Recovery after cancer treatment

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Although cancer patients have been successfully treated, recovering to return to normal life is a long process. To be able to restore health not only physically but also mentally, it is necessary to have a specific rehabilitation program for each patient. So what is cancer rehabilitation and how does it work?

1. What is Cancer Rehabilitation?

Cancer rehabilitation is a program that helps people with cancer maintain and recover physically and mentally. Cancer rehabilitation is the process that occurs before, during, and after cancer treatment.
Cancer rehabilitation involves a wide range of professionals working together to develop an individualized recovery plan based on the patient's preferences, strengths, and goals. Participating in a cancer rehabilitation program can help a patient recover completely or faster.

2. What are the benefits of cancer rehabilitation?

Cancer rehabilitation services can benefit all people with cancer who experience a change in quality of life after diagnosis, including all types and stages. cancer.
Cancer rehabilitation can help patients:
Improve a patient's endurance, strength, and mobility Increase patient confidence and morale Help improve daily functioning and self-care body becomes easier Help the patient cope with anxiety, distress, or other emotional problems Reduce fatigue, pain, and other lingering side effects Return to work Long-term planning to prolong Longevity After Cancer Cancer Rehabilitation is a program that helps people with cancer maintain and recover their physical and emotional well-being. It can help people with cancer recover faster and more fully from cancer treatment.

3. What does cancer rehabilitation include?

With a long course of cancer treatment, cancer patients often face a lot of difficulties to recover, such as exhaustion due to the side effects of the treatment method as well as mental illness. affect. To be able to get rid of negative and heavy thoughts about cancer, start with a happier life with loved ones, the cancer recovery process plays a big part. Above all, not being subjective with your illness and ready to fight the disease if it comes back, a cancer rehabilitation program can support patients in the following ways:

3.1. Actively active

People with cancer in general should try to be physically active. Gentle movements can help stimulate the patient's appetite. When patients can be active in sunlight, physical activity can increase the production of a hormone ghrelin. This hormone has a stimulating effect on appetite. If possible, cancer patients can exercise 30 minutes a day to help increase the body's production of ghrelin. For patients whose health does not allow it, it is possible to start exercising little by little, throughout the day, it also helps to stimulate the immune system.
Some activities that people after cancer treatment can practice such as gentle walking around the park, yoga, gardening in the sun, light indoor work, moderate resistance exercises right, gentle exercise in the pool ...

3.2. Try a drink that replaces foods

A regular condition in cancer patients is not wanting to eat. Therefore, patients can start with energy drinks that provide enough calories, protein, and other nutrients. Instead of eating, can drink, there are many drinks that provide energy to the patient as a full meal.
On the market today there are many drugs that provide omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 helps support normal metabolism and weight maintenance when patients frequently experience anorexia. This is one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients. In omega 3 there is eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which is good for cancer patients.

3.3. Change the way the patient eats

For cancer patients, adding energy to the body to recover from treatment is a dilemma that patients have to face and overcome. Even many cancer patients become exhausted after treatment, some people die from this cause, not from the cancer. One of the most important problems of cancer patients is how to provide enough nutritional energy. If the patient does not feel like eating or is not ready to eat, caregivers can split meals or add extra meals.
Some point of view, scientists can consider breakfast is often the best meal of the day. Patients can start with a hearty, nutrient-rich breakfast instead of focusing on lunches and dinners.

3.4. Eating can last throughout the day

If changing the way you eat doesn't work, cancer patients can add energy by eating at any time of the day. This may sound like a patient need to eat a lot, but for a cancer patient, eating whenever you like, for a few hours at a time can be beneficial. For nutritional supplements in exhausted patients, it is better to have than nothing, this is more or less supplementary for the patient
When the patient is being treated for cancer, snacking is absolutely the right thing to do. reasonable. It has the ability to provide an additional source of energy that patients cannot get enough of with main meals. Doctors will encourage patients to eat high-calorie snacks. The patient can change and diversify the snacks so that the patient can enjoy eating. Eat protein-rich foods and find ways to incorporate vegetables and fruits into the patient's snack.

3.5. Increase the nutritional density of meals

If the cancer patient can only tolerate a small amount of food in a meal. You can increase the nutrient density of a meal that the patient can eat without increasing the volume of the food. Nutrient-rich foods can include fat-free milk, protein powder, dried fruit, nuts, and peanut butter. These foods are moderate in weight but add a lot of calories and nutrients to the patient.

3.6. Relax before a meal

Cancer treatment is a long process and has many side effects, patients can always face conditions of anxiety, stress. Therefore, patients should not make eating as stressful as dealing with illness. The fact that family members or friends of the patient are worried about the patient's eating and drinking will create pressure for the patient, even stress for them. Don't let this affect your meal. Experts advise both patients and caregivers to relax before meals and optimize nutrient intake.
There are many ways to relax before a meal, such as going for a walk can help reduce stress levels improve the patient's appetite, listening to soft music before and during meals...

3.7. Consume foods at room temperature

One of the reasons that some patients have no appetite can be because the smell of food can change. For food odors that bother the sick person, caregivers can prepare cold foods or foods at room temperature. Foods that are at room temperature or cooled often have less aroma and flavor. However, cold foods are often not recommended by doctors for regular use for patients, it is best to use fresh foods, eat foods when cold.

3.8. Consult a specialist about anorexia

If all of the above doesn't work, talk to your therapist so he or she can prescribe an appetite-stimulating medication. However, the use of drugs and the side effects of drugs on the body need a consultation with a doctor. Because there are many drugs that stimulate appetite, but besides that, there are many unwanted side effects.
Oncology Center - Vinmec International General Hospital gathers good experts in radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, equipped with modern facilities. The center is modernly built according to international standards, using a multi-specialty approach in diagnosis and selection of appropriate treatment regimens for each patient, contributing to comprehensive patient care.
For safe and effective rehabilitative treatment for cancer patients, customers can contact the rehabilitation department of Vinmec International General Hospital to be prescribed specific treatment by doctors. possible for each case. The Department of Rehabilitation is fully invested, with a complete and rich system of physical therapy equipment and machinery originating from the world's leading manufacturer of physical therapy equipment. like the Netherlands; Japan....
Spinal traction bed Neck spinal extension rig Large short wave machine Treatment ultrasound machine Pulsed electric machine Passive knee flexion and extension machine Programmable bicycle system Muscle exercise machine system, Joint training Strength training machine system and multi-function training bed system BoBab exercise bed system... The technicians are formally trained, at the university and college level, having worked in various departments. Rehabilitation of large hospitals. In addition, from time to time, the Faculty also has an increase of foreign technicians working together and exchanging experiences. The care support team is available to assist the patient in safe mobility.
If you have a need for consultation and examination at Vinmec Hospitals under the national health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: mayoclinic.org