my mom is suffering from breast cance... - American Cancer S...
my mom is suffering from breast cancer . i want to know How should we can reduce the effect of chemotherapy like hair loss, ulcer.
my mom had to have radiation to her entire head because a brain tumor was overlooked. she did lose all of her hair. my mom also had breast cancer which was held in check by the drug arimidex. i do know there is a form of chemotherapy where you do not lose your hair. finally just try to keep your mom comfortable.
Chemotherapy is the necessary form of treatment for individuals who are suffering from advanced stages of cancer. Not all cancer patients require chemotherapy. It is only those who are battling cancer which cannot be cured with the help of medication. As a part of the chemotherapy treatment, patients are exposed to mild and permissible quantities of radiation which are used to destroy the cancer causing cells that are present in the patients’ body. Since chemotherapy involves the use of radiation, some patients, if not all, are bound to experience different types of side effects which can cause them pain, discomfort, stress, depression, and most commonly the loss of hair and ulcer. Let us understand the common side effects of chemotherapy and be familiar with the tips to manage them effectively.
-Severe fatigue or exhaustion – Chemotherapy is bound to take a heavy toll on the state of the patient’s body and its major side effect is that the patient will feel exhausted very soon and they will lack energy. Under such circumstances, it is recommended that you do less amount of work and try to conserve as much energy as you can because you will be in need of it during the chemotherapy sessions. Rest as much as you can get enough sleep to keep your mind and body in balance.
-Loss of hair – Throughout the course of your chemotherapy treatment, you may notice that your body is losing hair at a faster rate than what it can grow. There is nothing much that you can do about this but to accept it. But the hair that you loss will eventually grow back once you have completed your chemotherapy sessions successfully. If the loss of hair affects you psychologically, talk to the hospital’s cancer victim support team and ask them for any help or advice they can provide that might be useful to you. Plus, try to keep your scalp and hair as clean as possible to avoid the condition from deteriorating. Use a mild and chemical free shampoo which is friendly to your scalp. Do not use hair dyes and you can opt to wear a wig to cover your receding hairline.
-Tackling skin problems – Chemotherapy patients may experience skin problems like skin darkening, peeling of skin, skin dryness and itchiness. It is recommended that the cancer victim support his or her skin by using a powerful sun screen which has a SPF rating of above 30+ when they go out on sunny days or even normal days for that matter. You can prevent your skin from drying buy using a skin lotion or moisturizer. Do not attempt to wax or shave your skin till them therapy is complete fully. You can also keep your skin hydrated by drinking lots of water.
-Being affected by diarrhea or constipation – If your notice that there is a sudden change in your bowel movements due to chemotherapy like constipation or diarrhea, inform your doctor about it so that he or she can prescribe you suitable medication. Eat large servings of food with high fiber content and drink plenty of fruit juice such as apple or pear. Avoid consuming suppositories and enemas as it is not advisable for chemotherapy patients to use it. Drink lots of water in order to compensate for the loss of body fluids.
-Sores in mouth – Chemotherapy can cause sores and ulcers to develop inside your mouth and it can cause a great deal of pain. You can tackle this problem by using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Avoid brushing too hard and stay away from the region where the sores or ulcers are found. If possible, try to eat more of a liquid diet so that there is no need for you to chew solid foods. It is also easier for you to digest liquid food. Reduce the spiciness of your food and eat foods which are bland or naturally sweet.
With these tips , you can educate patients undergoing chemotherapy and give them the assurance that there is nothing to be alarmed about the side effects of the treatment. It will slowly disappear with time and you can quickly get back to your routine life post the successful completion of your treatment and be normal like everyone else.
hi kunal firstly u dnt have to worry after hearing this word cancer thrz nthng in this world which cannot be cured believe in urself. talking about your mothers case. there is no as such remdy or treatment for controlling hair loose but what best you can do is give her good healthy nutritious vitamins which will surely help in her hair growth talking about second part ulcer dont give her spicy or oily food ask her fr medidation n tk as much as good diet she can n trust god she will be fine soon tk cr..