When facing a cancer diagnosis of any kind, maintaining or adopting healthy habits is a beneficial step a patient can take before, during and after treatment. Consider these tips from the National Cancer Institute to stay healthy during your cancer treatment.
Prepare for treatment by beginning a healthy diet plan. Eating healthy may lower your risk of infection and help you maintain your strength. Stock your refrigerator with easy items you can eat even if you feel nauseous or tired.
Plan your meals and meal times. Eating proteins and increased calories will not only improve strength, but also help rebuild healthy tissue. Planning to eat your meals when you know your appetite will be strongest will also help ensure you eat as much as you can.
Take special care to avoid infection. Avoid visiting with family or friends who may be carrying the flu or any other contagious diseases as you may have an increased vulnerability during cancer treatment. Clean all fruits, vegetables and meats thoroughly before cooking to avoid food poisoning.
Engage in light to moderate exercise as often as possible. According to the American Cancer Society, research strongly suggests that exercise is not only safe during cancer treatment, but it can improve common side effects such as fatigue and weakness. Patients are usually advised to exercise at a lower intensity to prevent injury.
Austin CyberKnife treats cancerous and noncancerous tumors using highly advanced CyberKnife® technology. Patients receiving this form of treatment experience few to no side effects and return to their normal routines immediately following each treatment session. To find out if you or a loved one is a candidate for CyberKnife treatment, call our center at 512-324-8060.
This is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your health care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.