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According to the American Cancer Society, about 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer, and more than 500,000 cancer patients died last year. Cancer is a disease that involves uncontrollable and abnormal growth and destruction of body tissues, which can spread to other parts of your body. If you suspect you have signs of cancer, go for early diagnosis and treatment from an experienced radiation oncologist Surprise. A radiation oncologist utilizes a cancer treatment called radiation oncology. Also called radiation therapy or radiotherapy, radiation oncology involves using a special machine to direct precise, controlled doses of radiation toward a cancerous tumor.
As a result, the radiation destroys and kills cancerous cells or damages their DNA to make them grow slowly. If radiotherapy damages the DNA of cancer cells, they cannot divide and multiply and eventually die. Thus, the body breaks them down and eliminates them.
Although radiation oncology is highly effective in treating cancer, it has numerous side effects, such as fatigue, skin problems, loss of hair, and low blood counts. You may also experience difficulty swallowing, taste changes, and nausea.
Subsequently, below are tips that can help you take care of yourself against the harmful effects of radiation oncology.
1.Rest adequately
- Radiotherapy drains you physically, emotionally, and mentally. You may also feel tired because the unbearable pain makes sleeping difficult. And even if you sleep and rest adequately, you may still feel exhausted.
Because you are always tired, that may negatively affect your daily life, including performance in the workplace, daily activities, relationships, and moods and emotions.
You can get adequate rest during your treatment by ensuring your stress, depression, and anxiety levels are within a healthy limit.
Also, consider consulting a professional dietician or nutritionist if you have taste changes. That will allow you to eat healthily and get all the essential vitamins and minerals.
You may also need to undergo anemia treatment, perform physically less straining exercises, talk with a counselor, and adopt mindful and meditation practices.
2.Stay hydrated
Radiation therapy often makes you dehydrated because you excessively urinate, vomit, pass watery stools, and deal with fevers.
Water and fluids are essential in your body for regulating temperature, lubricating joints, creating saliva, and removing waste products and toxic substances.
Therefore, drink water and fluids regularly during radiation therapy. Always carry drinking water while traveling and eat foods with high water content, such as soup, watermelon, and broccoli. The fluids you drink should have sufficient minerals and vitamins.
3.Avoid exposure of your skin to the sun’s harmful UV rays
Since radiation oncology makes your skin more sensitive, you become more susceptible to the harmful rays and heat of the sun. Hence, protect your skin against exposure to the sun’s UV rays during and after treatment.
Wear sun-protective clothes when you are outdoors, apply the recommended sunscreen, rest under the shade of the tree, and avoid exposure to sunlight when it is intense from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Contact Arizona Center for Cancer Care today to schedule an appointment with a specialist in radiation oncology.
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