Chemotherapy can have a few side effects on the body and leaving the patient exhausted can be one of them. You might feel nauseated and sore after the session, however, the most common side-effect of chemotherapy is relentless fatigue. This does not mean you have to lie there helpless and give in to the tiredness. This blog contains the 6 best ways suggested by Dr Suresh Advani to improve your strength and stamina while undergoing chemotherapy.
Get Enough Calories:
Even if you feel you are overweight, this is not the time to go on a diet. You can lose a few kilograms of muscle from your body. Eating healthy and eating enough is crucial during chemotherapy treatment. Your body is going through a lot and needs enough nourishment to maintain the strength and stamina levels. Consult the best chemotherapy doctor in Mumbai to get a clear idea of how many calories you should be taking every day during the treatment. Some patients share that they feel the need to snack all through the chemotherapy session in order to keep themselves satiated while others find themselves being able to eat just one food.
Doctors that perform the best chemotherapy in Mumbai, share that it is better to keep eating whatever your body allows and get enough calories as you will have time after chemo to go on a diet and get back into shape.
Take Your Nutrition Seriously:
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of cancer treatment and poor nutrition can contribute to that. To ensure you get all the necessary nutrients, make sure to take foods rich in vitamins and minerals. IT is especially important for women to take calcium-rich foods. Both calcium and vitamin D are known to improve muscle mass in the body, while omega-3 is known to boost muscle growth in older patients. But before taking any supplements, consult with your oncologist for chemotherapy In Mumbai, to make sure it does not interfere with your other medications.
Battle Nausea:
There are a lot of ways to deal with nausea. Doctors can suggest so many combinations of medications to fight nausea that can be tailored to the patient. However, it is important to make sure you consult the best chemotherapy doctor in Mumbai so you do not end up taking the new anti-nausea pharmaceuticals. These can slow down your digestion. This can lead to issues like constipation and food staying in your stomach longer than usual. If this happens, immediately talk to your oncologist who can recommend a laxative that is safe to use with other medications.
Take Medications If Recommended:
Fatigue can be linked to anaemia. Anaemia is a condition wherein the blood doesn’t contain enough red blood cells to need the oxygen needs of the body. Chemotherapy can cause anaemia by impacting the bone marrow (where the red blood cells are produced). Multivitamin supplements that fulfil the iron needs of the body can reverse the effects of anaemia as iron is the building block of red blood cells.
Take Rest:
Worrying about your chemotherapy can be both physically and mentally exhausting. It can give you insomnia and sap your energy levels. When you discuss the chemotherapy cost in Mumbai, do not hesitate to ask your doctor for supplements that can temporarily help you sleep better. Don’t worry about getting dependent on them as studies have shown that cancer patients who took sleep aids during or immediately after chemotherapy did not become used to them.
Get Moving:
Get your body moving. Dr Suresh Advani, one of the best chemotherapy doctors in Mumbai advises patients to take a 45-minute walk every day. Sunlight, fresh air and a little bit of exercise can help reduce signs of fatigue. Cancer patients who did walking on a regular basis were seen to be significantly less fatigued than the patients who did not.