Cancer can be one of the most frightening of medical diagnoses. Treatments are tough and their effectiveness is far from guaranteed. Worst of all, the fight against cancer is always a long, drawn-out battle. Cancer treatment is a long journey. This article shares some suggestions for staying on the journey and ameliorating the potential stresses waiting along the way.
You can significantly reduce your risk of cancer with a healthy diet full of antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage that can lead to cancerous changes. Eat a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, broccoli and blueberries as well as hundreds of other antioxidant-rich foods.
Many, many people have gone through cancer, even as survivors themselves or through someone they love. So you can find plenty of moral support via live groups, online chat rooms and forums, and other areas. You can even start a group and speak with people who are going through the same thing you are.
Don’t be afraid if you have to have a screening for breast cancer. Just remember, it is only temporary, it will be over very quickly. What could happen is that you can find breast cancer in it’s early stages, which in turn can eradicate if for good which can allow you to live a more comfortable life later on.
Understand that individuals who are battling cancer will need some time to themselves. Respect their wishes and do not force your presence on them if they need time to reflect and relax. You can also help by giving other visitors a signal to leave when your friend is getting tired.
Be sure that you’re reviewing doctors and treatment options by yourself and/or with the help of your family instead of taking what the medical professionals say as gospel. Even doctors have different beliefs and ideologies and may put more credence in a treatment option that may not necessarily sound good to you.
Individuals with cancer like to know what to expect from their treatments and the disease itself. Help them find information by looking online, visiting the local cancer center and asking questions of medical professionals. The information you gather could be crucial in helping them stay focused and maintain a positive attitude.
As a friend and support system for someone with cancer, you need to make sure you eat healthy and get plenty of rest. It is important that you feel good and have energy; even just listening and emphasizing with your friend can be an exhausting process. The better you feel, the more you will be able to help.
Know the signs and symptoms of lung cancer, and those that aren’t so easy to see. Lung cancer is such a fatal disease, due to the fact that signs and symptoms often mask themselves as other conditions until the disease has spread throughout the lungs and caused greater damage.
Many people suffering with cancer also have post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD. If you notice that you have any of the symptoms of PTSD, you should immediately get help from a professional. Symptoms of PTSD include aversion to people or places, flashbacks of events, irrational fears, and changes in your sleep patterns.
If you have any suspicious looking spots on your body or you are feeling unusual symptoms, make sure that you go to your doctor right away. If by chance you do have cancer, there is a higher success rate in most cancers if they are treated in the earlier stages.
Get regular mammograms starting at age 40. Early detection is the best way to win the battle against breast cancer. If you are from a high risk family, you may want to discuss starting earlier than 40 for regular screenings. This is going to give you the best chance at beating it.
Prior to undergoing treatment, ask any and all questions you must to fully grasp just what physical changes your body will go through. If you are well aware of what is ahead, you will be in a better position to cope. Speak to other patients who have already experienced hair loss if it is likely that this will happen to you. They will be the best source of information regarding wigs and makeup. This way you will not be scrambling for recommendations at the last minute.
Know the moles on your body. It would not hurt to occasionally take a photo of the moles that you have, so you will be able to track their growth. If you have a mole that is growing or changing colors, you must go to have your doctor check it for you immediately.
Beating cancer is never easy, but many people do beat it. Self-education can be a potent addition to the arsenal of weapons available against cancer. The information in this article is just a tiny fraction of all the helpful advice available. Learning more cannot hurt and in a life-or-death struggle, a little good advice may just be enough to tip the scales against cancer.
