Thousands of people each year are diagnosed with mesothelioma. This rare form of cancer is particularly devastating because most victims have presented symptoms of the disease for decades but they were misdiagnosed as common cold or flu-like ailments. As with any cancer, early detection is the key to surviving the longest and misdiagnosis usually means most patients are diagnosed in a late stage of the cancer. Nutrition will play a big role in nourishing your body to help maintain a strong immune system.
In this month’s blogs you will find nutrition tips for the three main therapies for mesothelioma: chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. You will also learn how fats, carbohydrates, proteins and more can help you build up your immune system when consumed in proper proportions. You will also learn food and safety guidelines you should follow during treatment and nutrition tips for patients with advanced cancer.
Nutrition is an important part of a pleural mesothelioma cancer treatment. Eating well during treatments will help you regain your strength, keep up your weight, decrease your risk of infection, heal and recover more quickly, better tolerate the side effects of treatment and generally make you feel better. This month’s blogs will focus on topics to help you embrace nutrition as a weapon in your defense against the cancer.
As with any diet, consult your physician to make sure you are following the best nutrition plan for your particular mesothelioma diagnosis and mesothelioma treatment. Make sure your caregivers are aware of the optimal nutrition plan for you as well.
Pleural mesothelioma develops on the lining of the lungs. It is the most common type of mesothelioma cancer as most victims of asbestos exposure inhaled the microscopic fibers as they worked in an infected area. Because pleural mesothelioma and other types of mesothelioma are diagnosed in late stages of the disease, alternative treatments are sought out because of mostly terminal prognoses.
Many consider non-conventional approaches such as minerals, vitamins, amino acids, herbs, supplements and diet changes. They have found that when used in conjunction with conventional approaches of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy that the normal mesothelioma prognosis of two years can be increased. This is completely dependent upon other factors including age, sex and overall health of the patient.
Dark, green leafy vegetables are number one on the list to aid in the recovery battle. They provide an excellent source of many vitamins, such as Vitamin A, C, and K and folate, and minerals, such as iron and calcium. They are also a great source of fiber. Research has shown that nutrients found in dark green leafy vegetables also contain antioxidants that assist in fighting free radicals in the body.
It is easy to incorporate green leafy vegetables into your diet if you have pleural mesothelioma. Include it into wraps that have healthy proteins such as turkey, tuna or chicken, make a green salad with different vegetables and even berries. You can even add them to soups – kale and spinach go well in hot soups.
Make sure the doctor treating you for pleural mesothelioma is in agreement with your new diet plans before taking them on. You want to make sure they won’t interfere with any other mesothelioma treatments you might be undertaking.