Food and Diet for Cancer Patients

By Gijs Starre

As we have previously discussed, it appears as though Marine PhytoPlankton can be extremely beneficial when it comes to patients dealing with various forms of cancers. Just as you may want to consider this supplement because of its nutrients, you are also going to want to incorporate certain foods into your diet. As a matter of fact, diet is a very important part of cancer treatment because it gives the body the proper energy and nutrients it needs while fighting off the cancer and treatments. Here are some general tips to remember which can apply to most cancer patients.

Vegetables and Fruits

There is no question that fruits and vegetables contain highly valuable nutrients. They have carbohydrates and vitamins that are important to a cancer patient. If for example a patient has neutropenia, they should eat vegetables and fruits that are fully cooked. This is because any raw products can have bacteria which can cause issues. An exception to this rule is that the patient can consume a fruit that has a fairly thick layer of skin which should obviously be washed, but includes fruits such as bananas and oranges.

Proteins and Dairy

Sources of protein are also going to be very beneficial to a cancer patient. This includes foods such as chicken, fish, lean meats, and beans. This is because they will help their bones to stay healthy as well as stimulate growth. Proteins can actually also work to repair tissues in the body such as muscles, skin, and bones. More so after certain procedures such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, protein is even more so important to include in the patients diet. As for dairy, you will want low fat products. Some great dairy products to consume include various hard cheeses like cheddar or Swiss. Low fat milk that is pasteurized is also good to consume and yogurt that is low fat as well. Some soft cheeses are OK to consume but that is as long as you do not have neutropenia. This does not include any sort of moldy cheeses which will not be good for a cancer patient. Also consider that some cheeses can be contaminated when they are from a deli or are imported from other countries.

Grains

More so whole grains will be ideal for a cancer patient. They are a great place to get carbohydrates which create energy for the body. Some examples include doughnuts, pastas, rice, prepackaged breads, and so on. Cereals are also a great choice so long as they do not contain nuts or fruits. Consider that items which can be contaminated are not expectable options such as breads from delis but if you made a pasta salad from home, this is OK to consume.

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Greeting Cards For Cancer Patients

By Lisa Manley

As a cancer survivor I received a lot of cards and well wishes during the time I was being treated and in recovery. Every single thought and well wish made a difference in my daily mood or well after I was better. Three years after my last treatment I can name the people who sent a card or dropped off a meal. Many of these people, I did not know well and do not communicate with on a usual basis. I think of those people and consider them little angels in the world. On the other hand some of my closest friends and family members seemingly disappeared. At the time of treatment I did not notice. I was busy going through treatment, surgery and recovery to think about it. I had my mom, sister, brother, dad, husband and countless others holding my hand.

A year or so after my last chemo treatment, I did start to become aware of people who had been absent in my life. I wondered why I had never heard from them. It eventually became clear to me through my own experience. I had heard of an old friend whose sister was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. I thought to myself how awful, but never sent a note. I did not know what to say. I thought of her almost daily. Until I read in the local Newspaper she had passed away. I missed the opportunity to let her know I cared. I believe dealing with another persons illness points out our fears of loss, grief and even joy. As a cancer survivor I can say sending a note does make a difference. Do not worry about what to say. It really is the card that counts.

Here are some tips. Send a card at the milestones of treatment. Milestones include: the first day of chemotherapy, the middle of treatment, the end of chemo. Do not forget those people going through radiation as well. I had one friend who sent a card every week for six weeks of my radiation. I still smile at her thoughtfulness. Surgery is very scary and a card before surgery is great along with one during recovery. Do not worry about sending the card to the hospital. Send the card to the house it is nice to have cards waiting for you at home. Remember cancer treatment can be long and drawn out. Many people are in treatment for a year or longer. Send a card to check in months into treatment.

What to say, is what stops many people from sending a note. Do not worry. Let the card say it and just sign the card. Sending a card lets the person know you are thinking of them and that is enough. Also, do not worry about sending a humorous card either. People need humor during cancer treatment. If the person going through treatment is a funny person, send a funny card. If the person is more serious, send a simple greeting. Bottom line do not miss the opportunity to let someone know you are thinking about them, send a note.

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High Cost of Cancer Treatment

By Luis Antonio Rosales

The medical costs of cancer have gone up significantly during the past two decades. By one set of guesses, expenditures increased from about $27 billion. In the 90′s to above $90 bill in 2008, more than double increase even after adjusting for inflation. The heavy price of cancer treatment frequently leads to monetary difficulty for patients and their families, including those with health care insurance.

Median out-of-pocket medical spending was more than $1500 in 2003-2004 for secretly insured adults with cancer, and ten percent of those had out-of-pocket costs surpassing $20,000. In a 2006 survey of adults in homes impacted by cancer, just about a quarter of insured respondents reported using most of their savings during treatment, and a similar proportion asserted their insurance plan paid less than anticipated for a medical bill.

Though more than four out of five oncologists report that their concerns about patients’ out-of-pocket spending influence their treatment suggestions, less than half say that they customarily debate monetary issues with their patients. The general increase in spending for cancer care is due to increases in both the price and the amount of care. As an example, between 1998 and 2009, both the percentage of patients receiving chemical treatment for breast cancer and the price tag of the chemo treatment approximately doubled. One report found that the amount of breast cancer patients receiving chemical treatment increased from 11% to 24% and the median cost of this treatment, in 2003 US greenbacks, went from $6642 to more than $12,000. Similar trends have been noted in other sorts of cancer. Increases in both the price and amount of cancer treatment services can be linked to the advent of new medicinal technology. More recent cancer cures aren’t only dearer than the previous standard of care, but they also expand the pool of treatment applicants.

Centered biologic agents, robot- aided surgical methodologies, and computer-optimized radiation treatment, which have reduced toxicities or wider suggestions, are also utilized for more patients than prior treatments. As an example, minimally intrusive growth resections and highly targeted radiation treatment are utilized for patients who previously should have been considered untreatable because they were poor applicants for open medical techniques. Advances in supportive medications have made wide spread chemical treatment a choice for older and frailer patients. In a number of cases novel cures have made a new treatment paradigm for patients who formerly had few options, for example imatinib for persistent myelogenous leukemia.

Fee-for-service doctor payment strategies, employed by most non-public and public payers, reward doctors for the volume of services they supply instead of the standard of care they deliver. Evidence proves that doctors are respondent to economic motivations and responsive to changes in repayment. As technology and new treatments continues to improve the cost of tratment for cancer will get a little cheaper but how much, nobody really knows but it will help our love ones to hope for a better life.

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