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Glory Chuma
Kasyanik
1A
May 6th, 2015
The Negative and Positive Affect of Cancer on Various Types of Relationship
The oncologist walks out of his patient's room, he looks disappointed. He has just done
the most hurtful part of his job, detected a patient with cancer. What causes cancer and how does
it form? Not only that, but how does it affect relationships? Such as marriages and friendships.
Furthermore, the process of treatment, how long does it take? Emotions do not stop at the doctors
office, it follows patients and their loved ones home. If they are diagnosed with cancer, there is
so much more that their can expect to experience in r life. Patients look at everything in a new
light.
The cause of cancer is unknown, there is not much that can be pinpointed to take the
blame. Although there are various things that can increase people's risk of it. Genes. It is possible
that through genes, anyone may be more vulnerable to it if a blood related family member has
had it. Five percent to 10% of people with pancreatic cancer have an immediate family member
who also had it. Several different genes have been associated with the increased risk, although no
"pancreatic cancer gene" has yet been identified ( "Pancreatic Cancer Causes and Risk
Factors."). Having diabetes also gives individuals a chance, not that its certain but People with
diabetes are not necessarily more likely to get pancreatic cancer but the two have been linked.
("Pancreatic Cancer Causes and Risk Factors.") Furthermore, smoking cigarettes is well known
for putting society at risk of almost everything. Cigarette smoking is well known to increase the
risk for pancreatic cancer. The more a person smokes, the higher the risk. Ten years after quitting
smoking, the risk returns to about that of someone who never smoked. ("Pancreatic Cancer
Causes and Risk Factors.") In addition to that studies shows that obesity and inactivity will also
put people at a high risk. In a study of 88,000 nurses, those who were obese (body mass index
higher than 30) were more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Those who exercised frequently
were about half as likely to get pancreatic cancer, compared to those who did not exercise at all.
("Pancreatic Cancer Causes and Risk Factors.") Not only that, but the things people eat are
crucial to their health. Having a high fat diet will only put a person at risk of not only cancer but
other diseases. A diet high in fat and meat (especially smoked or processed meat) has been
linked to pancreatic cancer in animal studies. Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables
decreased pancreatic cancer risk in other studies. Still other studies suggest there's no identifiable
link between diet and pancreatic cancer. ("Pancreatic Cancer Causes and Risk Factors.")
Eliminating these risk factors would not give assurance to not getting cancer, but it gives a good
chance at avoiding it.
Unlike the cause of cancer, the formation is not quite as mysterious. Pancreatic cancer
forms when a cell in the pancreas obtains damage to its DNA that causes it to misbehave and
multiply abnormally. Cancer is reproductive, A single cancer cell grows and divides rapidly,
becoming a tumor that does not respect normal boundaries in the body. Eventually, cells from the

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tumor travel elsewhere in the body (metastasize) through the blood or lymphatic system.
("Pancreatic Cancer Causes and Risk Factors.") Studies show that one out of seventy-six people
will develop pancreatic cancer. The following steps will describe the cancer treatment process. It
first begins at the diagnosis, the treatment plans will be based on the physician's opinion on the
diagnosed tumour. Treatment options includes chemotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy and
more, but in some cases patients will have to combine some of the choices to give it more
effectiveness. Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs
can interfere with the growth of tumours, shrink or even eliminate the cancer cells.
(Understanding the cancer treatment process). This is a very effective treatment, but because of
the drugs, it can also affect the healthy cells. Side effects include nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
The choice of surgery involves the removal of cancerous tissue from the body. Most surgeries are
performed in the hospital. There are various side effects depending on the kind of surgery the
patient undergoes. The typical one that they all have in common is pain. But usually that's taken
care of. Hormonal therapy is the fighting of cancer by changing the amount of hormones in the
body to treat certain types of cancer that depend on these chemicals to grow and spread.
Hormone therapy is mostly used for prostate cancer, breast and reproductive system cancer. Side
effects differ between males and females depending on the drug. All of these treatments have
both benefits and side effects, when choosing a treatment, patients are to consider each wisely. In
treating cancer,different kinds of doctors and health professionals are all involved in creating a
treatment plan that will work best for their patients.
They think when its over, it should be over, said Jane Hyman, 66, a retired elementary
school principal from Sharon, Mass., who was treated for breast cancer 16 years ago. But the
downside to being so farther out is that Ive known many people who have had cancer more than
once. ("Anxiety Lingers Long After Cancer."). Cancer is a sickness thats battled even long after
overcoming it. Caring for an individual with cancer will affect the relationship with them.
Especially if its something close like marriage or friendship or family member. Sometimes
facing hardships, such as cancer either brings patients and their loved ones closer together or
tears them apart. If you have a strained relationship with the person you care for, the pressure of
cancer treatment and the demands of caring may add further tension. You may want to share the
caring role with other people so you are not the full-time career. ("How Relationships
Change."). Because your spouse or partner is a primary source of support, a cancer diagnosis
may affect this relationship more than it affects other relationships. Parents are also a big source
of support for young adults, and it may be hard to find a balance between these two sources of
support. Young adults typically do not expect a spouse or partner to face a life-threatening illness
at such a young age, so the diagnosis of cancer may be overwhelming. ("Talking With Your
Spouse or Partner."). There are certain things that the person thats being taken care of would like
to do themselves. Such as using the bathroom, taking a shower and getting dressed. Sometimes it
may be hard to sit their and watch as theyre doing something on their own that they do not want
help with, that obviously appears painful to them. Other than physical pain, the patient's
emotional health is also affected. When someone is diagnosed with cancer they may experience
a range of emotions such as shock, fear, irritability and anger. You, as a carer, may also feel this

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way. This can affect communication, which is an important part of any relationship. ("How
Relationships Change."). Those who frequently share feelings with each other will find it easier
to discuss the diagnosis but those who like to solve things on their own will find it highly
difficult to communicate. Overall, it can be a challenge talking about cancer because of fear of
saying the wrong things, not being able to know what to say or how to respond, feeling as if
cancer should not be discussed, and for the fact that an individual may break down and not seem
strong in front of the patient. Due to cancer, both individuals may experience sadness, anxiety,
depression, anger and a sense of hopelessness. Although the effects of cancer vary from couple
to couple, most couples will experience changes in a variety of aspects of their relationship,
including roles and responsibilities, sexuality, intimacy, parenting, and plans for the future.
("Talking With Your Spouse or Partner."). For some people facing the challenges together that
cancer may bring strength to their relationships. Changeability towards to future may bring
support to a couples love and commitment. It may allow them to reevaluate priorities and even
more cherish the time they spend together. But in some other cases, cancer can add strain to the
relationship.
Cancer has an unknown cause for the most part. It usually starts up as tumours, the earlier
its found the most chance an individual has to live. This disease has a significant affect on
relationships such as marriages and friendships. It either tears one apart or brings the individuals
together. Question such as Did I bring this upon myself? are in minds of those diagnosed.
Helping patients pull through and live the rest of their available life to the fullest is what will
keep their minds off of such thoughts.