It's Personal: How To Summon Your Strength And Fight Your Cancer

By Robert Strong


As most people will tell you when broaching the topic of death -- it's not the being dead that bothers people so much. It's the process of dying. This definitely holds true with cancer. People fear this disease because of the extreme pain, hair loss, alienation, and other ills associated with the it. Here is some important information about cancer.

There is large concern over high death rates due to tobacco addiction. For those who can't quit on their own, state Medicaid programs are increasing coverage for tobacco dependence. Although higher levels of coverage as well as coverage for pregnant women are needed, Medicaid is well on its way to offering help to those dependent on tobacco products.

Avoid anemia during cancer treatments by eating foods rich in iron such as liver, green leafy vegetables, molasses and lentils. These foods will boost your iron levels allowing oxygen rich blood to be carried throughout your body and facilitates chemotherapy.

Know your family history so you know if you are at risk of getting breast cancer. If you have family members who have had it before reaching menopause, be sure to tell your doctor. You are going to be at a higher risk of developing the cancer as well, and your doctor will want to keep a close eye on you.

If you are battling cancer, it can be helpful to join a support group for your type of cancer or cancer in general. Talking to others in your situation can help you feel less alone and give you a chance to make new friends. Mutual support can be very important on the journey to recovery.

Signs of ovarian cancer can be very subtle. It is sometimes referred to as the "silent killer" due to the lack of symptoms until the cancer has progressed. The most common symptom includes pain in the the abdominal area, pelvis or back. Increased size of the abdomen area is another symptom. The stomach appears similar to that of a pregnant woman's stomach.

Keep your babies out of the sun as much as possible. Use swim shirts when out at the beach or at the pool. Keep the sunscreen flowing and apply it to them quite often. Even if the sunscreen claims to be waterproof, they are sure to be losing some of the protection as they swim.

When you first receive your cancer diagnosis, get as many facts as you can about it. Try to gather as much useful, basic information as you can about the type of cancer you have. What kind of cancer is it? Where is it? Has it spread? How will it be treated?

The best weapon to help you avoid environmental cancers is knowledge. Know the area you live in. The state's government will have a website showing area's of exposure you should be aware of. Check the building materials in your house, carpets and refrigerator. Vigilance on your part is a great first step in avoiding environmental cancer.

Ovarian cancer is a serious form of cancer that is hard to treat. The symptoms don't usually make themselves known early, and there are no screening tests for early detection. There are several ways to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer such as a diet low in fat, sugar and red meat. Keeping weight down, and taking birth control pills can also reduce the risk. As a last resort, some women choose to have their ovaries removed after childbearing. This removes the risk entirely.

Take advantage of the help and assistance programs available to cancer patients. The American Cancer Society provides the Patient Navigation Program to help you navigate the journey from diagnosis to treatment to recovery. The Patient Navigators and volunteers trained by the American Cancer Society are available at cancer treatment centers and hospitals across the United States.

Experts tell us we constantly have cancer cells in our bodies. These don't develop into cancer disease if we have a healthy immune system that eliminates these cells from our gut and our bloodstream. Keep your liver healthy, eat lots of cruciferous vegetables (which help the liver dump contaminants) and those cancer cells will not get a chance to run amok.

By following the tips and advice discussed above, you can be sure to make living with cancer or someone with cancer something that shouldn't be feared, but something that can be tolerated and possibly cured. As was said at the beginning, there are many options and things available, so talk to a doctor and use these tips.




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