Most cancers are not inherited. Only around 5 to 10 percent of all cancers run in families through a specific gene mutation passed from parent to child. The rest are caused by random cell damage, ageing, or environment, not anything you did or carried. Even when a hereditary gene is in the family, it raises risk, it doesn’t promise the cancer. Genetic testing tells you exactly where you stand.

According to Prof. Dr. Sandeep Nayak, Surgical Oncologist in India, “The guilt I see in parents after their diagnosis is often heavier than the actual genetic risk. Most cancers aren’t inherited at all, and even the ones that can be passed on are about raised risk, not certainty, which changes the whole conversation.”

The short answer is no, and the genetics behind it are more reassuring than they sound.

• Most random: Around 90 to 95 percent of cancers happen from random cell damage and ageing. They aren’t passed down to children at all.
• Few hereditary: Only 5 to 10 percent of cancers come from inherited gene changes like BRCA1, BRCA2 or Lynch syndrome.
• Risk not certainty: Even carrying a cancer gene raises risk, it doesn’t guarantee cancer. Many carriers live full lives without ever developing it.
• Family pattern matters: A real hereditary risk shows itself across generations, multiple young diagnoses on the same side, not one cancer in one parent.

So the odds of “passing it on” are far smaller than the fear suggests. For patients whose treatment includes surgery, robotic cancer surgery is one part of a treatment plan with family history considered alongside.

A few practical steps give clear answers and real peace of mind.

• Genetic counselling: A genetic counsellor reviews your family history first to judge whether testing is even worthwhile, before any blood test is taken.
• Genetic testing: If a pattern fits, testing can identify the specific gene change. Children can then be tested too, but usually as adults.
• Earlier screening: If a hereditary gene is found, children get screening earlier than the general population, which catches problems decades before symptoms.
• Healthy basics: No diet stops a gene, but a healthy weight, no smoking and routine check-ups still lower risk for everyone in the family.

So the right plan turns worry into action. And whatever the genetics, knowing what’s normal versus what to check, like a painless lump, is part of the everyday reassurance every family should have.

Dr. Sandeep Nayak brings 24 years of surgical oncology experience, DNB qualifications in Surgical Oncology and General Surgery and a fellowship in Laparoscopic and Robotic Onco-Surgery to the care of patients and their families. He approaches hereditary concerns honestly, not as alarm, helping patients understand what their cancer actually means for the people they love.

That clarity is what separates real risk from the guilt many parents carry needlessly. Every case at MACS Clinic goes through a full tumour board, where family history and genetics are part of the plan from day one. Call +91 8104310753 to book your consultation.

References:

1. National Cancer Institute — Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes. https://www.cancer.gov/
2. World Health Organisation — Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer

Chemotherapy can affect fertility in both men and women, but the impact varies enormously by drug, dose, age and how long treatment runs. Some patients recover fertility within a year or two of finishing chemo. Others find it permanently reduced or lost. The single best protection is fertility preservation, freezing eggs, sperm or embryos, done before treatment starts. That’s the conversation worth having early, not after.

According to Prof. Dr. Sandeep Nayak, Surgical Oncologist in India, “Fertility is one of the silent costs of chemo I want every younger patient told about up front. The drugs that cure cancer don’t always spare the ovaries or testes, and the only honest answer is to plan for preservation before the first dose.”

The effect isn’t one thing. It depends on what drug hits which cells, and when.

• Drug type: Some chemo classes, like alkylating agents, are far harder on the ovaries and testes than others. The drug list shapes the risk more than anything else.
• Your age: Younger ovaries and testes recover better. The closer to natural menopause, or with lower baseline sperm production, the bigger the lasting effect.
• Dose total: Higher cumulative doses across cycles cause more damage. A short, light regimen is far less risky than a long, intense one.
• Other treatment: Radiation to the pelvis or hormone therapy added to chemo can multiply the effect, sometimes more than the chemo itself.

So the picture varies by case, never one-size-fits-all. For patients whose plan also involves surgery, robotic cancer surgery is one part of a treatment plan with fertility considered throughout.

A few clear steps, taken in the right order, make a real difference.

• Ask early: Raise fertility at the very first oncology appointment, not after treatment is planned. The earlier the question, the wider the options stay.
• Freeze eggs: Egg, embryo or sperm freezing before chemo is the most reliable protection, and even an urgent treatment can usually fit it in.
• See fertility: A fertility specialist alongside your oncologist gives the best joint plan, since neither specialty alone covers the full picture properly.
• Check markers: Hormone-receptor and tumour-marker results shape whether long hormone therapy is added later, which has its own fertility impact.

So protection is about timing as much as technique. Understanding markers like hormone status from your IHC test helps you see why the full plan matters, not just the chemo.

Dr. Sandeep Nayak brings 24 years of surgical oncology experience, DNB qualifications in Surgical Oncology and General Surgery and a fellowship in Laparoscopic and Robotic Onco-Surgery to the care of patients through every stage of treatment. He raises fertility with every younger patient before chemo begins, because the right conversations at the right time genuinely shape what’s possible afterward.

That forward planning is what keeps the door to a family open, even through aggressive treatment. Every case at MACS Clinic goes through a full tumour board, where the long-term plan is set together. Call +91 8104310753 to book your consultation.

References:

1. National Cancer Institute — Fertility Issues in Cancer Treatment. https://www.cancer.gov/
2. World Health Organisation — Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer

Yes, fever during chemo is always treated as a medical emergency, never something to wait out at home. Chemotherapy lowers your white blood cells, so your immune system is weakened and even a mild infection can become life-threatening within hours. A temperature of 38°C or 100.4°F, or above, means contacting your team or going to hospital straight away. The rule is simple: when in doubt, act, don’t wait.

According to Prof. Dr. Sandeep Nayak, Surgical Oncologist in India, “I tell every chemo patient the same thing: a fever isn’t a normal side effect, it’s an emergency, because by the time it looks bad we may have already lost the safe window to treat it.”

The reasons aren’t about the fever itself but what’s behind it. These are the ones that make it urgent.

• Chemo weakens immunity: Treatment lowers your white blood cells, the body’s main defence against infection, so the usual ability to fight bugs off is severely reduced.
• Infection spreads fast: With low immunity, an infection that would normally cause mild symptoms can become serious within hours, not days, which is why timing matters so much.
• The signs can be subtle: With fewer immune cells, the body can’t mount a strong response, so a fever may be the only warning that something serious is brewing.
• Early treatment saves lives: Prompt antibiotics in hospital, within the first hours, are what turn a dangerous infection back into a treatable one.

So fever during chemo is the alarm, not the illness. For patients whose wider care involves surgery, robotic cancer surgery is one part of a treatment plan with clear safety guidance throughout.

The right steps are simple and matter most when followed straight away. These are them.

• Check your temperature: A reading of 38°C or 100.4°F, or above, is the threshold that needs action, even if you otherwise feel well.
• Contact your team immediately: Call your oncology team or go straight to hospital, don’t wait for morning, weekday hours or to “see how it goes” overnight.
• Don’t self-medicate: Avoid taking paracetamol or other fever-reducers first, since they hide the fever and delay the urgent care your team needs to give.
• Carry your chemo card: Hospital teams need to know you’re on chemotherapy immediately, so any card or letter from your team helps them act fast.

So acting fast is what protects you. Understanding why your blood report matters helps make sense of how chemo affects your defences.

Dr. Sandeep Nayak brings 24 years of surgical oncology experience, DNB qualifications in Surgical Oncology and General Surgery and a fellowship in Laparoscopic and Robotic Onco-Surgery to the care of patients through every stage of treatment. His team makes sure every chemotherapy patient knows the fever rule before they leave the clinic, so emergencies are caught early, not late.

That clear safety guidance is what protects patients during their most vulnerable weeks. Every case at MACS Clinic goes through a full tumour board, where the treatment and supportive-care plan is set together. Call +91 8104310753 to book your consultation.

References

1. National Cancer Institute — Infection and Neutropenia During Cancer Treatment. https://www.cancer.gov/
2. World Health Organisation — Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer 

Some complementary therapies can sit safely alongside cancer treatment, but they should never replace it. Things like yoga, meditation or dietary support can ease stress, fatigue and nausea, yet herbs and supplements sometimes interfere with chemotherapy and may do real harm. The safe rule is simple: use these therapies to support proven treatment, not instead of it, and tell your oncologist about everything you take.

According to Prof. Dr. Sandeep Nayak, Surgical Oncologist in India, “I’ve no problem with patients using yoga or meditation alongside treatment, but I’m firm that nothing replaces proven therapy, and I need to know every herb or supplement, because some genuinely interfere with chemo.”

The line between helpful and harmful is clearer than most people think. Here’s how it divides.

• Supportive therapies help: Yoga, meditation and gentle exercise can genuinely ease stress, fatigue and nausea, and they sit safely alongside your medical treatment.
• Herbs and supplements need care: Some herbal products and high-dose supplements interfere with chemotherapy or affect the liver, so none should be taken without your oncologist’s knowledge.
• Replacing treatment is dangerous: Using alternative medicine instead of proven therapy is where real harm happens, as it lets a treatable cancer grow unchecked.
• Diet supports, doesn’t cure: A healthy diet helps you cope with treatment, but no food or juice regime cures cancer on its own, whatever the claims.

So the rule is support, never replace. Before changing anything in your plan, confirming it with a second opinion keeps you safe.

Used the right way, these therapies add real comfort without risk. These are the steps that keep it safe.

• Tell your oncologist: Share everything you take or plan to try, since only your doctor can spot a supplement that clashes with your treatment.
• Use it alongside, not instead: Treat these therapies as a complement to your medical plan, never as a substitute for the treatment that actually fights the cancer.
• Be wary of bold claims: Any product promising to cure cancer or replace chemo is a warning sign, not a genuine option worth your trust.
• Focus on proven comfort: Stick to therapies with real evidence for easing symptoms, like meditation for stress or exercise for fatigue, rather than untested remedies.

So safe use comes down to honesty and balance. For patients whose treatment includes surgery, robotic cancer surgery remains the proven, evidence-based core of care.

Dr. Sandeep Nayak brings 24 years of surgical oncology experience, DNB qualifications in Surgical Oncology and General Surgery and a fellowship in Laparoscopic and Robotic Onco-Surgery to the care of patients across all cancer types. He’s open to genuinely supportive therapies and honest about which ones carry risk, so patients get comfort without compromising their treatment.

That balanced, honest guidance is what keeps patients safe and supported. Every case at MACS Clinic goes through a full tumour board, where the complete plan is agreed together. Call +91 8104310753 to book your consultation.

References

1. National Cancer Institute — Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://www.cancer.gov/
2. World Health Organisation — Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer

Feeling cold during chemo is usually down to anaemia. Chemotherapy lowers your red blood cells, and with fewer of them carrying oxygen and warmth around the body, you feel cold even when everyone else is comfortable. Weight loss, a slower metabolism and the body pouring its energy into recovery all add to it. It’s a common, manageable side effect, but worth flagging to your team so they can check your blood counts.

According to Prof. Dr. Sandeep Nayak, Surgical Oncologist in India, “When patients tell me they’re cold all the time on chemo, the first thing I think of is their haemoglobin, because anaemia is usually the real reason, and it’s something we can actually measure and treat.”

The cold feeling traces back to a few real, physical things chemo does to the body. Here’s what’s behind it.

• Anaemia from chemo: Chemo knocks down your red blood cells, and since those cells carry oxygen and warmth around, having fewer of them leaves you feeling cold for no obvious reason.
• A slower metabolism: Treatment and weight loss tend to slow the body’s engine down, and a slower engine simply puts out less of the steady inner heat you’d normally barely notice.
• Energy going to healing: Your body pours its reserves into getting through treatment, so there’s often less left over for the everyday job of keeping you warm.
• Eating less, weighing less: Smaller appetite and dropping weight strip away the fat and fuel that usually insulate you, so the cold gets in far more easily.

So the cold is the body reacting to chemo, not something strange or rare. Since anaemia is so often behind it, getting to grips with your blood report makes sense of why it keeps happening.

Staying comfortable usually comes down to a handful of small habits, not anything drastic. These are the ones worth trying.

• Layer up: A few thin layers hold warmth far better than one thick jumper, and they let you add or peel off easily as your body shifts through the day.
• Keep gently moving: Even a short, slow walk gets the blood flowing and warms you from the inside, which sitting wrapped in a blanket never quite manages on its own.
• Warm food and drinks: Regular hot meals and drinks lift your core temperature from within, and they nudge your appetite and energy back up at the same time.
• Tell your team: Mention it at your next visit, because a quick check of your blood counts may turn up treatable anaemia sitting quietly behind the whole thing.

So staying warm is mostly small, practical moves. For patients whose wider care involves surgery, robotic cancer surgery is one part of a treatment plan built around comfort and recovery.

Dr. Sandeep Nayak brings 24 years of surgical oncology experience, DNB qualifications in Surgical Oncology and General Surgery and a fellowship in Laparoscopic and Robotic Onco-Surgery to the care of patients through every stage of treatment. He treats side effects like feeling cold as real signals worth checking, often a sign of anaemia, rather than something patients should simply put up with.

That attentiveness is what keeps treatment as comfortable as it can be. Every case at MACS Clinic goes through a full tumour board, where the whole treatment and supportive-care plan is set together. Call +91 8104310753 to book your consultation.

References:

1. National Cancer Institute — Chemotherapy Side Effects. https://www.cancer.gov/
2. World Health Organisation — Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer