If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you are not alone. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the United States recorded about 1,806,590 new cancer cases in 2020. A cancer diagnosis typically brings a lot of fear and anxiety, and cancer treatment can be daunting. Take a deep breath. There are ways to manage and minimize anxiety. Here are some tips to help you manage anxiety during your cancer treatment.

Talk to Your Doctor or a Counselor

Open communication with your doctor and healthcare team is crucial. Be sure to voice any concerns you have and let them know if you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Cancer centers have experienced staff, doctors, and counselors who can help you understand your diagnosis and provide you with emotional support to help you through your treatment. They can also help you develop a plan to manage your anxiety.

Join a Support Group

Joining a support group can be incredibly helpful when going through cancer treatment.
Connecting with others facing similar challenges can help you feel less lonely as you get valuable support and information. Cancer centers often have support groups available, or you can look for one online or in your community.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that can effectively treat anxiety. Research has shown that CBT can be helpful for people undergoing cancer treatment. One study found that CBT reduced anxiety and improved the quality of life in a group of breast cancer patients. If you are undergoing cancer treatment, CBT can help you manage anxiety by teaching you how to:

• Determine and challenge negative thought patterns and behaviors
• Cope with anxiety-provoking situations
• Manage stress and relax
• Make healthy lifestyle choices

It is a highly effective treatment that can significantly impact your quality of life.

Use Relaxation Techniques

Many relaxation techniques can help ease anxiety during cancer treatment, including yoga, deep breathing, and meditation. Find what suits you and schedule time for it every day. Many cancer centers offer classes focusing on relaxation techniques. These classes can be a great way to learn more about relaxation techniques and meet other people who are going through similar experiences.

If you are struggling to cope, do not hesitate to reach out to our staff at Palo Verde Cancer Specialists. They can help you develop a plan to manage your anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. The right support is critical during this time, and we are here to help.

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.

Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive components. When used in small amounts, a patient’s body receives small amounts of radiation considered safe. Sometimes large amounts of these components are administered to treat an ailment. In that case, patients will react differently. Read on to learn more about radiopharmaceutical therapy.

Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Facilitates Medical Diagnoses

According to Breastcancer.org, nearly one out of eight women, approximately 13%, in the US are likely to develop breast cancer at some point. Early diagnosing of the disease can help save lives and alleviate suffering.

Radiopharmaceuticals are administered via a body organ. The best cancer specialist‘s organ depends on the radiopharmaceutical used and how it is administered. The radioactivity enters the body organ, and a specially designed imaging unit produces images.

The best cancer specialist uses the images to establish the organ’s performance and find any tumors or cancer that could be present. Sometimes a cancer expert will administer large amounts of radiopharmaceuticals to treat specific forms of cancers or other diseases. In that case, the radioactive agent is directed to the cancerous area to eradicate the affected tissue.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a commonly used method of cancer care. According to the National Cancer Institute, the best cancer specialists prescribe radiation to more than half of all cancer patients, sometimes during their treatments. In recent years, oncologists have expressed more interest in radiopharmaceuticals.

Radiopharmaceutical therapy is based on the progress in immunotherapy and targeted therapy medicine sectors. These forms of therapy are made to mount to certain receptors on nonmalignant or cancer cells near a cancerous growth or tumor. In targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies help destroy cancer cells and stop a tumor from spreading or growing. On the other hand, the connections in immunotherapy stimulate the body’s immune system to battle cancer.

In targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy, specific drugs or a monoclonal antibody bears a radioactive isotope that eliminates both healthy and cancer cells in its surroundings. The targeted approach is different from the more conventional EBRT (external beam radiation therapy), where radiation comes from outside the human body.

Radiopharmaceuticals can highly reduce the magnitude of damage to healthy cells. However, there will still be some percentage of risk on other body parts. That is because the radioactive drug penetrates the bloodstream before being expelled into the urine.

Radiopharmaceuticals should be administered only by the best cancer specialist and under the supervision of an expert with a technical understanding of nuclear medicine. If you are looking for the best cancer specialist, contact us to schedule an appointment.

Physical activity and good nutrition are essential for cancer patients. These cancer treatment suggestions can help you live a better life, lessen your risk of cancer recurrence, and help you cope with the effects of cancer treatments. According to the National Cancer Institute, the number of new cancer cases per 100,000 men and women per year is 442.4. You can get more in-depth information in a cancer center, but here are a few exercise and dietary guidelines that may be helpful.

Foods You Should add to Your Diet During Cancer Treatment

Plant-Based Proteins

Plant-based proteins are among the finest meals to consume while receiving chemotherapy or other cancer treatments. They provide the highest concentrations of minerals and vitamins. Consuming a lot of veggies, along with beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds, is necessary.

Healthy Fats

Additionally beneficial to health are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in avocados, olive oil, grapeseed oil, and walnuts and help reduce inflammation and enhance cardiovascular health.

Healthy Carbs

When choosing carbohydrates, choose whole grains, bran, and oats that have undergone little processing. These contain soluble fiber, which supports the maintenance of healthy gut bacteria. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which aid in everything from metabolism to cellular repair, are also encouraged by soluble fiber.

Minerals and Vitamins

Our bodies’ enzymatic functions, crucial for enhancing immune function and lowering inflammation, are assisted by vitamins and minerals. Choose foods that have been vitamin D-fortified wherever you can. Milk, orange juice, yogurt, and cereal may be among them.

Exercises During Cancer Treatment

Before beginning any workout regimen, always consult your doctor at the cancer center. While some individuals can safely start or maintain a low-to-moderate fitness routine on their own, others may require expert assistance from a physical therapist. You can learn what you can and cannot do from your oncologist or hematologist. Fitness programs are not universal because every patient is unique. The workout regimen for each patient should be based on what is secure for them and what they can handle. Regular exercise can be beneficial for cancer patients in a variety of ways, including:

• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Keeping or enhancing your physical capabilities.
• Enhancing balance.
• Reducing the likelihood of osteoporosis.
• Preserving muscular strength.
• Reducing fatigue.
• Reducing nausea.
• Enhancing blood flow and lowering the danger of blood clots.

An essential component of a cancer treatment regimen is exercise. Numerous studies indicate that regular exercise can significantly enhance physical and mental health during all stages of treatment. Additionally, eating a balanced diet and always visiting your nearest cancer center for physical and psychological therapy during treatment might help you feel better and maintain your strength.

For more information, contact Palo Verde Cancer Specialists today.

According to the NCI, an estimated 1.8 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in the United States in 2020. Each day many people are diagnosed with cancer, and if you have recently received this diagnosis, the biggest decision you’ll have to make is choosing an oncologist. To ensure that you end up with the best cancer specialist, be on the lookout for the following things.

Recommendations From Your Physician, Family, and Friends

You should start by asking your primary care doctor if they can refer cancer specialists that provide the treatment you need. Family and friends can also chip in with their referrals, so it never hurts to ask. Generally, your physician is a good source of recommendations, though you can always find recommendations from reputable sites online. Overall, it helps to set up appointments with different doctors and later compare treatment options to determine what best suits your needs.

Correct Credentials and Expertise

You should never hesitate to ask a cancer specialist about their credentials and expertise. Find out if they’re board-certified in the area they specialize in. You should also check if the cancer specialist will be working with a team to come up with the best treatment plan for you. The quality of the treatment center where the cancer specialist works matters. In some instances, your treatment plan might involve several cancer specialists that could include oncologists, oncologist nurses, and surgeons. It’s also important to evaluate the overall quality of the treatment center. It’s best to check that all the experts and specialists that will be treating you have the right credentials and the required expertise.

High Level of Experience

When you’re looking for the best cancer specialist, you can’t afford to overlook experience. You’ll have more peace of mind knowing that you’ve chosen an oncologist that has treated many patients with the same type of cancer. You should also inquire about the number of patients that the cancer specialist treats every year. Choosing a cancer specialist that’s highly experienced will also help you feel more in control of the situation.

To find the best cancer specialist for your needs, it’s essential to do your own research and also seek the help of your primary care doctor and loved ones. If you would like to speak with a cancer specialist, please contact us today.

According to the National Cancer Institute, new cases of lung and bronchial cancer have a rate of 53.1 per 100,000 men and women each year. If you’re among the people who have been diagnosed with cancer, you may feel helpless. But there’s one thing you can do to take control and increase the odds of a positive outcome, and that’s to find the best oncologist for your needs. Read on to find the best tips for doing so.

Make Sure They Have the Right Credentials

Credentials are everything when you’re seeking a healthcare professional to treat you. There are several questions you have to ask as you research the oncologist’s credentials. Are they board-certified? Which medical school did they attend? At which hospital did they receive their training? Do they have any cases of malpractice, or have they faced any disciplinary action in the past? Fortunately, this information is generally readily available and will help you make an informed decision.

Investigate Their Track Record

The oncologist will have a good track record that speaks for itself. Usually, when you start by creating a referral list, you’re on the right path because your doctor or loved ones are more likely to only recommend the best professionals they know. A good track record is also evident in the level of experience the oncologist has. Find an oncologist who has considerable experience with the specific cancer treatment you require.

Make Sure You Feel Comfortable with the Oncologist

During your appointments with your oncologist, you’ll be required to share personal information, so it’s important to find someone you’re comfortable with. For instance, much like counseling or therapy, it is best to consider whether you are comfortable with a male or female doctor. When it comes to whether you feel comfortable with your oncologist, you should also evaluate their communication style. Ideally, the oncologist should be clear and candid, and they should be highly responsive. Find an oncologist who provides you with all the information you need and who makes an effort to understand your treatment preferences and respects your choices.

These are the top factors to consider in a bid to find the best oncologist. As a bonus tip, make sure that you find an in-network oncologist so that your insurance can cover some of the treatment costs. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you want to speak with a qualified and reputable oncologist today.

Abdominal cancer, often known as gastric cancer, is a common malignancy. According to the National Cancer Institute, 16,850 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 were diagnosed with cancer in 2020. The American Cancer Society reports that 1.9 million new cases are expected to occur in the US in 2022. The good news is that abdominal cancer can be treated, symptoms alleviated, and the quality of life enhanced.

Symptoms

The early symptoms of stomach cancer are difficult to detect and might be mistaken for other, less severe illnesses. The main symptoms are persistent indigestion and heartburn, frequent burping after meals, feeling full or bloated, and persistent stomach pain. There are more advanced symptoms of stomach cancer such as blood in your stools, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

The early signs of stomach cancer are similar to various other ailments. Usually, cancer has progressed by the time symptoms are pronounced. As a result, it’s critical to have any probable stomach cancer symptoms investigated by your doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment Options

The various methods of treating stomach cancer include surgery, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The most common types of stomach cancer therapy are described in the following section.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation treatment involves killing cancer cells using high-energy x-rays. A radiation therapy regimen, often known as a schedule, comprises a defined number of treatments administered over a set amount of time. External-beam radiation treatment, or radiation delivered from a machine outside the body, is commonly used to treat stomach cancer. Radiation therapy can be used to shrink the tumor before surgery or eliminate cancer cells after surgery.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, also known as biologic therapy, is a cancer treatment that boosts the body’s natural defenses. It improves, targets, and restores immune system function by using materials created by the body or in a laboratory.

Radiopharmaceutical Therapy

Radiopharmaceuticals have an efficacy outcome with minimal toxicity compared to all other systemic cancer treatment methods. In contrast to external radiotherapy, the radiopharmaceutical therapy application presents a new tumor-targeting agent.

RPT has several advantages. For starters, it is directed towards the tumor, including metastatic sites. Second, radionuclides with a high linear energy transfer (LET) effectively destroy radioresistant hypoxic cells. Finally, the whole-body absorbed dose is relatively low.

Abdominal cancer can be treated with a variety of treatments. Your doctor will determine how long you’ve had the disease and how far it’s progressed throughout your body (cancer stage). Remember stomach cancer is curable when detected early enough. Please get in touch with seasoned Gastroenterologists and book an appointment for cancer screening.