symptoms will go away as the body starts producing more white blood cells.

To treat colon cancer, it is important to determine which stage the cancer is at. The stage of cancer would help in determining the extent of cancer and that helps in drafting the treatment plan accordingly. In most of the stages except for the fourth, surgery might be required to remove the tumor. Several other treatment options are also available to go in conjunction with one another. The following are the treatments available for colon cancer according to the stage: Stage 0 In this stage, the cancer is only found in the innermost lining of the colon. Surgery must be done in this case to remove the affected part. A procedure called polypectomy would be performed by the surgeon which means the tumor and the nearby tissue would be removed. In the case that a larger part of the lining is affected, the surgeon would have to remove the affected part completely, and reattach the healthy tissue for the bowels to still work effectively. This procedure is known as anastomosis. Stage 1 In this stage, the tumor has spread beyond the inner lining of the colon to the second and third layers, surgery would be required to remove the tumor and the tissue around it.

Kidneys, just like any other major organ, are crucial to lead a balanced life. Kidneys are responsible for cleansing the blood, and to make urine, besides cleaning the impurities that are thrown in the process. With new-age technology, the world of medicine has brought about some remarkable methods to treat kidney cancer. However, intervention is entirely dependent on the stage of cancer that one is in. There are four stages in kidney cancer, where in stage 1, the size of the tumor is less than seven centimetres and it is very well contained within the kidney. In stage 2, the tumor has grown above seven centimetres and is largely within the kidney. It is only in stage 3 and 4 that the tumor starts to spread. In stage 3, it is largely restricted to the nearby lymph nodes and possibly the nearest blood vessel, but in stage 4, it spreads to other organs like the liver or pancreas and also to the adrenal glands. The stages and treatment for kidney cancer are as follows: Targeted therapy for kidney cancer Innumerable research has gone into identifying and learning the molecular and genetic changes in the cell that causes kidney cancer. This is a treatment option that is known to work in cases where even chemotherapy has failed to cure the cancer.

Bone marrow is a spongy tissue found inside our bones. There are two types of bone marrow found in our bones – red and yellow bone marrow. Red marrow produces blood cells, which consist of: Red blood cells – They carry the blood to all parts of the body. White blood cells – They fight against infections. Platelets – They are the clotting agents that protect our body from uncontrolled bleeding. Yellow marrow stores our fat cells called adipocytes. Yellow marrow also contains mesenchymal stem cells, which can develop into new cells, tissue, fat, bone, or cartilage. As we grow older, red marrow is replaced by yellow marrow and adults will have more yellow rather than red bone marrow. What is leukemia? Leukemia is caused when the number of white blood cells in the bone marrow increases and crowds over the red blood cells and platelets. These new white blood cells cannot fight any infection as effectively as the original white blood cells. With the continuous growth of white blood cells, the production of red blood cells and platelets reduce. This means many parts of our body and vital organs do not get the required oxygen to perform their normal functions, while loss of platelets means the blood would not clot.

One of the most important glands in the endocrine system is the thyroid gland. This gland is located at the base of the neck. The thyroid gland is responsible for coordinating many events in the body and regulating the metabolism of the body through the regulation of hormones. When these hormones produced by the thyroid gland are produced either in excess or become deficient, several disorders can be experienced by the body. The following are the types of thyroid diseases and their causes and symptoms: Hyperthyroidism: In this condition, the thyroid gland is hyperactive and produces the hormone in excess. The most common cause of this condition is Graves’ disease. About 70% of people with an overactive thyroid are prone to this disease, which in turn causes hyperthyroidism. Toxic nodular goiter or multinodular goiter can also lead to the condition. Some symptoms of the condition are anxiety, restlessness, irritability, muscle weakness, bulging eyes, weight loss, etc. Hypothyroidism: In this condition, the thyroid is inactive and doesn’t produce the required amount of hormones. This condition is often caused by Hashimoto’s disease, radiation treatment, or the surgical removal of the thyroid gland. Some symptoms of this condition are weight gain, slow heart rate, depression, coma, fatigue, dry skin, constipation, memory issues, etc.