Question and Answer Category Results

Cancer is not a contagious disease. It cannot be passed from person to person through contact, inhalation or the shared use of belongings. However, since viral agents such as HBV, HIV and HPV, which are among the causes of some cancers, can be transmitted, it is important to take precautions when receiving blood and blood products and during sexual contact.

85-90% of all cancers arise from environmental factors. For this reason, knowing these environmental factors can play an important role in protection from cancer. Tobacco and tobacco products are responsible for 30-35% of all cancers, dietary habits for about 25-30%, and obesity and a sedentary lifestyle (low physical activity) for 20% of cancers. It may be possible to protect oneself from cancer to a great extent by avoiding tobacco and tobacco products, eating 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit a day, reducing alcohol intake, maintaining physical activity and an ideal body weight, and avoiding foods whose conditions and method of preparation are unknown, especially ready-made foods.

Approximately 10-15% of all cancers are hereditary. The frequency of hereditary cancer is quite high especially in people with a family history of 2 or more cancers, in those whose first-degree relatives developed cancer at a young age, and in patients who develop a second cancer at the same time or during their lifetime.

It is not possible to say that all cancers are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses. However, it has been proven that hepatitis B and C viruses increase the risk of liver cancer, human papillomavirus increases the risk of cervical and oropharyngeal tumors, EBV increases the risk of lymphomas, and HIV increases the risk of some cancers such as anal cancer and lymphoma. Similarly, there is a relationship between H. pylori and stomach cancer and stomach lymphoma.

In our country, the most common cancers in men are lung, prostate, bladder, colorectal (bowel) and stomach cancers, while in women the most common are breast, thyroid, colorectal, endometrial (uterine) and lung cancers.

Cancer can be treated using one or several of many treatment methods, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, radiopeptide therapies and radiofrequency ablation. Different treatment methods are used for each type of cancer.

These drugs are taken orally as tablets or given intravenously, and they often work by acting on a surface marker specific to the cancer cell, on intracellular signaling pathways or on tumor blood vessels, thereby disrupting their structure. Their side effects are lower and easier to tolerate than those of conventional chemotherapy. Each drug has its own specific side effect profile.

Cancer can arise from both environmental and hereditary causes. 85-90% of cancer is due to environmental factors. Tobacco and tobacco products, poor dietary habits, obesity, radiation, compounds such as nitrosamines, alcohol and some chemical solvents are the most important environmental causes. Hereditary cancers make up 10-15% of all cancers. These cancers are generally seen more often at a young age and in people with a family history.

Breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal (bowel) and skin tumors are the types of cancer for which screening of healthy individuals is recommended. For some cancers, screening of specific patient groups is useful. For example, screening carriers of chronic hepatitis B for liver cancer and patients diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus for stomach cancer is useful. For lung cancer, screening people over 55 who have smoked 30 pack-years may be useful. In patients diagnosed early through screening tests, it may be possible to prolong survival and achieve a cure.

The screening tests recommended by many institutions and organizations are: mammography, self-examination and clinical examination by a physician for breast cancer; Pap smear and HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer; clinical examination for skin tumors; rectal examination, fecal occult blood testing and imaging methods such as colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy for bowel tumors; and rectal examination, serum PSA level and rectal ultrasound for prostate cancer.

PET is an imaging method that is not used for cancer screening. It is also not appropriate to use it for every patient who has been diagnosed with cancer. For some types of cancer, it is recommended for staging, treatment planning and assessment of response to treatment.

The popular belief that taking a biopsy from cancerous tissue or surgically removing cancerous tissue causes the disease to spread is not true. A biopsy and surgical excision (removal of the tumor) performed by an experienced physician with appropriate methods and in the proper way are necessary for establishing the diagnosis and planning appropriate treatment.

Many types of cancer are treatable when diagnosed early. For example, it is known that a high rate of cure is achieved with early diagnosis and treatment in some common cancers such as breast and colon cancer. However, because some types of cancer are often diagnosed at an advanced stage, the response to treatment has not yet reached the desired level.

Cancer produces symptoms depending on the organ or tissue it is in, its location, or certain substances it secretes. Unintended weight loss, bleeding from the rectum or mouth, changes in bowel habits (long-lasting constipation or narrowing of the stool caliber), new and unexplained long-lasting shortness of breath, a palpable mass, a skin sore that does not heal, early fullness, unexplained abdominal swelling, unexplained night sweats heavy enough to require changing clothes, jaundice and fever may be caused by cancer. If you have these findings, you should see a doctor.

Pain in cancer patients is one of the most important concerns of patients and their relatives. Pain should be treated after it has been classified according to its severity and characteristics. Depending on the severity of the pain, pain treatment should be started, as far as possible, with non-opioid medications at the most appropriate dose. For this reason, pain should be assessed at the beginning and throughout treatment using measurement methods such as a visual pain score. In severe pain, opioid medications and, when necessary, surgical or other local treatment methods (cordotomy, ganglion or nerve block) and morphine infusion pumps should be used. Having your pain treatment directed by your doctor will be the best option for you.

The side effects of each chemotherapy differ. The most common side effects are:
General: Weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, lack of strength, weight loss, hiccups
Skin: Rashes, aphthous lesions in the mouth and mucous membranes, or mucosal injuries called stomatitis
Gastrointestinal system: Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion, abdominal bloating, elevated liver enzymes, cholestasis, jaundice and fatty liver
Urinary system: urinary tract infection, impaired kidney function, burning during urination
Respiratory system: lung infection, fluid accumulation in the lining of the lungs, long-term shortness of breath resulting from pulmonary fibrosis,
Hematologic: anemia, decreased platelet and white blood cell counts, destruction of blood cells within the blood vessels,
Heart and blood vessels: rhythm disturbances, heart failure, narrowing of the coronary arteries, vascular inflammation called thrombophlebitis, formation of blood clots within vessels (thrombosis)
Neurological: tingling and loss of sensation in the hands and feet, decreased motor function
Other: elevated blood sugar, elevated blood lipid levels, electrolyte disturbances

However, it should NOT BE FORGOTTEN that such side effects differ from drug to drug, that side effects will not necessarily be seen in every patient who uses a drug, and that not every change in health status may be due to the medication.

While cancer patients are receiving chemotherapy, keeping live plants and animals in the environment where they live may be inadvisable, especially if their blood counts fall below a critical level.

There is no information that clearly shows that cancer patients are protected from infection when they wear masks. However, it may be useful for patients to wear a mask when they go outside, especially during the period when their blood counts begin to fall due to the effect of chemotherapy.

Cancer patients do not need to limit their contact with those around them. It may be enough for them to avoid close contact with people who are known to have an infection or are suspected of having one. For muscle and bone health, walking outdoors is recommended if possible, and indoors if not. Patients must consult their doctor about intercity travel.

Every patient who has nausea and vomiting despite treatment should inform the physician providing treatment so that additional medication can be given when necessary. Since nausea can also have causes other than chemotherapy, evaluation by the physician is important.

There is no proven scientific evidence that consuming sugar and sugary foods is harmful in cancer patients. Clinical studies have shown that patients who have cancer despite having diabetes do not encounter a problem if their blood sugar is under control. In this case, it may be helpful for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar more strictly and to contact the doctor who follows their diabetes. In patients who do not consume sugar, problems may arise in cancer treatment because of fatigue, exhaustion and a decline in cognitive function. It is enough to consume each nutrient as recommended and in the amount required.

There is no standard for inspecting the products or mixtures sold under the name of herbal treatment. There are serious concerns about the contents of these products. Moreover, the vast majority of products on the market for this purpose have not been definitively proven to have therapeutic or protective properties. To date, there is no evidence showing that such products are more beneficial than conventional treatment methods. Furthermore, these products affect the metabolism of the drugs used in cancer treatment, either reducing the effects of these drugs or increasing their side effects. They are known to cause serious life-threatening bleeding, liver and kidney failure and even death at times.