Second cancer cases on the rise, finds new study

A recent study conducted in the United States found that second cancers are on the rise, a leading daily reported. 

It was found that about 19% of cancers in US were second cancers. By second cancers, doctors mean the disease happening in a different tissue site not recurrence in the original site. Nearly one out of five cases of cancer were of patients who had the disease before. One of the patients, Judith Bernstein of Philadelphia was diagnosed with eight types of cancer over the last two decades but fortunately has been successfully treated each time. Doctors had found cancerous tissues in her breast, lungs, oesophagus and even her eyelid, the daily reported. 

The study also said that second cancers may get triggered due to age, gene mutation or because of habits like smoking, which was the reason behind the first one.  Radiation given during treatment of the first cancer may also lead to second cancer according to doctors. Although, it says that improvements are being made in the treatment to reduce such risks.

The  psychological trauma faced by the patients suffering from second cancer is often greater than when they have cancer for the first time.