And how to resist this influence.
Throughout your cancer treatment, you may not be able to do all the things in your daily life that you used to take for granted.
Eating is one such example. Side effects of treatment make it difficult for people to enjoy food, which is very common and can be very painful.
Eating is part of life, and being able to "eat" is a sign of being alive!
On this issue, we will talk about food and treatment (anticancer drugs and radiation).
We hope that people and their families who are currently suffering from side effects will find this information useful.
Treatment has a major impact on "food".
Many people have heard that cancer treatment makes it difficult for people to eat.
The image of not being able to eat and gradually emaciated is the harshness that cancer treatment brings.
In fact, the effects of treatment, especially anti-cancer drugs and radiation, often make it difficult to eat.
There are many reasons why anti-cancer drugs and radiation can make it difficult for people to eat, but the main reason is
Having one or both of these conditions can lead to the inability to eat. Diet is the foundation of our lives and is greatly influenced by treatment.
We will now explain how anti-cancer drugs and radiation affect diet.
Why do anti-cancer drugs and radiation take away the appetite?
What is anti-cancer treatment?
Of all treatments, anticancer drugs are probably most often associated with loss of appetite.
Cancer is a disease that has the property of abnormally altered cells that develop, increase, and migrate, called cancer cells.
Anti-cancer drugs attack these cancer cells from within the body.
There are currently more than 100 different types of anti-cancer drugs in use, and patients are prescribed one or more drugs depending on the type and progression of their cancer.
A large number of patients complain of side effects of anti-cancer drugs, namely loss of appetite.
This is because anti-cancer drugs are designed to spread throughout the body, so they attack not only cancer cells, but also normal cells.
The gastrointestinal tract is an organ closely related to diet, and when cells in the gastrointestinal tract are destroyed by this attack, the diet is affected.
Damage to the esophagus, stomach, and intestines can lead to loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. In addition, the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients and fluids is also affected, leading to diarrhea.
In addition, anti-cancer drugs not only damage the digestive tract, but also have a negative impact on the brain.
They directly affect the brain's appetite and vomiting centers, leading to loss of appetite and other problems.
In general, everyone knows the time when the side effects of gastrointestinal symptoms are most likely to appear: nausea and vomiting during treatment and for up to two days after treatment, as well as diarrhea and constipation, until the next treatment later.
Effects of radiation therapy
Radiation, like anti-cancer drugs, plays an important role in cancer treatment.
The main difference with anti-cancer drugs is that they act precisely on cancer.
Anti-cancer drugs are carried out around the body, carrying out a systematic attack on the cancer, while radiation focuses on the cancer site from the outside of the body.
Therefore, the radiation only affects the area that is exposed, so there is almost no burden on the entire body.
However, this attack is so intense that serious side effects can occur at the irradiation site.
When radiation is directed at cancer in the gastrointestinal tract, normal parts of the body adjacent to it are also partially irradiated. In the case of uterine or prostate cancer, the surrounding gastrointestinal tract is also adversely affected.
Radiation equipment is being improved to irradiate only cancer as precisely as possible, but there are still many side effects that can adversely affect the diet.
Side effects of radiation
Side effects of radiation appear in the area of irradiation.
Radiation therapy is used to treat various cancers, for example, in the case of esophageal cancer, a normal part of the esophagus is damaged, causing inflammation and ulcers. When food or drink passes through it, it can cause discomfort and pain.
Pancreatic cancer can also be treated with radiation therapy.
In this case, the abdomen is irradiated, so the surrounding intestines are also affected. This can lead to loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Influence on the mind
In daily life, some people lose their appetite under anxiety or stress. This shows that the influence of thought on appetite cannot be ignored.
For example, with regard to cancer, it's natural not to be able to eat when you're diagnosed with cancer, and cancer pain often leads to loss of appetite.
Whatever the cause of the loss of appetite, it is important to identify and address the reasons for the inability to eat.
Talk to your doctor about whether it's a psychological problem, a direct cause of treatment, or whether it's related to both.
When it comes to mental problems, it is important to complain about symptoms appropriately, as they cannot be quantified or otherwise explicitly expressed.
Some symptoms may require medical attention, such as intravenous nutrient solutions, and dietary support from a dietitian may be helpful.
Specific measures to address dietary problems
We now know that anti-cancer drugs and radiation have an impact on both our interior and exterior, and diet is an important part of our lives.
Here are some specific effects on diet and how to deal with them.
anorexia
I don't have an appetite', 'Whatever I eat is not good', 'It's hard when I feel I have to eat'.
Anorexia occurs for a variety of reasons, including the cancer itself, the effects of treatment, anxiety about the disease, and depression.
Anorexia itself is not life-threatening, but it can lead to a loss of strength and energy, and if it lasts for a long time, it will make treatment impossible to continue.
It is difficult for patients themselves to know the exact symptoms, so it is necessary to consult those around them, rather than just enduring loss of appetite.
If the symptoms are caused by anticancer drugs, the patient will naturally recover over time after treatment.
Nausea, vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are one of the most painful symptoms, such as severe nausea that makes it difficult to eat anything, persistent stomach upset, sensitivity to food odors and vomiting.
Although they may be closely related to the side effects of anti-cancer drugs, this is not always the case. There are also personal physical, physical and psychological factors, and inflammation of the esophagus and stomach caused by radiation may also be a cause.
Nausea and vomiting can be treated with antiemetics to stop them.
Fear of nausea can exacerbate symptoms, so if you are concerned, consult a doctor beforehand.
If nausea and vomiting persist, treatment such as intravenous fluids and nutrition may be required.
Mouth ulcers.
It is mainly caused by anti-cancer drugs and radiation to the mouth and throat.
Although one or two mouth ulcers may appear in daily life, the side effects of treatment are much more serious, causing the mouth to become rough, making it difficult to eat, causing loss of appetite, and abnormalities in smell and taste.
People who have had tooth decay or gingivitis all the time are more likely to have mouth ulcers because bacteria can easily get into rough places and cause infections.
You may be advised to see a dentist before treatment.
During treatment, it is recommended to keep the mouth clean with a non-irritating toothbrush to prevent bacterial infection.
diarrhoea.
During treatment with anticancer drugs, diarrhea or recurrent episodes of constipation and diarrhea may occur. In the case of radiation, these symptoms are formed due to irradiation of the abdominal and pelvic regions.
Patients may develop severe diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain, which can lead to weight loss and food restrictions.
Diarrhea, especially if accompanied by vomiting, should always be discussed with a doctor as it can lead to malnutrition and dehydration, which can weaken the immune system.
Stomach colds are more likely to cause diarrhea, so dress well to avoid getting colds.
Stress can lead to a decrease in gastrointestinal function, so try to relax and don't worry too much.
conclusion.
Food has a major impact on the mind, because eating good food can cheer us up, and when we see food in a beautiful bowl, our spirit will be bright.
That is, when we are unable to do this, we are depressed beyond our imagination.
As we said, the reality is that anti-cancer drugs and radiation often prevent people from "enjoying food," but keep in mind that there are ways to cope.
Let's start by doing what we can.
Article Source: Cancer Has Me With the Global Cancer Community www.csccer.com