Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy, are all treatments used to cure or relieve the symptoms of different types of cancer. Surgery normally involves complete removal of the tumor. The purpose of chemotherapy is to kill or stop the growth of cancerous cells, without affecting normal cells. Radiation is also aimed at inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
There are certain tests that aid in the early detection of certain cancers. These tests can detect cancer cells before they cause any symptoms, increasing the chances for successful treatment. See your doctor regularly and have the recommended tests for breast cancer, testicular cancer and pap smears. Early detection is key to surviving cancer.
Once you receive your cancer diagnosis, learn everything about your form of the disease and your course of treatment as you can. Write down questions before you visit the doctor and ask him. You can even bring a friend or family member along with you to help ensure that you remember what is being said.
Anyone over the age of 50 should be receiving at least an annual screening for types of cancer like colon cancer. This is around the time that most people will get colon cancer, so it is very important that you work to catch this in time. Over 90 percent of all people diagnosed with colon cancer are over the age of 50.
It is a well known fact that fish such as salmon is a healthy food choice. However, the fatty acids that are in salmon, as well as its low mercury count, can also help prevent cancer. Some studies suggest that consuming wild salmon several times a week can help prevent cancer cells from forming and multiplying in the body.
People who drink orange juice are less likely to contract stomach cancer due to the vitamin C contained within. Many studies have shown that 1000mg of vitamin C per day can all but eliminate stomach cancer, but even a small glass of OJ every day, containing around 40mg of vitamin C, can help you prevent it.
Simple carbohydrates can actually increase your risk of getting cancer, but complex carbs, like whole grains, will reduce your risk significantly. The germ, bran and endosperm of the whole grains are very rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals and can help you to prevent cancer in your stomach, colon and other areas of the body.
Try to stay at a healthy weight. Being overweight and inactive can increase your chances of getting cancer. Excess weight has far reaching consequences and losing weight will do much more than lower your cancer risk. It will also lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and premature death.
Keeping a journal of what you hear from doctors and/or how you personally plan to fight the disease is a good idea. You can often become confused and especially discouraged when fighting cancer, so having some notes to refer to can help you remember the steps you had planned on taking to beat the disease.
In addition to doing self-breast exams and having your mammograms, be sure to visit your doctor for regular exams. For women in their 20s and 30s, it should be done by a doctor at least once every three years. Women over thirty should have them examined at least once a year.
Always protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun by using sunscreen or protective clothing to lessen the risk of skin cancer. The ultraviolet rays in the sun can be harsh, and melanomas (skin cancer) can quickly be fatal if left untreated. Using a SPF30 sunscreen is recommended to prevent burning, and to block a majority of the harmful UV rays. If you are fair skinned, you should always wear sunscreen.
Keep up a healthy, active lifestyle. Eat healthy, nutritious foods and exercise when possible. Keeping active can help you cope better with treatment and lead to a longer life. Also be sure to get enough sleep, which will help alleviate some of the stress of cancer treatment and fend off fatigue.
A great way to cope with a cancer diagnosis is to keep an open dialogue with everyone in your life. Make sure you have a doctor you re comfortable with, so you can ask clarifying questions without feeling intimidated. Bring family members along so they will understand what is going on, and you can later talk openly about the appointment.
As a preventative measure, some women who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer, may have a mastectomy. Chemotherapy is often able to kill cancerous cells, but it also affects normal cells leading to anemia, hair loss and other side effects. Hormone therapy can sometimes cause certain types of tumors to regress. New treatments are being researched and developed on a continuous basis.
