Symptoms And Treatment Of Cancer - 1175 Words

Over one million people in the United States get cancer every year (Rosen). Cancer is an uncontrollable growth and division of cells throughout the body, and it is a deadly disease that affects many people. Every person is different, every type of cancer is different, and every treatment is different. One main treatment for cancer is chemotherapy. However, saying no to chemotherapy is becoming more frequent among cancer survivors. When choosing to receive or not to receive chemotherapy every cancer patient should keep an open mind about the side effects it can have on the body, the quality of life and how your life will change, and the wide range of other healing possibilities available. The goal of chemotherapy is to destroy cancer†¦show more content†¦Sometimes side effects lessen after a while once the healthy cells rebuild themselves. Every patient reacts different to chemo and its side effects. Fortunately, due to continued research, doctors have found ways to reduce or even prevent these side effects. â€Å"A persons quality of life is impacted from the beginning of the oncology experience, during which he or she encounters many unplanned, life altering events† (Drake). For many, quality of life means to enjoy normal life activities such as: shopping, driving, and working. Cancer can impair this ability to enjoy that normal lifestyle. Christopher Cordaro II, a close friend of my family, is a perfect example of how a person’s life can change over night. Chris was diagnosed with stage IV neuroendocrine carcinoma in September of 2015. He went from being a very active and athletic person who thoroughly enjoyed his job with the New Orleans Sa ints to someone who’s prognosis was not longer than a couple of months. Within days of his diagnosis he was given a very aggressive round of chemotherapy with a second round to follow three weeks later. Chris found himself not able to enjoy some of the activities he was passionate about and not able to go to work and do the job he loved, which was hard for him to cope with. Often times a person who receives chemo will have certain side effects that will alter their life, but will fade as