A cancer news platform, Binaytara has expressed hope that the Veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who was confirmed to be battling stage-four cancer can still survive the ailment, inspite of the seriousness of the disease, and it is not the harbinger of death it once was.
Penpushing reports that the platform explained that while any cancer diagnosis is devastating, this term “stage 4” seems to have its own terrible weight, like a stone, which is carried around by patients and their families, adding that “stage 4” and “terminal” are not the same.
‘Stage four cancer is indeed the most severe form of disease, but this does not give credit to the incredible advancements made in cancer medicine nearly every day. Targeted and immuno-therapies alongside precise radiotherapy and advanced surgical techniques have prolonged survival for all patients with cancer, including those with stage four disease’, it added.
Penpushing further reports that the platform explained what does it mean to be diagnosed with stage four cancer, stating that cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow uncontrollably; the more a cancer grows, the more harmful it becomes.
‘Simply put, the cancer staging system can be thought of as describing how much a person’s cancer has grown. Cancer is staged 1 through 4 based on the tumor’s size, growth into adjacent tissues, and spread to other organs.
‘The label of “stage 4” describes cancer that has travelled beyond the organ in which it originated to grow in other, distant parts of the body. Cancers growing in these other parts of the body are known as “metastases” (plural) and are why stage 4 cancer is commonly referred to as “metastatic cancer”. In this way, stage 4 disease describes the behaviour of a person’s cancer rather than a specific kind of cancer itself’, the platform stated.
‘The bones, liver, and lungs are especially common places for cancer to spread. Cancer also frequently spreads to lymph nodes, collections of immune cells scattered throughout the body. Because of this spread, stage 4 cancer requires more aggressive treatment than cancer at lower stages’.
Penpushing also reports that Binaytara explained how to treat stage four cancer which include understand what stage 4 means, adding that stage 4 cancer has spread (metastasised) to other parts of the body.
‘Because microscopic cancer cells may remain even after visible tumours are removed, completely eliminating the cancer can be difficult. Treatment usually focuses on controlling the cancer
Penpushing reports that the platform assured that stage 4 cancer is often treatable, even when it cannot be completely cured, explaining that the main goals are to: slow or control the cancer., reduce the amount of cancer in the body and help the person live longer and maintain the best possible quality of life, treatment depends on where the cancer started,
The platform explained that metastatic cancer is named according to its original site, cited example when breast cancer that spreads to the lungs is still treated as breast cancer, not lung cancer.
Penpushing further reports that it added that the original cancer type determines which treatments are most appropriate, stating that systemic treatments are important, because cancer may be present throughout the body, treatments that travel through the bloodstream are often used.
‘These can include: Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Targeted/precision medicines, other systemic treatments depending on the cancer type, treatment intensity depends on the person’s condition
‘Doctors may initially use stronger treatments when appropriate to achieve better disease control. Older, frail, or already very sick patients may not tolerate aggressive treatment safely’, it added.
Penpushing also reports that the platform said in those situations, Doctors may choose gentler treatments with fewer side effects, including medicines that can be taken as pills at home, adding that Doctors must balance benefits and side effects
The platform emphasized that more aggressive treatment can sometimes control the cancer better but can also cause significant toxicity, adding that the treatment plan aims to find the best balance between: How effective the treatment is, how severe its side effects are, the person’s overall health and quality of life
Penpushing reports that the platform explained that treatment usually involves a team, stating that stage 4 cancer is commonly managed by several specialists, such as Medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, while other important members can include nurses, social workers, counsellors, nurse navigators, and symptom-management specialists.
The platform said not all stage 4 cancers have the same outlook, explaining that some cancers spread extensively, while others spread to only a small number of location, adding that when cancer has spread to only a few sites—often one or two organs—it may be called oligometastatic cancer.
Penpushing further reports that it stated that oligometastatic cancer may sometimes be treated more aggressively, explaining that in selected patients, Doctors may use surgery or radiation to target and remove/destroy the largest or most dangerous cancer deposits.
Meanwhile, the platform said this can potentially prolong survival, stating that the key takeaway is that stage 4 of cancer does not automatically mean there are no treatment options.
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