Side effects of cancer
Cancer is one of the most cruel and deadliest of all diseases. There are about 300 types of cancer and one can be affected any time or at any age. Even if one takes precautions to have a carcinogen free life, he or she may be a cancer victim, as you never know what kind of environmental factors your body isn’t accustomed to or if you have genetic reasons for getting cancer. Still there is no harm in keeping oneself prepared to fight cancer. That is by knowing what actually happens when a body is facing cancer, what the treatments are, what to expect and how to avoid it all. Read on to know about the various things which occurs to patient who has cancer, the side effects of the treatment and some remedies to help him or her go through this agonizing ordeal with strength and determination.
How can you protect yourself from cancer?
There is no foolproof prevention of cancer but one can definitely avoid what he or she can. Stay away from smoking. It causes many cancers such as lung cancers, oral cancers, breast cancers, prostate cancer, anal cancer and cancer of the trachea. Some brain tumors and cancers have also been related to smoking. Avoid foods, which have acryl amides in them. Fried foods like crispies, chips and canned foods have high amounts of acryl amides. Avoid using plastic as much as you can. Meat eaters are more prone to colon and anal cancer. Nevertheless, since meat cannot be avoided totally, as we get nutrients as well, limiting your intake to 3 to 4 times a month is a smart choice. Having a well-balanced diet and good night’s sleep builds up one’s immune system so we are less susceptible to harmful environmental factors. Have green leafy vegetables, vitamin A rich foods for immunity, antioxidants like green tea and berries for a good diet. Exposure to sunrays for prolonged periods is also harmful for it may lead to skin cancer. So use a well-medicated sunscreen cream or lotion every time you step out during the day.
Side effects of cancer
Once a person has cancer, he or she may experience the following effects-
-loss of appetite
-unexplained and sudden weight loss
-formation of lumps which are movable but painless, regardless of the size
-sore infections which refuse to heal
-formation of eruptions in mucus lining of mouth and anal tract
-Sudden chills and fevers accompanied with nausea
-pain during urination accompanied with bleeding and burning sensation.
Treatment
Cancer treatment is done with a combination of medications, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and, or, or surgery. However, the person undergoing treatment has to go through life changing experience. The pain and physical manifestation of pain is almost unbearable due to continuous sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Nausea and fatigue are common for almost all patients undergoing treatment. A point may come where a person might not even be able to have 2 sips of water without puking. Loss of hair, teeth and sometimes-even fingernails is seen. Sexual desire goes down and in some cases; both males and females become impotent. Some patients have to go for extra treatments where surgical bags are fixed around a body part where a hole has been made to relieve one of some physical ailments.
Women are more susceptible to develop osteoporosis during or after treatment. Uncontrolled urination is also a general side effect. Some unfortunate people who go through all therapies and treatments are suddenly attacked by multiple cancers at various body parts. This is a point where treatment almost has no effects. For cases as such to be avoided -a good doctor should be consulted regularly and regular scans should be done even after surgery. Never give up hope and never forget to go to your doctor regularly as early detection of multiple cancers may save you.
Some alternative relief
Some patients are suggested to go for acupuncture to help cope with the physical pain. If care isn’t taken this anguish, may start affecting the nerves and one might become depressed or even suicidal as the pain and agony will go on for other 6 months sometimes a year. All cancer patients need a lot of help and support and a good lifestyle in order to recover from side effects of the treatments. He or she should be encouraged never to give up hope as many patents beat cancer each year. It isn’t impossible and one must thrive upon the hope to live again, cancer free.