What is the most common cause of a lung abscess?

Aspiration of oral secretions by patients with impaired consciousness is the most common cause of lung abscesses; thus, anaerobic bacteria are among the most common pathogens.

What are the symptoms of a lung abscess?

Symptoms of a lung abscess include fatigue, loss of appetite, night sweats, fever, weight loss, and a cough that produces sputum. Diagnosis is usually made using a chest x-ray.

Is lung abscess curable?

Yes, lung abscesses are treatable. Treatment options include antibiotics, percutaneous drainage, and in rare cases, surgical removal of the abscessed portion of the lung.

Do you drain lung abscess?

Yes, percutaneous drainage is often necessary for lung abscesses, especially when there is pleural involvement or if the abscess manifests rapidly.

How do you prevent a lung abscess?

To reduce the risk of a lung abscess, it is crucial to avoid aspiration. Patients with reduced ability to protect the airway should be considered for early intubation. Positioning supine patients at a 30° reclined angle also helps reduce the risk.

How is a lung abscess different from pneumonia?

A lung abscess is a cavity filled with pus, whereas pneumonia is inflammation of the lung tissue caused by infection.

Can a lung abscess lead to lung cancer?

While a lung abscess itself doesn't cause lung cancer, chronic inflammation or underlying conditions may increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

Can pets transmit infections that lead to a lung abscess?

In rare cases, certain infections from animals, such as tuberculosis, can lead to lung abscesses in humans.

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22-07-2024 Team Medicover Fertility

Pregnancy After Cancer: Can You Get Pregnant After Cancer?

Cancer is no longer a rare disease that affects only others; today, it affects homes everywhere. Cancer spares no one, and the unpredictable growth of abnormal cells can occur in anyone's body.

Cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy, cause significant side effects, impacting every part of the body, including fertility. Even after treatment ends, the residual effects can continue to harm the body, particularly the reproductive organs.

Effects Of Cancer Treatments On Pregnancy

Treatments such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or cervical surgery can significantly affect future pregnancies:

Radiation therapy affects the blood supply and support cells of the uterus, increasing the risks of miscarriage, premature birth, or low birth weight.
Chemotherapy increases the risk of heart disease in women, making pregnancy challenging.
Cervical surgery can affect the cervix, increasing the likelihood of miscarriage or premature birth.

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Pregnancy After Cancer Treatments

Pregnancy after recovering from cancer can be daunting, especially for those considering cancer after pregnancy. Many patients fear that their unborn child could be affected by the illness in the uterus, causing anxiety and nightmares.
Doctors advise waiting at least 2 years before planning a baby to minimize the impact of strong cancer treatment drugs on the baby. Concerns primarily revolve around potential deformities and abnormalities in the fetus.
For young patients without children or planning delayed parenthood, doctors recommend fertility preservation before chemotherapy. Chemotherapy and radiation can damage eggs in the ovaries, risking permanent damage and birth defects if used after treatment.
Egg freezing offers a viable option, preserving fertility for up to 10 years and safeguarding against the effects of radiation or chemotherapy. Similarly, men near testicular radiation should consider sperm freezing for future use, ensuring reproductive options without delay.

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Suggestions For Patients Undergoing Treatment

Couples navigating cancer treatment while desiring children can opt for surrogacy if the uterus is damaged or removed.

Uterine cancer, common in women, often necessitates removal, with surrogacy offering a viable alternative. Today, surrogacy is commonplace, arranged through fertility clinics with no genetic link or legal claim to the baby, reassuring parents.

Despite cancer's challenges, fertility options exist, ensuring hope for high-risk pregnancy after cancer and cancer after pregnancy.

Other Concerns About Pregnancy After Cancer

Concerns about cancer recurrence and the hereditary risk of cancer in offspring prompt some healthcare providers to advise a 2-year wait before attempting pregnancy. Cancer treatments can affect fertility, making conception and carrying a pregnancy to term challenging.

It's advisable for both men and women considering parenthood to discuss potential infertility with their healthcare provider before treatment begins, exploring fertility preservation options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually, pregnancy after cancer treatment is safe for both the mother and baby. It does not seem to raise the risk of cancer coming back. Still, some women may be told to wait a number of years before trying to have a baby.

A pregnant woman with cancer has the same outlook as a woman with cancer who isn't pregnant. Typically, being pregnant while having cancer shouldn't affect your overall prognosis.

Chemotherapy can stop your ovaries from functioning. This causes infertility, which can be temporary or permanent. It can also lead to early menopause.

Chemotherapy can damage sperm forming cells in young boys and sperm in many men. Moreover, hormone therapy can also decrease the production of sperm.

Chemotherapy seems to be safe for the baby if given in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, but it isn't safe in the first trimester. Other breast cancer treatments, such as hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy, are more likely to harm the baby and are not usually given during pregnancy.

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International Patient Services

Pregnancy After Cancer: Can You Get Pregnant After Cancer?

Effects Of Cancer Treatments On Pregnancy

Pregnancy After Cancer Treatments

Suggestions For Patients Undergoing Treatment

Other Concerns About Pregnancy After Cancer

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I Have A Baby After Cancer?

2. Can Cancer Patients Get Pregnant?

3. Can Chemotherapy Make You Infertile?

4. Does Chemotherapy Kill Sperm?

5. Can Chemotherapy Harm A Fetus?

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