For some young people, there is a small risk of getting a second cancer caused by their cancer treatment. This can be hard to understand. It happens because radiotherapy and chemo may damage normal cells which might make them turn into cancer years later. This is not the same as a relapse or recurrence as the second cancer will be different from the first cancer.
The risk of getting a second cancer is not the same for everyone. It depends on:
- the type of your original cancer
- the treatment that you've had
- your genetics
- your general health
Doctors in the follow-up clinic will keep a close eye on you to check for any possible problems.
