Conditions and Diseases

Turning Hopeless To Hopeful

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Cancer. The word itself is enough to instill fear in most of us. When you hear that someone has been diagnosed with cancer, you immediately feel compassion. You want to help them. You want to help their families. You reach out to them to offer any help you can. We all know that cancer affects the patient, as well as the family. It is often said that a person does not get cancer, a family gets cancer. We have no choice in the matter. However, once cancer comes into our lives, we have lots of choices.

There are the choices we allow the doctors to make. The doctor will decide what type of treatment will be best for your type of cancer. Cancer treatment can include strong medications, or chemotherapy, that, while killing off the bad cancer cells, take along some of the healthy cells making it difficult to fight off common illnesses and infections. Unfortunately the drugs are so powerful that they often come with side effects of hair loss or constant nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. There is also radiation therapy, which is used is some types of cancer. Radiation therapy has its side effects as well. We know that the side effects are inevitable, we are hoping that the powerful drugs are at least killing the cancer.

It can begin to feel hopeless. It is said that the treatments for cancer are sometimes worse than the disease itself. One important part of your treatment should be support. Being able to speak to people who have been where you are, along with their families, can go a long way in helping you and your family cope with the difficult journey. When you have no hair, are throwing up everything you eat, and feel freezing cold all the time, being able to see someone who felt those same things and now is cancer free, well that can turn hopeless feelings to hopeful dreams.

Filed Under: Family Support, Help & Guidance Tagged With: Adverse effect, Cancer, chemotherapy, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Management of cancer, Radiation therapy, Tumor

Cancer In The Family

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A patient gets the diagnosis of cancer. The doctors begin aggressive treatments and the patient spends most of their time being prodded and poked, getting toxic medications to hopefully kill the cancer, radiation treatments that can bring a person to their knees. This is all in the hopes of stopping the spread of the cancer, and possibly even killing the cancer cells that are there. While the patient endures these treatments, the caretaker has to stand by and watch. The caretaker, maybe not by choice, but with all the love they have, becomes one of the most important pieces of the treatment pie. There has to be someone to keep an eye on the patient when he or she is not with the doctors. Someone has to make sure the medicines are being taken properly. Cancer patients are not helpless, but there are times during treatment when they will be too sick to take care of themselves. A spouse or close family member becomes the caretaker.

The other family members are affected as well. Children have to take on more responsibility, other family members need to pick up the slack of helping with getting the children where they need to be, maybe bringing dinner or sitting with the cancer patient and spending time with them.

While there are no real “treatments” for the family, there are support groups out there. The caretaker is thrust into the role, and while they want to do everything they can, they may not know exactly what that is. There are “Friends and Family” support groups to help the entire family deal with this all encompassing disease. It is more important than ever to get emotional support so that when you are on the other side, and hopefully cancer is no longer the center of your family’s attention, you can then help those who are where you have been.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Cancer, Conditions and Diseases, Family (biology), Health, Organizations, Patient, Radiation therapy, Support group

Choosing A Treatment Center

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If you have recently been recently diagnosed with cancer, you are more than aware of all of the decisions you need to make to ensure the best possible treatment for this vicious disease. You may need to make decisions regarding the medications used, surgery that may need to be done, or any number of other decisions, at a time when your brain is not quite working at warp speed. You have had a lot to deal with. Choosing the right place to have your cancer treated is extremely important in your journey. The road to remission is paved with decisions.

You will probably start out at whatever treatment center the physician you have chosen works through. Obviously that treatment center will be in tune with the course of treatment you and your physician have chosen for you. You may choose a local treatment center, as some local hospitals have cancer treatment centers, or you may choose a center in another part of the country. There are well known cancer centers in all parts of the country. Your particular type of cancer and course of treatment will guide you to the right place.

Whether you choose to receive your treatment locally or you are flying half way across the world to help you with your cancer treatment, make sure you are in a place you feel is the best fit for you. Is the cancer treatment center addressing every part of your treatment? Are you receiving enough support from the cancer treatment center personnel? Have you been given the opportunity to ask questions, and speak to the people who know the answers? Do you feel that you are being treated as a person, and not just a disease?

Cancer treatments are grueling. Feeling confident that you have chosen the right place for you is one less thing you have to worry about, and one more thing you can feel good about.

Filed Under: Treatment and Medications Tagged With: Cancer, Conditions and Diseases, gastrointestinal, Head and Neck, Health, Management of cancer, Oncology, Support group

Educating Yourself On Cancer Fatigue Treatments

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The term “battle with cancer” didn’t come out of nowhere. The fight against cancer is really like a battle. You are fighting an unknown object in your body. While many of the treatment options aren’t that painful, the real battle comes after the treatments. Many cancer patients say that the fatigue and weakness that they feel after the treatments is the worst part about the whole experience.

There are many cancer fatigue treatments out there that can help lessen the weakness and fatigue that a person feels during their fight against cancer. Whether you are staying with friends or family members or in an assisted living facility for your cancer treatment it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the popular cancer fatigue treatments.

Here are some of the recommended cancer fatigue treatments that are available to you.

Antidepressants. Many cancer patients feel fatigued because of depression as opposed to specific effects of the actual treatment they are undergoing. Being put on an antidepressant regime could help lessen the fatigue that a person is feeling.

Iron Supplements. Some fatigue from cancer can be caused because of anemia. Your doctor can run a test to see if your levels are low and help recommend an iron supplement. This could boost your energy levels a bit.

Bone Marrow Stimulants. Some medications can actually stimulate your bone marrow which is a relatively new concept in cancer fatigue treatment. Many doctors will not recommend these types of medications for cancer fatigue, but it doesn’t hurt to inquire with your doctor.

Self Treatments. There are a lot of preventive measures that you yourself can take to try and prevent fatigue during cancer treatment. Avoiding stress, sleeping right, eating healthy and getting help from family and friends can all alleviate some of the fatigue you might feel during this time.

Filed Under: Treatment and Medications Tagged With: Antidepressant, Cancer, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Management of cancer, Organizations, Patient, United States

Living with Cancer

A cancer diagnoses can be a devastating event. When you first hear those dreaded words, “you’ve got cancer” many things can go through your mind. You may be wondering how long you will live, what kind of treatments are in store, what will happen to your family, and many other questions that come to mind during the initial stages. While cancer can be a scary and life-threatening situation, the truth is that you can live…and live fully…with a cancer diagnosis. Let’s look at some ideas on how you can live life despite your cancer diagnosis.

1. Treatments. Yes, you are likely going to have to go through cancer treatments. These treatments can be very demanding physically and emotionally. Be prepared for the treatments mentally and you’ll be able to make it through. Take a friend or a family member with you for those times when you need extra support.

2. Follow the doctor’s orders. This includes taking your medication, getting rest, and taking it easy when you’re really not feeling well. If you need help paying for your medication, consider looking into getting a prescription discount card.

3. Follow your dreams. Have you always wanted to go sky diving? Write a book? Volunteer? Now is your chance! Make a list of all the things you’ve always wanted to do in life, but never took the time to do. Then, go out and do them all!

4. Spend time with your family. You’ll never regret those moments, big and small, that you’ll spend with your loved ones. Have more family dinners together, spend time playing video games with your son, and take your wife out on a date.

There’s no doubt about it that cancer will change your life. But you don’t have to let cancer run your life. Remember to follow your doctor’s orders, take your medications, and live your life to the fullest.

Filed Under: Cancer Tagged With: breast cancer, Cancer, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Organizations, Patient, Quality of life, Support Groups

Organizations that Help Kids with Cancer

Kids with cancer are having a tough time because they are living with it. And families who are taking care of the child with cancer usually suffer financial hardship because medical bills are expensive after getting some treatments, medical help and getting medications. Families should not lose hope because there are organizations that are willing to help people with financial hardship.

Hope for Henry is an organization that makes sure kids do not miss out on their childhood especially since they have cancer. The site is located at http://www.hopeforhenry.org/. They have four components to help these kids. Kids with some form of illness get some gifts, their siblings (if any) will get some gifts as well, events that celebrates what being a kid is, and hospital based programs for kids that are waiting or undergoing treatments.

Association for the Support of Children with Cancer (ASK) helps families whose child is living with cancer. It’s not fair but it is the reality. The website is located at http://askweb.org/. About 500 children attend the clinic each month. It was found by a small group of parentsâ€™ in Virginia state back in 1975.

The Seattle Childrens hospital treats kids who have some blood cancer from newborn up until they are 21 years old. The website is located at http://www.seattlechildrens.org/clinics-programs/cancer/. The hospital is safe and they accommodate parents whose child has to be there. They let parents spend the night while the child is there. The parents can also take a shower and wash their stuff while at the hospital.

Cancer Warriors is located in Georgia and they help kids by giving toys and gifts to kids who have cancer. Their site is located at http://www.cancerwarriors.org/.

There are ways to help the organizations by offering some financial assistance or give a toy to a child with cancer that deserve it. It is a way to make these kids to feel special despite that they have cancer. And because of these organizations, they can feel like a kid which a kid should. Each kid wants to feel special even if they have cancer.

Filed Under: Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Child, Conditions and Diseases, Health

Fighting Cancer Fatigue

It is an unfortunate fact that fatigue is a part of cancer. Both the disease itself and the treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can all lead to cancer fatigue.

There are healthy ways to fight cancer fatigue, however, and a few are listed here:

Try to eat as much as you can. Nausea and vomiting are often a side effect of cancer treatments, but hunger can aggravate cancer fatigue. Eat small, frequent meals. Try to eat as much solid food as you can, but if you can’t, choose healthy food that is easy to digest, such as plain rice, pasta, or soups.Eat when you’re hungry even if it isn’t “time for a meal.” When you are fighting cancer and cancer fatigue, any time is mealtime. If you eat as soon as you feel hungry, you will keep your strength. Remember, too, that hunger is a sign that your stomach is empty, so eating frequently will also keep your stomach full, which can reduce nausea.
Get some exercise. Even if it is only walking from one room to the other for five minutes at a time, try to do it as often as possible. On the days that you are feeling well (and you will have them), exercise as long as you can without overtiring yourself. Even though the last thing you may feel like doing is exercising, you might be surprised to find that getting up and moving around actually helps fight cancer fatigue.
Do not use alcoholic beverages to help you overcome cancer fatigue. The truth is that they will do the exact opposite. If you have become addicted to alcohol, please seek help at an alcohol rehab facility as soon as possible. Some facilities are equipped to handle cancer patients, or it may be necessary to suspend your treatments while you undergo rehab.

Filed Under: Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Conditions and Diseases, Health