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Make Chemotherapy Easy on Yourself!

By Dr. Pramod Kumar Julka in Cancer Care / Oncology

Sep 11 , 2017 | 3 min read

A cancer diagnosis can shatter the life of the patient, their family, and friends. The reports confirming cancer can be devastating and leave people in turmoil. Cancer is one of the foremost leading causes of untimely deaths, and a diagnosis can bring absolute fear among the patient and their near ones.

According to the diagnosis, the time may slow down or speed up. A lot of processes begin to start when someone is diagnosed with cancer. After making the appointments with the doctor, surgeries are scheduled, and a possible course of treatment is discussed with the patient. It is only natural to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of things that began to happen after the diagnosis. There’s also a string of emotions at play, and most people find it overwhelming to deal with all of them at once.

Chemotherapy is the effective use of medicine to destroy cancer cells. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body. However, if the cancer is at an advanced stage, chemotherapy may work in synergy with Radiotherapy to kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is a highly intensive treatment and is known for its side effects which can also damage healthy cells in the body.

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With so much going on it is usual that most people forget to take care of themselves during the treatment, mostly because they are overwhelmed with so many things going around with their body.

It doesn’t matter if you are getting chemotherapy in India or anywhere in the world, follow these measures to cope up with the treatment and make chemotherapy easy on yourself –

Get the most out of Meals

Chemotherapy can be hard, and most patients will avoid eating anything during the therapy. However, providing energy to your body is necessary for your health, and most importantly crucial for the treatment to work. There will be periods when you are depressed, and nauseated or tired and food will not be your first thought. However, eating food regularly will help you maintain a healthy weight. To make eating easier adhere to the following steps –

Enjoy small meals, but eat more frequently
Focus on eating more proteins, however, be wary of supplements
Follow your body’s appetite and eat whenever you are hungry
Drink plenty of fluids, especially more on days when you are not eating anything

Accept help

During chemotherapy, your body will demand rest in abundance. Quit trying to do everything by yourself and don’t hesitate to ask for help from family or friends. Ask for assistance if you need it, especially during days of chemotherapy. You can make a list of tasks you need help with and ask a family member or a friend to assist you with them.

Make Time for Exercise and Add Energy to your Daily Life

Even if chemotherapy is making you feel exhausted, too much of inactivity will leave you feeling sluggish. Keeping your energy levels high is essential since it can help beat fatigue, pain, nausea, and depression to an extent. It will also enhance your quality of life and keep your mood elevated. Furthermore, you can even make exercise fun for yourself by taking part in activities such as dancing or even Pilates!

Have Fun to Beat the Stress

A cancer diagnosis can surely be shattering; however, learning more about it will give you a greater sense of control. Try to find ways to enjoy little things in your life. Involve yourself in fun activities that are both light and entertaining. Watch a movie or enjoy a stand-up comedy act and laugh out loud. Activities that reduce stress are highly recommended, and laughter is one of them. Alternatively, you can involve yourself in one of your hobbies and dedicate a set amount of time for relaxing. Be it reading books, painting or just observing the night sky full of stars, do whatever makes you happy. It is necessary to let go of the negativity and have a positive approach to chemotherapy. Listening to music helps reinforce positivity too!

If you are getting a chemotherapy treatment, make sure you follow the practices mentioned above by heart. Cancer may seem like you are at the end of the world, but you are not. Always remember that cancer can be cured. All you must do is to bring positivity in your life, do as your oncologist says and leave the rest to the universe.