How Does Chemotherapy Work?

Chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered through a vein, injected into a body cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill, depending on which drug is used.

Chemotherapy works by destroying cancer cells; unfortunately, it cannot tell the difference between a cancer cell and some healthy cells. So chemotherapy eliminates not only the fast-growing cancer cells but also other fast-growing cells in your body, including, hair and blood cells.

Some cancer cells grow slowly while others grow rapidly. As a result, different types of chemotherapy drugs target the growth patterns of specific types of cancer cells. Each drug has a different way of working and is effective at a specific time in the life cycle of the cell it targets. Your doctor will determine the chemotherapy drug that is right for you.

Read the rest of the article here.

To learn how you can help boost your immune system, visit our website.

Mouth Care During Chemotherapy

You may have a sore mouth after chemotherapy or radiotherapy and it is important that you maintain good oral hygiene. 

Some tips to prevent mouth problems include:

Clean teeth thoroughly but gently after each meal and before going to bed. If the gums are delicate it is better to use a soft toothbrush (baby/infant).

Brand name antibacterial mouthwashes such as Corsodyl may be used but are quite strong and may damage the fragile lining of your mouth whilst on treatment. Check with nursing staff for further advice. 

Saline mouthwashes are recommended if tolerable; 5 mls salt: 500 mls tepid water; 1 tsp. salt: one pint tepid water.

Read the rest of the article here.

Visit the website here.

What causes side effects in Chemo?

Cancer cells tend to grow fast, and chemo drugs kill fast-growing cells. But because these drugs travel throughout the body, they can affect normal, healthy cells that are fast-growing, too. Damage to healthy tissue causes side effects. Although side effects are not always as bad as you might expect, many people worry about this part of their cancer treatment.

The normal cells most likely to be damaged by chemo are blood-forming cells in the bone marrow; hair follicles; and cells in the mouth, digestive tract, and reproductive system. Some chemo drugs can damage cells in the heart, kidneys, bladder, lungs, and nervous system. In some cases, medicines can be given with the chemo to protect the body's normal cells.

Read the rest of the article here.

Visit the website here.

How to Handle Appetite Changes During Chemotherapy

Set meal times and routines.

- Set times to eat a little, even if you're not hungry.

- Eat 5 or 6 small meals each day, instead of 3 big meals.

- Keep up your interest in food by trying new foods. Eat with family or friends.

- If food tastes like metal, eat with plastic forks or spoons. Use a glass pot for cooking.

Be active.

- Being active may help you feel more hungry.

- Take a short walk each day.

Drink liquids.

- Try milkshakes or soup. These foods are easy to swallow.

- Getting enough liquids is important, but don't fill up on liquids right before you eat or during meals.

Read the rest of the article here.

Visit the website to see how else you can help boost your immune system while undergoing chemotherapy.

What is Anemia?

Anemia is when your body doesn't have enough red blood cells. Having anemia can make you feel very tired or weak.

Try these tips when you feel tired or weak:

Save your energy.

Choose the most important things to do each day.

Ask for help.

When family or friends offer to help, let them. They can take you to the doctor, buy groceries, or make meals.

Balance rest with activity.

Take short naps during the day. Short naps of less than 1 hour are best. Too much bed rest can make you feel weak.

Sleep at least 8 hours every night.

You may feel better if you take short walks or exercise a little every day.

Eat and drink well.

Talk with your doctor or nurse to learn what foods and drinks are best for you.

You may need to eat high-protein foods. Meat, peanut butter, and eggs are good choices.

You may need to eat foods with iron. Red meat, leafy greens (such as collard greens and spinach), and cooked dried beans are good choices.

Most people need to drink at least 8 cups of liquid every day. Water and juice with extra water added are good choices.

To learn more visit the website.

To read the rest of the article, go here.

What Benefits the Immune System?

What benefits the immune system should be an important consideration. Many people are concerned about what damages the immune system, but those things that are beneficial are sometimes overlooked. Vitamins, minerals, plant components and herbs to boost the immune system are all available. You just need to know which ones to look for.

The immune system is a very complicated collection of cells, organs and pathways. Specialized white blood cells learn what belongs in the body and what does not. These cells communicate with other cells that destroy those things that do not belong and they are carried out of the body. What benefits the immune system are those things which allow the white blood cells, lymph nodes and even the skin to function properly. In this article, we focus on a few herbs to boost immune system strength. This is by no means a complete list and the essential vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients important for proper nutrition are not listed here.

Of the known herbs to boost immune system strength, the most commonly used appears to be Echinacea. It is however difficult to learn how many people use products, such as these, since they are sold over the counter. A recent study in Canada concluded that of the people surveyed who used health and dietary supplements, more people used herbs to boost immune system strength and specifically Echinacea than all the other dietary and health supplements combined.

Echinacea was the most commonly used medicinal plants by Native Americans of the North American plains. It was used to relieve symptoms and hasten recover from everything from the common cold to influenza and infections of all types. It has often been recommended as what benefits the immune system because of this fact. Echinacea is a common plant that grows in many areas of the world. And while Echinacea supplements may be 100% natural, they may not be 100% safe. Recent evidence suggests that continued use for extended periods of time (more than 90 days) can be toxic to the liver. It should therefore be avoided by anyone who takes prescription or over the counter medications that are known to be toxic to the liver. And extended use should be avoided. This could be a problem for those who are looking for what benefits the immune system, because studies indicate that full effectiveness as a preventative is only achieved after using for three months consecutively. Echinacea may be a better choice for occasional use, as a treatment or to speed recovery time from colds and viruses, as this was its historical use.

To find out how we can help you boost your immune system naturally, visit the website here.

Read the rest of the article here.

What can you do if you have taste change after chemotherapy?

If you have a lack of appetite because you have lost your sense of taste from chemo treatment, you may want to try adding different seasonings to your foods.

If you have a bad taste in your mouth, try sucking on hard candies/mints or chewing gum. Also, keep your mouth clean by brushing at least two times per day and rinsing your mouth out with water between meals/snacks.

Visit the website to see what else you can do to keep your immune system high during chemotherapy.

Read the rest of the article here.