When you first receive your cancer diagnosis, get as many facts as you can about it. Try to gather as much useful, basic information as you can about the type of cancer you have. What kind of cancer is it? Where is it? Has it spread? How will it be treated?
If you have a friend or loved one suffering from cancer, there are many ways to show your love and support. One way is to accompany the person to doctor appointments and chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Cancer can be a lonely disease, and having a supportive partner can do wonders to lift the spirits of the one fighting it.
Here is a great tip that will help you prevent cancer. Filter any tap water that you plan on consuming. Tap water may contain many carcinogens, such as arsenic. A carbon filter attached to the faucet or a filter pitcher can remove these carcinogens from the water before you consume them, leaving you healthy.
Cancer affects not only the person with the disease, but everyone that loves them. There are a number of cancer treatments in existence, so it’s best to talk to a doctor.
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.
Unfortunately, some people will contract cancer due to their genes, even if they lead a healthy, active lifestyle. You may want to consider undergoing some type of counseling if your DNA increases your risks of getting cancer. Being prepared for what’s possibly to come will help you deal with it when it arrives.
When battling cancer it is important for you to try to find humor somewhere. Many people fall into depression while they are battling cancer and do not even realize it. It is understandable for someone to feel depressed about the diagnosis but fighting is what helps save lives. Humor can be a great way to put up a fight.
Women hoping to prevent breast cancer should choose their physicians wisely. Always make sure to visit an expert in mammography. A start-up clinic or a medical professional straight out of school may not be your best option. Find someone with plenty of experience in the field to improve your chances of catching signs of cancer early.
You should surround yourself with loved ones when you are fighting cancer. They will be able to give you encouragement when you need it or just be there to support you through the tough times. It is important to know that you are loved and that you would be missed if you did not fight.
Sit down and go over your goals and priorities. A cancer diagnosis provides a good reason to re-evaluate and reflect on your life. Some things that were important may no longer be as important as they were before. Are there activities that you have been thinking of doing or people you haven’t seen that you would like to?
Avoiding the doom and gloom associated with cancer will help you to ultimately defeat it. Episodes of your favorite M.D. show can be hazardous to your health. Those images of sick and dying people can really put your mind in a bad place. Avoid them and, as trite as it sounds, find a happier place.
Taking the time to listen to someone with cancer is important, but you should actually go a step further and schedule a time to talk and get everything out in the open. When a person is in higher spirits and not dealing with any negative side effects of the disease, it’s a good time to sit down and have a true heart-to-heart.
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.
Beans are incredibly good for your heart, but they’re also essential in preventing cancer, especially colon cancer. The amount of fiber contained in beans and legumes will help to rid the body of free radicals via the fiber and also the saponins, phytic acid and protease inhibitors contained within the beans.
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.
Know your individual risks for cancer, including your age, gender, race, and family history. These things could give you more information than you think, especially when you begin showing symptoms that otherwise could be misdiagnosed. If you are aware of an increased risk of cancer, you can target your issues appropriately with a health care professional.
There is no conceivable reason that you have to live with unbearable pain as a cancer sufferer, so make sure that you are getting the right pain medication. There are dozens of pain meds out there, and if the one you’re taking isn’t working well, make sure you tell your doctor that you need something different.
There are online risk calculators that you can use to determine if you are at risk of getting breast cancer. They contain questionnaires that help women determine if they are in the high risk category for developing invasive breast cancer. These are not completely accurate but can give you an idea about whether it is something you should discuss with your doctor.
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.
If you’re experiencing stomach upset while on cancer treatment and medication, discontinue drinking coffee. Caffeine can cause discomfort and stomach problems in cancer patients, so maybe it’s time to switch to decaf. You should also get rid of caffeine from other sources, including tea, soft drinks, and chocolate.
If you find that your hair is falling out from chemotherapy treatment, do not be ashamed to get a wig. By wearing a wig, not only will you have your hair, but you will be protecting your scalp from dirt and germs. If you cannot afford a wig, certain organizations may provide one for you.
For people with moles on their bodies, be sure to always check for any changes, including an increase in size, a color change, or a change in shape. If you notice any of these changes, be sure to see a dermatologist immediately, as this could be a sign of skin cancer.
If you have a loved one that is experiencing cancer, a good way to encourage them is to go with them on their appointments. Attending appointments will let them know that you love and care for them. Hospitals and clinics can be frightening to some people, and waiting long hours can be really boring. With that said, having a companion is really a big deal.
If you are 50 years or older, it is important that you get a colonoscopy at least once every 5 years. If you are at risk for colon cancer, it should be every two years. A colonoscopy can detect changes in the cells, and if treated early, can save your life.
If you recently found out that you have cancer, be sure to quit smoking and stop drinking alcohol. These habits are bad for a healthy person, but in a cancer patient, it can promote the growth of new cancer cells or spread the existing ones. Talk to your doctor about quitting methods.
Returning to work after cancer treatment can be challenging. Depending on your treatment, you may be returning at full time or at reduced hours. Before returning, meet with your supervisor to discuss your situation. Always be honest with your employer and ask for a flexible schedule if necessary. Let them know of any days you will need off well in advance.
In order to prevent skin cancer, try not to stay out in the sun for too long. If you are going to be out in the sun for a long time, make sure to wear sunscreen. Many cases of skin cancers could have been prevented had people protected their skin from the sun.
The best weapon to help you avoid environmental cancers is knowledge. Know the area you live in. The state’s government will have a website showing area’s of exposure you should be aware of. Check the building materials in your house, carpets and refrigerator. Vigilance on your part is a great first step in avoiding environmental cancer.
Find some kind of humor in your days. Laughter is good for the mind, body and spirit. If you can find at least one thing to laugh about each hour of every day, you are going to benefit from the chemicals it will release in your body and the uplifting it will do for your spirit.
In order to properly deal with a loved one that has been diagnosed with cancer it is very important to deal with your own feelings first. It is hard to think about what may happen to someone close that has been diagnosed with cancer but if you deal with your feelings first it will be easier for you to appropriately deal with them.
Try to stick to your normal daily routine as much as possible. Take each day as it comes, and be open to applying the needed changes to your life. Trying to plan far into the future can lead to stress and worrying. These are the moments rights now. You should capture everyone of them, and enjoy them to the fullest extent.
As you are trying to beat this deadly disease, there is so much turmoil in your life and you may need some advice on how to go about it. Using the right tips to help prevent, treat and ultimately, beat cancer will ensure that you are always doing what is necessary to come out on top. Don’t forget to use what you’ve read here to help you get started.
