The topic I chose to write about is something that means a great deal to me, and that is the study of oncology and the treatment of cancer. In late June of 2016, my family received some devastating, overwhelming, and unexpected news. My mother was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, and she is still fighting a thankfully winning battle today. I spend every single day with her and I have seen the effect cancer has had on her, and I have also seen the side effects and other terrible things like physical and emotional pain that treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy have put her through. I never really understood cancer and what it, and also the treatments that come along with it, can and will do to a person. When I first found out, I found out everything I could about cancer and about oncology. While doing that research, I discovered that I one day wanted to …show more content…
Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used types of cancer treatment. It uses medications or combinations of medications to treat cancer. The main goal of chemotherapy is to stop or slow down the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy can have many side effects. Chemotherapy.com explains some of these side effects. Chemotherapy.com says “A number of blood cells that divide rapidly can be damaged along with cancer cells during chemo:
White blood cells help protect the body from infection. A low white blood cell count is known as neutropenia. If your white blood cell count gets too low, you could get an infection.
Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. A low red blood cell count is known as anemia. Anemia can lead to fatigue, chest pain, and more serious complications.
Platelets are structures in the blood that help stop bleeding. A low platelet cell count is known as thrombocytopenia. A low platelet count can cause bruising and bleeding.
Hair follicles have cells that can be affected by chemo, leading to hair loss, also called