Fatigue and Cancer
People who are going through chemotherapy are generally focused on one thing: making it THROUGH the treatments.
Once the chemo treatments have ended, however, the next question becomes “How long is this chemo-related fatigue going to last?”
They are ready to move on with their lives but feel that the fatigue is holding them back. I know I certainly felt like that when I was finished with 6 months of chemotherapy treatments.
Is It Fatigue or Depression?
One thing I like to suggest is keeping a diary for one week to identify the time of day when you are either most fatigued or have the most energy. Note what you think may be contributing factors. You might be surprised. Some have found that they feel fatigued after thinking about something that depresses them.
Depression often masks itself as fatigue. If you think that it’s depression you are dealing with, please see a qualified therapist. And don’t be embarrassed about it – you have been through hell all the way through from diagnosis to all those chemicals that were pumped into your system. Depression is NOT unusual after all of that.
If you feel pretty sure that it’s just chemo related fatigue, however, read on.
How Long Is This Chemo Fatigue Going to Last?
The standard answer from most oncologists is that “it is not unreasonable that fatigue continues for months, if not for a year or year and a half” after the finish of chemotherapy (Tish Knobf, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., A.O.C.N, reference http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/fatigue/ask_expert/2008_01/).
The real answer depends on how you take care of yourself. I’ve known women who were still suffering from fatigue FIVE years later (but I noticed they weren’t very proactive with their health either).
There are quite a few things you can do for yourself that will reduce the length of time that you are feeling the effects of chemo-related fatigue. Here’s my top 6:
- Exercise – Do you spend time exercising each day? At least 30 minutes per day doing some sort of weight-bearing exercise, walking, or yoga are highly recommended by most doctors. I pushed myself to go to the gym after finishing chemotherapy, partly because I was part of a study being done by an exercise physiologist who was studying the effects of exercise on women who had been through treatments for breast cancer. But also, I was aware of the good effects on the body that exercise has – it’s crucial to the good function of your entire nervous system, immune system, and it has been proven to reduce your risk of getting cancer again. It also has some good psychological benefits, feelings of depression are definitely eased after exercising. Drink plenty of water during your day too to help flush out accumulated toxins (and drinks containing caffeine DO NOT count!).
- Massage and Bodywork – Massage and bodywork, such as Reiki, can be very helpful to relieve post-chemo fatigue. My own experience was that it also helped with those feelings of abandonment. Many feel that they’ve been so incredibly busy and focused on their treatments that once they are done and left on their own to resume a “normal” life, they feel like they’ve fallen off a cliff. Massage and bodywork help not only with the fatigue, but also with those “over the cliff” feelings. Please be aware, however, that if you have had a number of lymph nodes removed, or if you have bone metastases, you will want to consult a massage therapist who has special training – an oncology massage therapist will know exactly what to do. If you are considered “cancer free” (delightful words!) by your doctors, however, just ensure that your massage therapist is either licensed or certified. Skilled touch is so beneficial at nearly every stage of the cancer experience.
- Good Nutrition – Eating well may have been difficult when you were going through chemotherapy, but now that you’ve finished, this is a really good time to start rebuilding yourself with some excellent nutrients. See my page Diet and Cancer for recommendations on the best things to eat. I particularly enjoyed juicing because it helps you detox your body from all the chemotherapy drugs.
- Juice of Lycium Barbarum (Goji or Wolfberry) – The juice of this remarkable berry helped me the MOST out of everything I’ve listed here. I had so much energy and felt so fantastic when I was on this juice (and I’m still on it because it helps keep me extraordinarily well). There are two brands I recommend, NingXia Red and GoChi. They are both excellent. Take 30 ml three times daily after finishing chemotherapy for helping with fatigue relief (and so many other things such as deep restful sleep, bowel regularity, skin improvement, and immune system strengthening). Need to know where to get it? Contact me.
- Get Plenty of Rest – I found it necessary to take little 20 minute power naps to recharge my energy after finishing chemotherapy. It really helped me a lot and I didn’t feel one bit guilty. If you can, balance periods of rest and work. I also found it helped to work at a moderate pace than rushing through activities.
- Take a Good Quality MultiVitamin – This helps to rebuild your blood cells, which have taken a big hit during chemotherapy. Try to find one that provides at least 100% of the recommended daily allowances (RDA) for most nutrients. I can recommend a good brand if you need help.
I hope that helps! Feel free to contact me if you need help with any of this.
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Cancer cachexia describes progressive weight loss, anorexia, and persistent erosion of body mass in a cancer patient with advanced cancer.
There’s a term for it – a syndrome called CACS, or cancer anorexia cachexia syndrome.
It’s a hard thing to see, especially if it’s your loved one going through it. I watched my mother go from a lovely, normal weight to a person whose limbs were so thin she almost looked like a concentration camp survivor. It made me want to cry.
More than 80% of cancer patients with advanced cancer develop cachexia, especially those with solid tumors, and it can become more pronounced as the cancer progresses.
Why CACS Occurs
Doctors used to believe that cancer increased your metabolic demand and weakened your appetite, and that’s what resulted in the malnutrition and muscle wasting. However, new research shows there’s a bit more to it than that.
Apparently the tumor actually alters your metabolism from being anabolic (where you are continually building muscle) to catabolic (where muscles are broken down to feed the tumor). Cancer appears to raise your resting metabolic rate, and general nutrition does not help that.
The latest research indicates that cachexia results from a variety of tumor products, cytokines (a class of immunoregulatory proteins secreted by immune cells) and immune factors.
Basically, what’s happening is that the cancer patient ends up with a deficit of energy and their body has to use their muscles, fat and internal organs for that energy. When you add in the side effects of cancer treatments, it is easy to understand why your loved one looks absolutely malnourished.
Nutritional Advice for CACS
Dr Mercola (mercola.com), one of my trusted sources, recommends a high quality Antarctic krill oil to battle CACS. It’s a great source of omega 3 fats and safer. Because of the fact that our fish are now so contaminated with mercury, PCBs and metals, he no longer recommends fish oils. Dr Mercola says krill oil is 48 times more potent than fish oil.
In addition, you want and need to optimize your vitamin D levels. Dr Mercola offers a free one-hour lecture on video about how to do that (click the hyperlink to access the video).
You’ll need to avoid grains, sugar, processed foods (if it comes in a box or a can, avoid it), chemicals and artificial sweeteners. See my post this week on why you should avoid sugar.
Get some organic coconut oil into your diet every single day, it will help with your battle against CACS.
Get busy juicing (see my article on juicing). This part is important! When I began juicing for my mother, she got out of bed and baked a cake for my husband (he’d just cleaned off her patio)!
Avoid alcohol, drink plenty of filtered water and get some exercise. If you don’t feel like it or don’t have much energy, do as much as you can do and just increase it by a minute or two each day.
If you want more information, below are some studies which indicate high-dose omega 3 oils are helpful for CACS patients.
As usual, a big thank-you to Dr Joseph Mercola who provides us with so much high quality free information. Love that guy! You can also buy the krill oil from his on-line shop.
References:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.20362/full
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/%28SICI%291097-0142%2819980115%2982:2%3C403::AID-CNCR21%3E3.0.CO;2-1/full
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/16/my-one-hour-vitamin-d-lecture-to-clear-up-all-your-confusion-on-this-vital-nutrient.aspx
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Sugar – how we love it and how it wreaks havoc in our bodies and our immune system.
I was watching “60 Minutes” on Sunday night and watched their opening segment on sugar and its effects on our health.
If you missed it, click here to watch it. It’s a DON’T MISS episode.
DOES SUGAR FEED CANCER?
There is a lot of controversy between natural health practitioners and conventional medicine doctors as to whether sugar is or is not detrimental when you have cancer.
There are those that will tell you that every cell in the body requires glucose (sugar) for fuel and that sugar is NOT detrimental, but simply fuel for cells.
So, you’ve watched the 60 Minutes episode on sugar, you’ve seen that side of the argument. Here’s a more moderate approach offered to us by the website Caring 4 Cancer. I’ll let you decide for yourself (which is always the best way) whether sugar plays a role in cancer.
The fact is, high insulin levels (which occur as a result of having lots of sugar in your diet) are associated with a 283% increased risk of breast cancer.
Sugar also depresses your immune system by 50-90% for up to 5 hours after consumption.
Cancer cells act much differently than normal cells. Normal cells need oxygen. Cancer cells despise oxygen. In fact, oxygen therapy is a favorite among many of the alternative clinics I have researched.
You see, cancer metabolizes through a process of fermentation. If you know anything about making wine, you’ll know that fermentation requires sugar.
Most natural therapists recommend a specific sort of diet – juicing organic vegetables and fruits is one of the best because the juices contain living enzymes and vitamins which will help to kill the cancer cells. Cancer cells like cooked foods over raw because cooking destroys enzymes and heat sensitive vitamins.
If you need more information about juicing, see my page Diet and Cancer and my recent blog post about the benefits of juicing.
If you’d like my help while you’re going through breast cancer, sign up for my free e-newsletters on the right, or “like” me on Facebook (MarnieClark.com) and I’ll do my utmost to keep you informed and empowered on your healing journey… and beyond.
Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net and Ohmega1982
Acid reflux can be a real problem – especially when you’re going through chemotherapy. Unfortunately, acid reflux can be one of the side effects of the drugs administered. Here’s what you can do about it.
Be Proactive with your Diet
Eat a balanced diet that is rich in alkaline forming foods and low in acidic foods. Foods can be either acid forming, balancing or alkaline forming. Since our body’s normal PH is between 6.0 and 6.8 (we are mildly acidic), values above 6.8 are considered to be on the alkaline side and values below 6.3 are on the acidic side.
Too much acidity is definitely something you want to avoid right now – in fact too much acidity in the body can be one of the factors that lead to cancer and should always be avoided. But especially right now, when you’re going through chemotherapy, the foods you want to focus on are the alkaline forming foods.
Alkaline Foods
Avocados, buttermilk, dates, fresh coconut, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, herbs, herb teas, honey, molasses, raisins, sea vegetables, seeds, soy products, whey, yogurt. Low-level alkaline foods to be included in your diet are almonds, buckwheat, lima beans, quinoa and organic dairy products. For a list of specific acid/alkaline foods, click here.
Neutral Foods
All vegetable oils, sprouts, most dried beans and sunflower seeds.
Acid Foods
This is the list to be avoided: alcohol, artichokes, asparagus tips, aspirin, beans, beef, beer, cakes, canned fruits, cheese, chicken, cocoa, coffee, doughnuts, eggs, fish, flour, flour products, ketchup, jams/jellies, legumes, macaroni, mayonnaise, meat, mustard, noodles, oatmeal, olives, pasta, pastries, peanuts, pepper, plums, poultry, prunes, sauerkraut, shellfish, soft drinks, spaghetti, sugar, tea, tobacco, vinegar, white rice. Sounds like not much is left, doesn’t it?
Tips & Tricks
Here’s what you do – eat a diet that is about 70% alkaline forming foods and 30% acid forming foods. You can have small quantities of the things you love then – maybe just have them around lunch time so that your body isn’t trying to digest them at night when you’re lying down (part of what causes acid reflux).
I know this is hard, but if you want to get well and start feeling better, the quality of the food you put into your body is ULTRA important.
One more thing – here’s something that helped me immensely. Put a single drop of a good quality peppermint essential oil into a glass of water. Sip on the water all day. Peppermint oil is so calming and soothing to the digestive tract. Just make sure you get a good quality oil, something without other chemicals added. If you use the link I’ve provided, that will take you to my “Useful Links” page – just scroll down to Essential Oils.
One of my first posts, Do You Know the Benefits of Juicers for Cancer Patients?, was about the importance of juicing so read that and get yourself a juicer and start feeling better soon! I truly hope this helps you on your road to wellness.
See also my article on Ultimate Diet & Nutrition While Undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiation.
I send my love to everyone taking this journey right now. If you would like my help with getting through breast cancer in an inspiring and ultra-healthy way, please sign up for my free e-newsletters on the right, or “like” me on Facebook (MarnieClark.com) and I’ll do my utmost to keep you informed and empowered on your healing journey… and beyond.
Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net and zirconicusso
A new video by Kris Carr shows the benefits of juicers for fighting cancer. Kris is someone I really admire and appreciate. She is a cancer thriver, acclaimed author, and has her own website “Crazy Sexy Life”.
Kris’s video appeared recently on the TV program “The Revolution” and she shares her favorite juicing recipe and shows you how it’s done. Click here to see her video, it is well worth your time!
Juicing is something so easy to do for yourself, yet has so many wonderful health benefits (particularly if you have cancer), I highly recommend it. Watch the video to see why it’s so important.
I’ll even share with you my absolute favorite juicer, you can even buy it from this link and it’s a great price. Your purchases help to fund this blog and keep this information out there for the benefit of all.
Fantastic video, thanks to Kris and thanks to You Tube for the video.
If you would like my help with getting through breast cancer in an inspiring and ultra-healthy way, please sign up for my free e-newsletters on the right, or “like” me on Facebook (MarnieClark.com). When you’re in a desperate situation, you need an ally. You can depend on me to help you through this.
Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net and creativedoxfoto
8 Crucial Things to Reduce Chemotherapy Side Effects
There are a diverse range of side effects involved with chemotherapy drugs given for breast cancer.
The anti-nausea pills that are prescribed these days do a remarkably good job.
I’m an 8-year breast cancer survivor and I went through 6 months of various chemotherapy drugs. I never once vomited during the entire 6 months of my chemotherapy regimen – that really surprised me! I managed to stay incredibly well during the entire process and I’d like to share my list of the things I did that really helped me.
Quite possibly you may have different results but if even only one thing on the list helps you, I’ll be happy with that result!
Here’s my list of the 8 crucial things that helped me reduce chemotherapy side effects:
1. Meditation & Positive Thinking - the first thing I had to do was to quit thinking about the chemotherapy in a negative light – like it was something to be scared of. I worked hard on this and managed to come up with a meditation that I would do each time I sat down for the treatment (if you’d like to sign up for my newsletters, I’ll share the exact meditation I did with you). I envisioned the drugs entering my system as being a healing golden or white light (use a color that works for you personally) that moved through my entire body and eradicated any little weakling of a cancer cell (also important to think of the cancer cells as weak and easily overcome by the chemotherapy). This was a very calming thing to do and helped with anxiety.
2. Juicing of Organic Fruit & Vegetables – I juiced in the morning before my chemotherapy appointments (and every morning afterward too) and took the juice with me in a stainless steel thermos. I sipped it once I’d finished my meditation. My favorite was a combination of carrot, beet (a potent anti-cancer veggie), apple and ginger. Fresh ginger helps a lot with nausea and adds a spicy zest to the juice. You don’t need too much, just about a 1″ knob of it. I juiced every morning – for more information on juicing, go to my page Diet and Cancer
3. Glutamine – this is an amino acid that helps to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, especially the mucosal lining of the mouth and gut. Since these cells grow rapidly (and that’s what the chemotherapy is targeting), they take a big hit during chemotherapy and you can get mouth sores and heartburn problems. Glutamine really helps – I took about 2,000 mg per day, but someone else might need more or less.
4. Yoga and Walking – it is so important to keep moving! If you’re tired, just slow down and do what you can. Movement therapy helps you to detox, it helps your state of mind, it even helps constipation.
5. Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids – help on so many different levels and side effects I can’t list them all here. I took 1000-5000 mg daily and found it really helped. Each person will have to play around with the dosage though to find the one right for them.
6. The Power of Prayer – don’t underestimate this! Tell your friends when you’re going for each dose of chemotherapy and have them spend 5 minutes actively saying a prayer for you to coincide with your appointment time. You will be amazed at how uplifted you feel. Powerful stuff. I did this prior to surgery too.
7. Laughter – I had a best friend who’d take along some kind of gag gift or joke book or something silly – she’d get the whole place chuckling. Laughter is good medicine!
8. Massage or Reiki – get some bodywork regularly. It makes a huge difference to how you feel when going through chemotherapy.
The combination of these 8 things got me through 6 months of chemotherapy with a minimum of side effects and problems. I hope this helps you!
If you’d like to stay connected, sign up for my free e-newsletters on the right, or “like” me on Facebook (MarnieClark.com) and I’ll do my utmost to keep you informed and empowered on your healing journey.
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Do You Know The Benefits of Juicers for Cancer Patients?
Fewer things, nutritionally speaking, are better for you than juicing when you have cancer. Sadly, few cancer patients I’ve spoken to lately are actually doing this.
The reasons to juice, however, if you have cancer are multitudinous and compelling.
The 4 Best Benefits of Juicers for Cancer Patients
- Raw juices require minimal digestion (which is great if you don’t feel like eating) and can be used by the body quite easily;
- Raw juices detoxify and cleanse the body of unwanted toxins, chemicals and wastes;
- Raw juices provide superior nutrition by way of vitamins, minerals, and abundant living enzymes;
- Many juices (like beet) have potent anti-cancer activity.
Eating Organic Is Important
All of these factors make juicing perfect nutrition for cancer patients. I would like to stress, however, that anyone doing juicing for cancer patients should use ORGANIC produce because their bodies are already being ravaged by the treatments they go through and they don’t need to add pesticides and all the other risky nasties to that problem.
What Kind Of Juicer Is Best?
The next question people generally ask is what kind of juicer is best? There are literally hundreds on the market and choosing one can be baffling. The juicer you purchase really is important because most inexpensive juicers heat the juice a little as it passes through the machine and that wrecks the living enzymes and thus one of the major reasons you are juicing.
A good quality juicer needs to separately grind and then press out the juices. Low enzyme levels, usually the result of eating too many commercially prepared and fast foods, are linked with an inability to kill cancer cells. I use this Omega juicer and I absolutely love it because of the quality of the juice it produces, and of all the juicers I’ve had over the past 10 years, it’s the easiest to clean (you can buy it from clicking that link).
A terrific book for learning how to juice is Power Juices Super Drinks by Steve Meyerowitz.
I hope this helps you. If you have any questions, just contact me. Let’s juice our way back to vibrant health!
If you would like my help with getting through breast cancer in an inspiring and ultra-healthy way, please sign up for my free e-newsletters on the right, or “like” me on Facebook (MarnieClark.com). When you’re in a desperate situation, you need an ally. You can depend on me to help you through this.
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