Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be one of the most frightening and stressful events that you experience in your life. While learning that you have cancer can be incredibly scary, the good news is that many types of cancers can be successfully treated. If you closely follow your doctor's treatment recommendations, there is a chance that your cancer will go into remission when the treatment is completed. While remission is the goal of cancer treatment, the downside is that the different treatments commonly used, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can have a number of negative side effects. If you're going to begin cancer treatment in the near future, use the following tips to cope with the side effects:
Eat and Drink Throughout the Day
One of the most common side effects associated with chemotherapy is nausea, which can make it very difficult for a patient to eat regular meals. If you're one of the people who experience nausea while undergoing chemotherapy, it can be very helpful to eat small meals several times a day, and consume as much water as possible. Frequent small meals and staying hydrated can help combat the nausea that you may feel. You may also want to speak to your doctor about the different medications available to help keep your nausea under control.
Protect Your Mouth
It is not uncommon for people undergoing cancer treatment, particularly chemotherapy, to develop sores inside their mouths over the course of treatment. These sores can be quite uncomfortable and, in some cases, they may be very painful. Being proactive can help protect your mouth and prevent the sores from forming. It is often recommended that patients undergoing cancer treatment swish a combination of water and baking soda in their mouth several times a day. Doing so can reduce the amount of dry mouth that you experience and increase saliva production, which can help keep mouth sores at bay.
Ask About Skin Ointment
Radiation therapy is known for killing cancer cells, but it can also be very hard on the body. Many people who undergo radiation to treat cancer notice skin problems, such as irritation, dry skin, and peeling. There is no reason that you have to deal with skin problems while going through a course of radiation. Talk to your doctor about the different types of skin ointments available, and apply your prescribed skin ointment in advance before each radiation appointment.
For more information, contact a company like Silver Cancer Institute today.
Share13 January 2019
Are you pregnant or planning to conceive? If so, it is time to begin learning about the medical professionals that will work with you through the nine months of pregnancy and through the labor and delivery. Many women are unaware of the important role that a midwife plays throughout a pregnancy. Knowing what a midwife does and how having a midwife can help you through what can be a difficult time will help you find one that you will feel comfortable with. My site is filled with information about pregnancy, labor and delivery and working with a midwife to help other soon-to-be mothers make the decisions that are best for their situations.