When facing a cancer diagnosis, whether for yourself or a loved one, you know that cooking healthful, delicious food is not always easy. The body goes through various changes from the side effects of cancer and treatment that can affect taste buds, including a diminished appetite, limited foods that are appealing and changes to your taste and smell. Although the goal of cancer treatment is to destroy the cancer cells, normal cells can be damaged in the process, affecting how you feel. When going through treatment, each hour, each day and each week you can feel differently. As a person experiences these side effects, it is important to know the foods that are better tolerated and help to ease the symptoms.
The most common side effect of chemotherapy is loss of appetite, or anorexia, which can be a result of radiation, stress, depression and the cancer itself. Taste changes may also be an issue caused by treatment, resulting in flavor changes and or no taste at all.
Neutropenia, or low white blood cell count, occurs after chemotherapy treatments for most patients. Neutropenia normally lasts for three to seven days. As soon as your counts have returned to normal, you can return to a regular diet.
To decrease your risk of infection, avoid fresh fruits, vegetables, raw meat or fish during the time your blood counts are low.
A dry or sore mouth, caused by chemotherapy or radiation, can get sore seven to 10 days following certain chemotherapy treatments. Precaution and care in choosing foods must be taken to sooth this sensitive side effect. Practicing good oral hygiene can help tremendously. Soft foods should be readily available, while avoiding rough textured, spicy, pain inducing foods.
The gastrointestinal tract is often affected by cancer treatments, which can bring nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation along with it. Healthy well-tolerated high fiber foods are important for alleviating constipation, while low fiber foods are helpful for vomiting and diarrhea relief.
Constipation:
Diarrhea:
Maintaining adequate calories and nutrition during this time can be a difficult task, however it is very important to keep nutrition a priority for optimal health and strength, while incorporating nutrition therapy to help ease the side effects of your treatment.
From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/holly-b-clegg/cancer-treatment-diet_b_867242.html
ATLANTA – As a culmination of the efforts behind the Prostate Cancer Awareness Pledge Campaign, there will be a prostate cancer symposium on Saturday, April 2, 2011 held at the Morehouse School of Medicine located at 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Prostate cancer is a serious health concern in Georgia. According to the American Cancer Society, the state of Georgia ranks 11th in number of estimated deaths per capita from the disease.
The Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition, RC Cancer Centers, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers, UPS, CR Bard, WXIA Television, Morehouse School of Medicine, KISS 104.1 Radio and WSB Radio partnered in support of the challenge for 10,000 men in Georgia pledge to have the conversation with their doctors and/or be screened by April 30, 2011.
The campaign launched in December with a gathering of partners and officials with Mayor Kasim Reed as he signed a pledge card to have a conversation with his doctor and/or be screened for prostate cancer. On Monday, March 14, 2011, legislators from the Georgia House and Senate gathered to sign pledges and got screened for prostate cancer as they recognized Prostate Cancer Awareness Day at the capitol.
“We’ve made great strides in the last few months but still have a ways to go in the mission to raise awareness about prostate cancer in Georgia,” said Frank Catroneo from the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition.
The Prostate Cancer Symposium will be divided into two sessions. The morning session for physicians only will begin at 7:30 a.m. and features a panel discussion on public health trends, informed decision making for prostate cancer, outcomes and the impact of health policy impact on prostate cancer. Attending physicians will be eligible for CME credits.
The second session which begins at 10 a.m., is free to the public and will educate and empower men, providing information to support better prostate cancer treatment decision making and raise general awareness. Moderated by Jerry Carnes of WXIA 11 Alive, the day’s program includes several renowned speakers including Jonathan Simons, M.D., president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, James Bennett, M.D., Morehouse School of Medicine faculty, Ingrid Hill, Ph.D., MPH from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as James Benton, M.D., radiation oncologist from RC Cancer Centers.
The Georgia Department of Community Health reports prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer among Georgia males and accounts for 28 percent of all new cancer cases among males each year. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer death, behind lung cancer according to the American Cancer Society.
A prostate screening PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is a simple blood test which will not define a man’s prostate cancer status, but provides the basis for men to start the right conversations with their doctor. When prostate cancer is detected early, it is a very curable disease.
“Maintaining an ongoing relationship with our healthcare providers is an essential part of preventive care when discussing prostate cancer because risks vary from person to person,” said Dr. Roland Matthews, from Morehouse School of Medicine and Director of the Grady Cancer Center for Excellence.
“As the campaign continues through the next few weeks,” said Michael Holton, president and COO of RC Cancer Centers. “RC Cancer Centers continues to offer free of charge PSA screenings for men over 40 years old. They can be screened at any one of our five locations in Georgia. For screening locations, visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com .”
Nationally, about one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Prostate cancer is treatable when caught early.
To register for the Prostate Cancer Symposium visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com or contact Shelly Glenn at 770-682-2099 x. 119 or sglenn@rccancercenters.com.
To learn more about the Prostate Cancer Pledge Campaign, visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com.
For those looking for a meaningful commitment on Valentine’s Day, RC Cancer Centers along with the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition, Atlanta Hawks, KISS 104.1, Atlanta Thrashers, WSB Radio, UPS, C.R. Bard, WXIA Television and Morehouse School of Medicine have issued a challenge to have 10,000 men in Georgia pledge to engage in a conversation with their doctors and/or get screened for prostate cancer between now and April 30, 2011.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common non-skin cancers in America. It affects 1 in 6 men and accounts for 28 percent of all new cancer cases among Georgia males each year. Getting a loved one tested may be the greatest gift of all this Valentine’s Day.
“Early detection is the greatest preventative measure a person can take,” says Dr. Mark Merlin radiation oncologist at RC Cancer Centers. More than 2 million men in the U.S. have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point and are still alive today, according to the American Cancer Society.
“It is crucial for men to maintain an ongoing relationship with their healthcare provider as the risk for prostate cancer will vary from person to person,” says Dr. Philip Shrake, radiation oncologist at RC Cancer Centers.
Show romance and affection a little differently this year and encourage the one you love to get a prostate cancer screening and start the dialogue with their doctor this Valentine’s Day.
RC Cancer Centers has partnered with the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers, UPS, CR Bard, WXIA Television, Morehouse School of Medicine, KISS 104.1 Radio and WSB Radio to support the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition in an effort to better educate men about their health choices and raise awareness about prostate cancer in the state of Georgia.
The prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening is a simple blood test that RC Cancer Centers is encouraging you to do for your love. Do it for each other.
To take the pledge or learn more about the Georgia Pledge Campaign, visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com.
Prostate cancer is a serious health concern in Georgia. According to the American Cancer Society, the state of Georgia ranks 11th in number of estimated deaths per capita from the disease. In an effort to raise awareness about prostate cancer and ensure more men commit to be informed and screened, several companies and media organizations have joined the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition in launching a pledge campaign.
The Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition, RC Cancer Centers and the Georgia Department of Community Health along with the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers, UPS, CR Bard, WXIA Television, Morehouse School of Medicine, KISS 104.1 Radio and WSB Radio are supporting this initiative to increase prostate cancer awareness throughout the state of Georgia.
“Specifically, we are encouraging every man who is over the age of 40 in Georgia to speak to his doctor and take the pledge to get screened for prostate cancer,” said Frank Catroneo, Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition Board Member. “Our goal is to have 10,000 men in Georgia pledge to have the conversation with their doctors and/or be screened between now and April 20, 2011.”
M. Rony Francois, MD, MSPH, PhD, Director, DCH Division of Public Health and State Health Officer said, “I look forward to the potential that this pledge campaign holds in increasing the number of men who talk to their doctor about prostate cancer screening.”
To encourage prostate cancer discussions and screenings, the Atlanta Hawks and the Georgia Prostate Cancer Pledge committee will provide two tickets to several Atlanta Hawks home games, starting with the December 7th home game versus the New Jersey Nets, to the first 2,000 men who commit to being screened for the first time. Men can visit http://www.hawks.com/ or http://www.georgiaprostatecancerpledge.com/ to make their screening pledge and redeem their complimentary tickets online.
There will be a number of activities and events to help educate men and their loved ones, and to bring awareness to the serious health impact of prostate cancer for all concerned. The events will culminate in April with a prostate cancer symposium, a golf tournament, a motorcycle ride, video testimonials of survivors and much more.
Michael Holton, president and COO of RC Cancer Centers, which specializes in the ProstRcision treatment for prostate cancer said, “Throughout the campaign, we will be offering free of charge PSA screenings for men over 40 years old, who have not been diagnosed with prostate cancer or previously treated for this disease. They can be screened at any one of our five locations in Georgia. For screening locations, visit http://www.rccancercenters.com/.”
Current data available from Georgia Department of Community Health, the Centers for Disease Control and the American Cancer Society show:
“It is crucial for men to maintain an ongoing relationship with their healthcare provider as the risk for prostate cancer will vary from person to person,” said Roland Matthews, M.D., from Morehouse School of Medicine and Director of Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Health System.
A prostate screening PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is a simple blood test which will not define a man’s prostate cancer status, but provides the basis for men to start the right conversations with their doctor. When prostate cancer is detected early, it is a very curable disease.
To learn more about this prostate cancer initiative, visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com .
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Also known as RC Cancer Centers.
