If you, a family member, friend, or loved one has ever struggled with cancer, you know it can be a long and tiring process. This article provides some much needed tips and tricks for coping with cancer.
When battling cancer, it is important for you to share your feelings openly and honestly. No one expects you to be filled with butterflies and roses at all times. Sharing your feelings is a great way for you to get out any anger or sadness you have, and to keep from allowing depression to overtake you at the same time.
Older adults are at higher risk for developing certain types of cancer. Approximately 75% of cancers are diagnosed in people aged 55 and older. As the risk rises, so does the importance of staying healthy and physically fit. Regular doctor visits, normal body weight, a healthy diet, self-exams and cancer screening tests can all help to reduce the risk.
In order to beat cancer it is important for you to stay strong and to never give up on yourself. You have to be willing to put up a fight against the cancer and not just let it win. Fighting to beat cancer means that you are emotionally strong and believe you will beat it.
A good tip to deal with cancer in general is to make sure you earn yourself some good karma points. Donating to cancer research and other cancer-specific charities helps you to feel good and will certainly help assist in the ongoing fight against this brutal disease. And if karma is real, airing on its good side wouldn't hurt.
The life you had before cancer may seem like a distant memory as the battle wages on, but always cling to your past to remind yourself of what you have to look forward to in the future. Keep old pictures and old videos around to remind yourself that cancer is not all there is in life for you. A positive view of the future is good for for your health.
For women to prevent against contracting certain types of cancer, it is important to avoid taking any type of menopausal hormonal treatments or therapy for extended periods. If you do need these types of hormone treatments, make sure you're only receiving what you need. Do not make these hormones a way of life for you.
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.
Always wear sunscreen. Taking this simple step can help reduce the risk of getting cancer from the sun. Try to stay in the shade as much as possible and also wear clothing and hats that will protect your skin. Apply sunscreen liberally and often to get the maximum amount of protection possible.
Stay informed throughout your treatment process if you are currently dealing with cancer. The worst thing you could do is ignore your treatment or fail to care. You want to know what you are taking, what therapy you are doing, and how these things are intended to help treat your disease.
If chemotherapy is part of your cancer treatment, make sure to monitor your temperature frequently. Beginning about a week after your treatment, you have a greater likelihood of getting a bacterial infection. If you notice that you have a temperature spike, go to your doctor right away to prevent a serious complication.
If you are one of the many women that has dense breast tissue, find a mammogram facility that works with digital imagery. Digital scans will do a much better job at detecting cancer in the women with dense breast tissue than the traditional film would. It will provide your doctor with a clearer image and make it easier to read the images.
Don't smoke, or stop if you have already started. Smoking is linked to about three out of every ten cancer deaths. It is damaging to your heart, lungs, and skin. Even moderate smoking carries heavy risks. If you choose not to start, or can stop today, you'll be well on your way to a healthier life.
Staying away from things that cause cancer can be a good way to fight getting it. With that in mind, you can protect yourself from skin cancer by limiting sun exposure. If you do stay outside for a while, put on sunscreen with a high SPF value.
If you have hiccups from your chemotherapy treatment, talk with your doctor before trying any home remedies. Some of these remedies can actually make your hiccups worse, such as laying upside down and drinking. Your oncologist may want you to try other methods like propping a pillow up before going to sleep.
Cancer treatment can be a very busy and overwhelming time. Figure out what activities in your life are most important and meaningful to you and make time for those activities, while cutting out other activities. This will give you time to appreciate what is important, while not over-burdening you during treatment.
After cancer treatment, try to achieve and maintain your ideal weight. Many patients gain or lose weight during treatment, so take this process slowly and work with your doctor to reach your goal weight. Regardless of whether you have to gain or lose, be kind to your body throughout the process.
Reduce your level of stress, especially if you have been diagnosed with cancer. Stress alone has not been proven to be a contributing factor to cancer, but a stressful routine leads to many unhealthy activities that can easily increase the risk of cancer or hinder your recovery. Keep your stress level low.
Now that you have read though this article, hopefully, you have a handy tips and tricks to use while coping with cancer. If you, a family member, friend, or loved one is struggling with cancer, don't lose heart! Surround yourself with those that understand and can bring you the greatest comfort!