With Cancer proliferating more and more rapidly amongst the Indian population, thanks to the changing lifestyle, habits and environment, a number of cancer treatment centers have sprung up in India in recent times. These centers heavily rely upon chemotherapy and / or radiation therapy to cure the disease. Due to the highly demanding and taxing nature of cancer treatments, centers offer psychological support and rehabilitation too along with the actual treatment. Patients coming from far off places, especially those who cannot afford the costs, these centers also offer accommodation and food facilities for the whole duration of their treatment. A large number of these cancer treatment centers depend on donations from gracious and kind hearted people for these additional costs incurred.

The Cure

Radio Therapy India, the most prevalent cancer treatment method, can be a very painful and excruciating experience for both the patients and their families. It can cause side effects by damaging normal, healthy cells near the cancer. The most common side effects include skin changes, hair loss, tiredness (fatigue), diarrhea, or trouble eating. However, radiation can damage normal cells, and sometimes this damage can have long-term effects. For instance, radiation to the chest area may affect the lungs or heart. In some people this may cause scarring, which can affect a person’s ability to do things. Similarly, aggressive chemotherapy used to treat some lymphomas and other cancers can destroy healthy bone marrow. Treatment of cancer using radiation therapy also poses a small but very real risk of triggering off a second cancer.

The Prevention

When treating the cancer of blood, i.e., leukemia and other such cancers which affect the bone marrow, the stem cells of the bone marrow get damaged due to intense radiations, bone marrow transplant is usually performed to replace the diseased or damaged bone marrow after the chemotherapy/radiation treatment. Bone Marrow Transplant in India is practiced as a very crucial and important stage of cancer treatment. The facilities for this treatment have undergone a sure but steady growth in the past 20-30 years and India can now boast of better rates of survival after this treatment.

However, bone marrow transplants cannot be done for everyone. a person's age or state of health may prohibit use of a bone marrow transplant. The typical cut-off age for a transplant ranges from 40 to 55 years; however, a person's general health is usually the more important factor. Also, the procedures for bone marrow transplant could be highly demanding on the patients mental toughness and ability to withstand the rigors of the procedure. Another limiting factor for bone marrow transplants is the cost and availability of donors. In India, the large number of below poverty line population getting affected with cancer often find it tough to go through bone marrow transplants.

In a successful bone marrow transplant, the donor's marrow migrates to the cavities in the recipient's bones and produces normal numbers of healthy blood cells. Bone marrow transplants can extend a person's life, improve quality of life, and may aid in curing the underlying ailment.