Hearing a cancer diagnosis is a life-altering and emotional time. A million thoughts race through your mind about treatments, life, death, your family, your friends, your job, and more. Although nothing can completely eliminate the stress of dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment, the tips given in this article will help to ease the process.
Maintain a healthy weight and diet and get plenty of exercise. Not only can it help you feel great everyday, but it can lower cancer risks too. A healthy lifestyle which includes adequate water, fresh vegetables and fruits and 30 minutes per day of healthy exercise will not only help protect you from cancer, but it will help you live your best life.
Dealing with cancer can be hard for both the patient and their family. You should be checking in with your doctor regularly, as new ways to treat and even cure cancers are always being developed.
The moment you receive a cancer diagnosis, you have to stop smoking immediately. Many people who have cancer erroneously believe that there is no point in quitting smoking since they are ill already. Continuing to smoke still delivers carcinogens to your already weakened body and works against treatments.
In the battle against cancer exercise matters. Working out improves blood flow throughout your overall body. Increased blood flow throughout your body helps chemotherapy and other cancer treatments circulate better and attack more cancer cells.
Make sure that you are fully prepared for any of the physical side effects associated with cancer treatments. Your physician will usually warn you about any side effects from the drugs or treatments you are due to receive. For example, you may be able to make advance preparations such as buying a suitable wig for hair loss or changing your cosmetics to accommodate increased paleness.
When you are diagnosed with cancer, quitting smoking should be high on your agenda. One of the worst things you can do after being diagnosed with cancer is to continue smoking or using tobacco products. There is no sound basis for assuming that continuing this unhealthy habit is justified by illness. Cigarettes can cause further damage to your body because they contain cancer causing agents, which diminish your body’s ability to recover.
If you want to prevent colon cancer, start moving. Exercise and physical activity seriously reduce the probability of getting this type of cancer. People who don’t exercise are approximately 60 percent more likely to get colon cancer than people who do. If you exercise on a regular basis, your body is healthier and more likely to fight off any disease. In addition, obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and other diseases which weaken the body, and make it more prone to cancer. Try to stay active.
When dealing with cancer, there may be times when it is necessary to advocate for yourself. Many people still hold outdated opinions on cancer and may question your ability to do your job or think that they can “catch” something from you. Be ready to answer those questions by thinking about how to do so in advance. This can help you with your treatment.
You should attend any appointments with your loved ones if they have cancer. An extra person can ask questions that the patient might be too confused or angry to ask, and it can also make things go more smoothly in general.
Give your personal attention and ear to anyone you know that is diagnosed with cancer. It can be quite difficult at times, but they need a chance to express their frustrations and feelings in a safe and loving environment. Try to listen without interjecting your ideas or opinions. Let your loved one have this time to simply release some of the difficult thoughts and sentiments he or she is struggling to deal with at this challenging time.
Lots of people understand that fish, such as salmon, is extremely healthy for their bodies. However, did you realize the omega-3 fats and small amounts of mercury that are present in salmon can help prevent cancer? Try to eat wild salmon at least twice weekly to keep the cancer producing cells at bay.
Depression can affect your physical health and weaken your immune system, allowing the cancer cells to multiply at an increased rate. They might just give in.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you are going to have to learn how to accept some cold, hard facts now, so you don’t have to learn about them the hard way down the road. Be prepared now so you can fight later.
Don’t let the thought of some mild discomfort discourage you if you need to be screened for breast cancer. The duration of this procedure is only several minutes long. Early detection can be the difference between life and death or keeping your breasts and losing them, so a little pressure is well worth it.
Communication is the key! If you feel that there is a lack of communication among your close friends and relatives, talk to them about it in a nice way. Have a talk with them and let them know just how you are feeling and what they can do to help. Caution is needed, though! This time is difficult. The basis should always be love. Be decisive!
Wild Salmon
Fire any doctor who won’t give you a timely answer to your cancer questions. When you have questions, you should be able to ask your doctor about them. You should always be able to speak to someone about your concerns.
Many people are aware of the fact that wild salmon is extremely good for them. Salmon also has a low mercury content and is packed full of omega-3 fatty acids which can help to prevent some cancers. You can do your part to prevent cancer by including wild salmon into your diet a few times per week.
Make sure you seal any play sets or decks purchased before 2005. Play sets that were made of wood before 2005 had a pesticide that contained arsenic. If you put a wood sealer on it you will prevent the chance your child will come in contact with the arsenic and develop cancer.
A diagnosis of cancer can mean that you need to accept certain facts. Strengthening your resolve now will help you in your battles later.
Know what the causes of cancer are, and learn how to know when you are at risk. If you are able to identify when you could be at risk, you can read these signs and symptoms much better.
Cut coffee altogether if you are experiencing stomach trouble due to your cancer drugs. Caffeine can cause discomfort and stomach problems in cancer patients, so maybe it’s time to switch to decaf. Caffeine is also present in chocolate and some soft drinks, so avoid them also.
If your cancer medication and treatment is upsetting your stomach, eliminate coffee from your diet. These kinds of problems are made worse by the caffeine found in coffee, so it is a good idea to avoid the beverage altogether. Try to avoid chocolate, soft drinks and other products that contain caffeine too.
Preventing cancer is the surest means of defeating it. Use sunscreen, cover your skin, don’t smoke, don’t chew tobacco and stay away from toxic chemicals to reduce your risk of developing certain forms of cancer.
If you are suffering from cancer, you should join one of the many cancer support groups available. At a support group, you’ll have the chance to talk to others about the ways they deal with their cancer. You can also take your family members here too.
Make sure you remember to have some fun. A diagnosis of cancer doesn’t have to overhaul your life. Be certain to keep doing all the activities that you have a passion for, from reading, to movies or going to sports games. It may require a little more planning to make sure you don’t over exert yourself, but don’t stop experiencing life.
Before you spend time under the sun, it’s a good idea to cover your skin with either sunscreen or clothing in order to minimize your skin cancer risks. The sun’s UV radiation is extremely detrimental to the skin, and some types of skin cancer, such as certain melanomas, can quickly become fatal without timely treatment. Wear a sunscreen with at least SPF 30, especially if your skin is fair.
Life should not stop when you are diagnosed with cancer. You should continue engaging in your favorite activities for as long as you’re physically able to. If something is enjoyable to you, you should not let sickness stop you from doing it. If an activity makes you happy, doing it for as long as possible will help you maintain a positive attitude.
Ask questions about what types of physical changes you should expect as your treatment progresses. Being prepared for what’s to happen can help you deal with the changes better. For example, many chemo patients lose their hair. If this is going to be an issue for you, you can educate yourself about wigs or other ways of improving your appearance once you begin treatment. Talking with other chemo patients can sometimes help you relieve anxiety and make plans to deal with physical changes.
Complementary therapies are available to help you through treatments, as well as after. Yoga, massage, acupuncture and aromatherapy can all be helpful in limiting your stress. These types of therapies can help lower your stress while you battle cancer, which will increase your overall health.
Take time to have fun. Just because you have cancer doesn’t mean it has to change your life. Continue to do things you love to do, whether it’s reading, watching movies or going to sporting events. You want to keep living your life, even if that means you have to do some extra planning in order to enjoy it.
Healthy Lifestyle
Tell your loved ones who are diagnosed with cancer how much you love them. Expressing your love and support in many ways is wonderful, but sometimes it is those three words that mean the most. This can help you make sure it all fits right.
A good way to cope with a diagnosis of cancer is to keep living a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of rest and exercising regularly. Staying healthy is the best way to help your body to fight the cancer, and once you beat it you will be better prepared to bounce back.
Bring televisions and other entertainment devices into your bedroom once you’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Although you may have banned the TV from your bedroom previously, it may be time to reconsider. While you receive your treatment, your bedroom may be your greatest retreat for a while. This may provide some distraction during your recovery, and make the time pass more quickly.
Have a meal three times a day. Although you may not feel like eating after your treatments, it is important to make sure you fuel your body with nutritious foods to let your medications work properly. If you have difficulty with nausea or vomiting, concentrate on eating starchy foods, like potatoes or macaroni. Eating fruits and vegetables might help too.
Stay away from anything risky. There are many infectious diseases that weaken the immune system and leave the door open for potential cancers. Avoid sharing needles and use protection in your intimate relationships.
Let your body have the gift of a good night’s rest. Sleep will help your body recover from the medicines and treatments that it is going through. Try to get seven to eight hours of sleep every night, along with a short nap throughout the day to let your body fully recharge.
Try to keep a normal lifestyle for as long as you can. Do things one at a time, and make sure you are willing to make changes. Attempting to control your future just stresses you out, so don’t plan too far ahead. You should live for today as much as you can.
There are a lot of things you could try to reduce your stress, prevent cancer or slow down its progression. While there is no instant cure for cancer yet, there are many tips that can help you to deal with the situation. If you use the above advice and fight the good fight, you can get that cancer into remission.
Protect yourself and your skin from skin cancer! The sun can damage your skin even on the cloudiest day.