Relieving Symptoms of Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatment is done with the ultimate good in mind - to eradicate disease and allow you to move on to live a life of good health and joy. Unfortunately, that cancer treatment which can be enormously effective can also cause a variety of side effects including nausea, sleep disorders, loss of appetite, fatigue, anxiety and depression, pain, anemia, and more. Palliative care addresses the side effects of cancer treatment, offering patients relief from many of those symptoms and providing support for patients and their families and caregivers.

So what can be done to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with the side effects of cancer treatment?

An oncology team that has your best interests at heart - that wants you to be healthy and feeling well beyond just the treatment for cancer - will surround you with support. This will include physical as well as emotional support that will help with the healing process and allow you to find health and comfort throughout the journey to becoming cancer-free.

Addressing symptoms may include:

* Exercise - This is always important in anyone’s life for helping to maintain a healthy weight and stay in good shape. For cancer patients, exercise can help battle fatigue, maintain energy levels, and keep you feeling good throughout treatment. It doesn’t have to be intense exercise; just a little activity every day to keep you moving and feeling strong.

* Nutrition - Good nutrition is paramount to good health through cancer treatment. Good nutrition also helps to maintain energy and allows the body to stay as healthy as possible through therapy.

* Meditation, visualization, yoga, acupuncture, etc. - Often considered “alternative” methods of treatments, meditation, visualization, and the like can help you focus your mind and calm your body - all important components to helping to ease treatment and subsequent side effects.

The most important thing to remember is that any side effects should be discussed with your cancer team. in their care for you, they will want to address how you are feeling so that your treatments are as successful as possible and will allow you to feel the best you can feel.