Helping a loved one through cancer, or even dealing with it yourself, can be difficult. Articles such as this one can help keep you informed, and give you ideas on how to enjoy life, even with a difficult condition.
If you have cancer, you should stop smoking. Many people who have cancer erroneously believe that there is no point in quitting smoking since they are ill already. This however, is not true, as the amount of carcinogens the body receives can be reduced if they stop smoking. A decrease in carcinogens means a better chance of recovery.
All women over 40 should be receiving at least one mammogram per year in order to catch breast cancer early. Breast cancer wreaks havoc on millions of women, and catching it early is undoubtedly the best way to fight this type of cancer to date. Start annual mammograms after you reach 40.
Campferol and quercetin are powerful antioxidants found in Brazil nuts known for suppressing the growth of cancer cells. You can also find these antioxidants in supplemental form, too.
Try to stay at a healthy weight. Being overweight and inactive can increase your chances of getting cancer. Excess weight has far reaching consequences and losing weight will do much more than lower your cancer risk. It will also lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and premature death.
Having to take large pills in frequent doses can be a huge annoyance and cause discomfort when fighting your cancer. Taking them with a food source like a milkshake, ice cream, or apple sauce is a great way to get them down smoothly without having to bust them up and potentially lose the effectiveness of the medicine.
You will not always feel like cooking as your strength begins to fade, so make sure you’re keeping healthy prepared meals in your fridge and freezer. While you have the strength to do it, prepare healthy food in advance. This way, you only have to microwave something for a few minutes when you need to eat.
For women to prevent against contracting certain types of cancer, it is important to avoid taking any type of menopausal hormonal treatments or therapy for extended periods. If you do need these types of hormone treatments, make sure you’re only receiving what you need. Do not make these hormones a way of life for you.
Make sure that you are up-to-date on your immunizations. Viral infections can have an impact on certain types of cancer so ask your doctor whether you have received all the necessary immunizations. In particular find out whether you have the Hepatitis B and HPV immunizations; these can help prevent liver cancer and cervical cancer.
Beware that acne is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Many people do not realize this and chalk their acne up to hormones. There are many over-the-counter acne treatments that are effective for you skin. If your acne is very bad, your doctor may be able to prescribe a stronger medication.
Before you begin chemotherapy treatment, it may be wise to shave your head. As many people know, chemotherapy makes your hair fall out. What people do not know is that it does not all come out at once; it comes out in bunches. Shaving your head will prevent you from having hair in some spots but not others.
Once diagnosed with cancer, except the fact that your life is going to change forever. Adopt the attitude that you are now a fighter. If you go into the treatment with a positive thought process, you are surly going to be able to fight it with higher spirits and see better results that if you were ready to give up.
Your body and mind are going to react to the many treatments that you are going to go through. You need to stay on top of how you are processing things in your mind so that if things are slipping, you can let your caregiver know as soon as possible.
If you have cancer, you need to avoid alcohol at all costs. The more alcohol you drink, the more you are at risk of developing certain cancers. Drinking too much alcohol specifically puts you at risk for mouth cancer and cancers of the throat and esophagus. If you are a drinker then you should try to limit yourself to a certain number of drinks or only drinking on special occasions.
Pay close attention to your temperature. You are extremely susceptible to infections 7-12 days after your chemo treatment. If you notice any signs of a fever, get to your doctor as quickly as possible. Be sure to wash your hands regularly and avoid contact with anyone who may be ill.
“Put yourself in their shoes!” When caring for someone who has been diagnosed with cancer it is important to be understand them! They will need time to adjust to the diagnosis and will go through a series of emotions. They will need you to be supporting and understanding at all times – no matter how they act emotionally!
On top of taking preventative measures against cancer, you should be getting frequent screenings. Go to your doctor for more information about which cancers you should be tested for. If an abnormality does appear in the screening results, you will have a better chance at treatment. The earlier you catch it, the more likely you are to beat it.
It is recommended that all girls that are between the ages of 11 and 25 get the HPV vaccine, even if the are not sexually active. This is so when they do decide to have sex, they are protected. Contracting the HPV increases the risk of a female getting cervical cancer.
No matter what, coping with cancer is tremendously challenging. As one of the leading causes of death in America, cancer instills fear in patients. As previously discussed, there is a vast amount of advice available to you including what is contained in this article to help you understand cancer.
