Cancer News Information

A cancer diagnosis almost always leads to a multi-pronged approach to treatment. Many patients undergo surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, and various holistic strategies may be explored as well. On top of these options, nutritional changes can improve the success rate of more traditional treatments. Cancer center staffs often include nutritionists who guide patients to healthy and helpful food choices.

Nutrition is important for individuals who are fighting cancerous diseases because the right kinds of foods can lend the body strength during and after medical treatments. Additionally, some foods can help the body fight and prevent the formation of malicious cells. However, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery can affect the appetite and make nutritional choices difficult. Professionals such as those who work at a cancer center can help patients navigate difficulties and develop a balanced, beneficial diet.

Well-balanced diets can aid patients in maintaining a healthy weight and fighting side effects during treatment. It is important for individuals undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to receive a variety of nutrients, including fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Phytonutrients, the nutrients gained from plant products, and antioxidants are also key elements in the diets of oncology patients. Many nutritionists believe that nutrients from the plant, as opposed to the animal, kingdom are more helpful in fighting dangerous cells. Antioxidants can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, and they attack free radicals, preventing them from harming healthy cells.

Various nutritional adjustments may be used to combat common side effects and complications encountered during the course of treatment. For example, diarrhea and stomach cramping can be addressed with a temporary, low-fiber diet. Patients with compromised immune systems are advised to eat well-cooked, carefully prepared foods and avoid cross-contamination. Nausea, dry mouth, and mouth or throat sores may present dietary complications as well. Liquid meals or easy-to-eat foods such as soft fruits can provide necessary nutritional elements without causing pain. Each side effect presents its own challenge, but dietary solutions are available.

Cancer center patients who meet with professional nutritionists are asked to provide a comprehensive look at their unique circumstances. Every oncology patient has an individual set of symptoms, treatments, and concerns. For each patient, there are nutritional recommendations for the time leading up to treatment, during treatment, and after treatment. Before treatment, the focus falls on feeling as well as possible and eating foods that build strength. During treatment, foods that manage and prevent side effects are most important, and after treatment, strength-building foods to help the patient move forward are most recommended.

Nutritional requirements vary from patient to patient, and especially children or elderly individuals may require different nourishment than an adult patient. However, the principles of using healthy, well-balanced diets to manage cancerous cells and side effects span across most patients. While radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery may be the first line of combat, nutritional planning can contribute to healing.

Cancer-termed as the "Emperor of Maladies" is one of the most widespread non-communicable disease present in the modern day world. Many millions of individuals are diagnosed with this incurable disease, every day in different regions of the world.

Many people do not understand the exact nature of this disease, all they know is that this is a disease which when it grabs hold of a person, always leads to the demise of the individual.

But, how is it caused? Does everyone have the potential to act as preferable hosts for this brutal disease?
Cancer is usually genetically transferred from parent to offspring. Many individuals have several genes called as cellular oncogenes (c-onc) or proto-oncogenes which when exposed to certain conditions get activated and lead to oncogenic transformation of cells.

There are two types of tumors- benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors are not very dangerous, in the theoretical sense, as they do not spread from their initial location to other areas of the body. Malignant tumors on the other hand are highly dangerous and lead to certain forms of cancer. These tumors have the most feared property of tumors- metastasis. By this property, cells of the tumor that are sloughed off,and travel to other regions of the body, through the blood. Wherever these cells get lodged in the body, they form new tumors and this leads to cancer.

Normal cells have the property of contact inhibition- the property that inhibits the division of the cells when in contact with neighbouring cells. Cancer cells, it seems, has lost this property of normal cells.

Due to the loss of this property, cancer cells rapidly divide, taking up the space of the surrounding cells and thus prevent them from obtaining sufficient nutrients. This further decreases the functioning capability of the surrounding normal cells. As this continues, the patient's body is unable to carry out the essential life activities and thus cause different symptoms like difficulty in breathing( as in the case of lung cancer) or inability to digest the ingested food substances(in the case of stomach or duodenum cancer).

But how does one diagnose cancer? Now-a-days certain scans like CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are done to detect cancer of the internal organs. Histopathological studies are also conduced to detect cancer of the tissues and organs.

Due to modern day technology, certain chemicals are used in chemotherapy and radiation therapy which are used to kill the dangerous cancer cells. But a disadvantage of this method is that it does not differentiate between cancer cells and normal body cells and tends to kill these normal cells too. Side-effects also include anaemia, hair loss and extreme tiredness.

But the most important thing that most of the people diagnosed with this incurable malady just need a lot of support from their families.