Nutrition and psychology for lung cancer patients

This is an automatically translated article.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and causes more deaths than any other cancer, regardless of gender. Our lungs can develop cancer because they are exposed to all kinds of pollutants and toxic substances in the air we breathe every day.
Video content is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nong Ngoc Son, Head of Oncology Department, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

1. Lung cancer and what you need to know

When suffering from cancer, in addition to focusing on treatment, psychological issues also need to be taken care of.
The first thing that can help the patient is clarity of information. Patients or loved ones need to talk to their doctor about key issues such as the type of lung cancer, how severe it is, and how likely it is to be treated. There is a lot of information online or from friends and relatives that do not match the actual disease or severity of the patient leading to confusion and unwarranted fear of this redundant information. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a reliable place to get the necessary information mentioned above, before deciding what to do next.
Second, patients can share their illness with people they trust or love. Relatives also need to spend a lot of time with the patient in the early stages of cancer. Regularly having people around to listen and talk will help relieve and talk about worries, fears or sorrows. Some sufferers need a few weeks, sometimes even a month, to accept reality, but most can soon get over it to reach a stage of psychological stability with the companionship and support of their family. medical staff.
Third, maintain a healthy lifestyle, persist in exercising. Do not look to stimulants such as beer, alcohol, drugs... because they make emotional and mental disorders more. Instead, participating in small activities or volunteering in the community, or exercising regularly will help create positive emotions and maintain optimism.
In addition to maintaining mental health, proper nutrition for lung cancer patients is also extremely important to help the body not be exhausted, and at the same time, to have enough health to recover from some reactions. side effects during treatment.

2. Foods that lung cancer patients should add in their diet

2.1 Fruits and vegetables
These are foods rich in antioxidants that help reduce disease symptoms and provide essential vitamins and minerals for lung cancer patients. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain many good carbohydrates that help produce the main energy for the body.
2.2. Whole grains
Whole grains are richer in fiber and nutrients than refined grains. Furthermore, the vitamins, minerals and especially the antioxidants in whole grains have been shown to reduce the risk of age-related diseases, typically cardiovascular disease, and both. cancer.
In addition, grains such as rice, rice, barley, millet, corn, oats... provide B vitamins and carbohydrates to stimulate the brain to produce Serotonin - a hormone that helps the body reduce the feeling of loss of appetite. , worried, upset.
2.3 Dairy products and protein-rich foods
Dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt provide a rich amount of calcium and protein for the body, helping to strengthen the body's immune system. Lung cancer patients are often tired and lose their appetite, so they are often encouraged to use milk in their side meals to provide the necessary nutrients for the body.
2.4 Vegetable fat
This is a source of beneficial fats for the body, helping to promote nutrient absorption, preventing abnormal weight loss in lung cancer patients. In addition, patients should use more cereals, peanut butter, mixed with salads, cereals, yogurt. Some sources of vegetable fats are very rich, such as: olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil, avocado,...
2.5 Drinking green tea water every day
2 cups of green tea a day can Helps the body absorb polyphenols compounds in green tea, thereby promoting its antioxidant effects, preventing cancer effectively.
However, cancer patients should also avoid the following:
Quit smoking, this is the "main culprit" causing lung cancer Limit seafood such as shrimp, crab, because seafood can increased allergies or cough. Greasy foods can increase the feeling of fullness, indigestion, loss of appetite Baked, smoked foods. In fact, the foods that are good for lung cancer patients can vary depending on the stage of the disease. Therefore, relatives should base on the patient's situation to make necessary, accurate and timely supplements.
It is difficult to prevent cancer from spreading to the lungs. Researchers are working on preventive treatments, but none are universal yet. Therefore, cancer screening is essential, especially for high-risk patients.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has been implementing cancer screening packages. At Vinmec, there are fully modern diagnostic facilities such as: PET/CT, SPECT/CT, MRI..., blood marrow test, histopathology, immunohistochemistry test, gene test, lab test molecular biology, as well as a full range of targeted drugs, the most advanced immunotherapy drugs in cancer treatment. Multimodal cancer treatment from surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy in cancer treatment, new treatments such as autoimmunotherapy body, heat therapy...
After having an accurate diagnosis of the disease and stage, the patient will be consulted to choose the most appropriate and effective treatment methods. The treatment process is always closely coordinated with many specialties: Diagnostic Imaging, Biochemistry, Immunology, Cardiology, Stem Cell and Gene Technology; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Endocrinology, Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Psychology, Department of Nutrition... to bring the highest efficiency and comfort to patients. After undergoing the treatment phase, the patient will also be monitored and re-examined to determine whether the cancer treatment is effective or not.

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