How To Stay Healthy During Cancer Treatment
Fortunately, cancer today is curable. The world of medicine has reached a point in time when there are reliable methods to treat different forms of this deadly disease. When you go through cancer treatment, you must stay healthy to support your immune system.
Since cancer treatment is a long process, you have to strictly follow your routine and eat consciously. It’s possible for cancer patients to stay healthy and active while taking medication and treatment. Additionally, there are now new and innovative treatments such as Insulin potentiation therapy (IPT) that work as an alternative to potentiate the effects of chemotherapy and other medications. With that being said, there are also other ways to stay healthy during cancer treatment which we are about to shed light on.
Practical tips to stay healthy during cancer treatment
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Eat Healthy
The first and foremost rule to beat cancer is eating healthy. A good diet not only plays an integral role in fighting the infections that may arise during the treatment but it can also deal with the side effects.
For those who might be wondering what to eat - the rule is to opt for an all-rounded diet based on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and meat. You have to make sure that your body has enough proteins, carbs and other nutrients to fight any problem that may arise at any given time.
If you are someone who may experience nausea, lack of appetite, or other eating problems, it is better to discuss this with your doctor right away.
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Remain Hydrated at All Times
The bitter truth about chemotherapy is that it can be extremely dehydrating. After all, your body is going to deal with a lot of heat to beat the germs. Hence, it is better to drink plenty of water before and after your chemo sessions to assist your body in processing chemotherapy drugs so that the excess could be flushed out of the system with ease.
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Take Part in Physical Activities
Unless it is very hard for you to do so, staying physically active during the cancer treatment can keep your body in shape, boost the immune system and also improve your mood.
Now we are not advising you to run in marathons or carry on with your intensive workouts, instead you can go on a small walk with a friend or ride your bike around the neighborhood. This little exercise that you would do daily will contribute a great deal to your quality of life and help prevent muscle loss that may occur due to the treatment.
Moreover, as exercise also builds stronger muscles you become less prone to falls and injuries.
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Take Care of Yourself
If your hair starts to fall out, it is time to buy a wig or a few stylish hats to keep your head warm. But before you do that, it is important to make sure that you ask your nurse navigator or oncology infusion center nurse for further information on resources for wigs or headwear.
Furthermore, you can minimize mouth sores by brushing, with a soft toothbrush, after every meal and if possible, also rinsing your mouth several times a day. However, just don’t use mouthwashes containing alcohol as these may be irritating. You can also soothe dry skin with body lotion and lip balm.
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Avoid Germs
The chemotherapy sessions are going to affect normal and abnormal cells. As a result, your immune system will weaken. To make sure that you don’t get affected by germs, you must avoid bacteria and viruses by washing hands frequently and try not to touch your face with them. Also, it is better to avoid crows and only consume well-washed fresh foods or fully cooked meats.
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Rest Properly
On days when you have to go through extensive treatment sessions, enjoy restful, relaxing activities to ensure that your body recovers well. Get proper seven to eight hours of sleep each night and try to maintain consistent sleep-wake times.
Being the world’s leading holistic cancer center, at VeritaLife we take care of our cancer patients unlike any other. With over 50 years of experience in the field, we use targeted, integrative treatments that harness the body’s own powerful healing mechanisms. Our treatment innovations based on certified scientific approaches make sure that beating cancer becomes easy for you.