Many forms of cancer are highly treatable, especially when detected early. For this reason, it is imperative that you do regular screening. This is extra important if you are in the most vulnerable age bracket of older people. According to the American Cancer Society, 80% of cancer cases involve people above 55 years.
Once diagnosed with cancer, you should start treatment immediately. Most treatments are not without side effects, though. Some of the most common side effects include hair loss, neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting. With the right care and maintenance, you can minimize many of these side effects.
Below are some top tips to help you minimize cancer treatment side effects.
Eat Small Frequent Meals
Nausea and vomiting can prevent you from maintaining proper nutrition. Remember, a good diet is one of the keys to fighting cancer. Eat frequent, balanced meals and take drinks in small quantities.
Generally, sugary or fatty foods can make a patient undergoing cancer treatment vomit or feel nauseous. Therefore, you should limit these types of food as much as possible. The best cancer specialist will help you devise a meal plan best prevents these symptoms.
Additionally, a bad taste in your mouth can cause nausea and a lack of appetite. Rinse your mouth to get rid of bad tastes from medicines. Rinsing your mouth with water also alleviates dry mouth which is a side effect of chemotherapy.
Try Natural Medicine
There is a myriad of natural remedies that can help you manage your cancer treatment side effects. For instance, ginger can help reduce nausea and stimulate appetite, while garlic can boost immunity.
Natural stimulants like guarana help to reduce fatigue resulting from chemo treatment. This has been studied and examined in breast cancer patients. However, you should consult the best cancer specialist to help choose the right natural remedies for your treatment plan.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves using heat, needles, and pressure on the skin to address and treat a variety of ailments. Acupuncture can help alleviate aches and pain and improve energy flow in your body. These traditional Chinese treatments also help manage the side effects of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Specifically, it manages pain, anxiety, and fatigue.
While cancer treatment has side effects, there are myriad ways of managing and reducing them. However, some methods can deteriorate your condition. The best cancer specialist can help you choose a method that is not only safe but will boost your healing process. Palo Verde Cancer Specialists is staffed by a team of highly-trained and compassionate medical professionals. Give us a call today to learn how we can help you on your healing journey.
