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 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 cancer diagnosis and mesothelioma treatment. Make sure your caregivers are aware of the optimal nutrition plan for you as well.
Relatively speaking, the mesothelioma survival rate is most often compared to the five-year mark for survivors of all cancers. This points to the number of victims that are still surviving five years after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Some research puts this statistic at a 10 percent rate of survival. There are approximately 3000 diagnoses per year for mesothelioma in the United States.
The mesothelioma survival rate for this particular cancer in America is a dismal low, hence it would be smart to look at these survivors and what treatments they used to be able to be part of that 10 percent. With such a dismal mesothelioma prognosis for most patients, it is important to understand how the lifestyles of some survivors have impacted their disease. Their survival rate is dependent upon many factors, including race and gender, age, cancer stage, cancer type and overall health.
Many patients turn to nutrition to help fight their cancer. Protein is required to help build and repair the body’s cells. It is also an important factor in maintaining a healthy immune system. It can be found in food sources that include: poultry, fish, meat, dairy products and eggs. It is, of course, also found in plant food sources that include: lentils, peas, beans, nuts, soy products and healthy cereals. When fighting cancer, patients will need a good supply of protein – more than normal. It is a great in assisting the body heal.