A mesothelioma diagnosis can be life-changing as it is shocking to find out that your body is dealing with a terminal disease. No one denies the destructive nature of Mesothelioma. Still, it is also true that there are ways to improve the quality of your life and the effectiveness of the medications and treatments you take. One of those ways is having a healthy diet and a lifestyle that helps you cope with the disease.
A healthy and balanced diet supports your deteriorating immune system. It gives your body the strength to combat the effects of the medication and various treatments. It also helps you maintain weight, fights fatigue, and provides energy. Remember, Mesothelioma is a special case. Your body is undergoing deterioration at a much faster rate, so a balanced diet, in this case, is much different from what you would take when you are healthy.
Besides a healthy diet, developing an overall healthy lifestyle for mental health is also essential. A comprehensive package of improved nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising whenever possible, can help the patient improve the prognosis tremendously. Some health and lifestyle tips for mesothelioma patients include the following.
Seek Professional Help
Help means finding the professional counsel of experts to deal with the effects of chronic disease. It would help if you talked to a doctor specializing in Mesothelioma, a nutrition and diet expert, a therapist, and a lawyer.
Mesothelioma is generally caused by exposure to asbestos. You could file a mesothelioma lawsuit and demand compensation if you inhaled asbestos fibers due to your employer’s negligence. In states like New York, Florida, and California, attorneys have received substantial compensation amounts for their clients. In one instance, a California mesothelioma lawyer was able to get $48 Million in a lawsuit that involved CalPortland, Riverside Cement, and Union Carbide. So, filing a claim should be on your mind too. Any compensation you receive can help pay for mesothelioma treatments.
A mesothelioma medical specialist can devise a treatment plan using the latest research. At the same time, a nutritionist’s advice can help you create a personalized plan to maintain your health and regain health following treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. A therapist can help you deal with the emotional and psychological strain of coping with a disease like Mesothelioma.
Keep Social Connections Alive
One of the kneejerk responses of mesothelioma patients is to reduce socializing and generally opt for self-isolation while they deal with the shock. They remain confined to their room/house. With that being said, the patient needs to socialize amply, meet with their family and friends, and have frequent discussions with their lawyer. A confined lifestyle can cause more stress and hopelessness and further deteriorate health. On the other hand, a support network helps with emotional health. Studies comparing the cancer journey of people with the most and least social support found that the latter could not improve a better quality of life and were unable to live for long.
Use relaxation techniques
Stress is an inevitable result of getting a mesothelioma diagnosis. Thoughts about your family, kids and their future, and your health start hovering in your mind. Even if you obtain compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit, many financial commitments may still plague you. However, you have to understand that stress won’t let you solve any of these problems either. So, try to manage your stress using relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, and guided imagery to calm your mind. You don’t have to dedicate hours to this activity; only a small interval of 20 minutes can bring positive results.
Discuss your nutritional requirements with your physician
Heeding the advice of your physician will never fail you. If they prescribe a specific diet, such as adding a certain type of fat in particular amounts, abide by it! The same goes for physical activity. If at some point during your illness they advise you to take more rest, then prioritize their recommendation and rest.
A high protein diet can help a mesothelioma patient
When planning a diet, the biggest mistake that the patients and their families can make is reducing the number of proteins and fat intake. Adding more proteins to your diet is often recommended if you have Mesothelioma. Proteins help in the preservation of immunity and strengthen the immune system. They increase muscle mass, help retain what you already have, and avoid chances of malnutrition. Malnutrition is often a response to cancer, Mesothelioma, or any other. The reason is the increased metabolic activity of the body. Thus, the patient may need to have protein-rich food at regular intervals.
Try smaller meals
Try smaller meals and eat more frequently instead of large portions of food every time you eat. Your body is not prepared to take the stress of digesting too much food at one time. So, design your meal chart to accommodate 5 to 6 small meals per day. You can also take light snacks every two to three hours. The intervals between the food intake will give your body ample time to digest and assimilate your food.
Add foods in your diet that aid in recovery
A mesothelioma patient cannot eat anything and everything. Preparing their food chart requires careful consideration of the nutritional value of each food. You have to ensure that the food you or your loved one is taking does not fill your stomach only but fulfills nutritional value.
Here are some food choices that can aid in mesothelioma recovery.
- Omega-3 Fats in Fish: Fish with Omega-3 fats can help in the recovery by suppressing metastasis and inhibiting excessive weight loss.
- Spices and herbs: They might be considered the most insignificant details in your food with the only job of adding flavor to your food. Spices including turmeric, oregano, mint, basil, dill, rosemary, and others have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
- Green Tea: Mesothelioma patients need an ample dose of antioxidants because they protect the cells against the attack of free radicals. Free radicals can play a role in causing many diseases, including cancer. Green tea has antioxidants in it, and as a result, it can help combat free radicals.
- Medicinal Teas: Other teas rich in antioxidants include moringa or Essie tea. You can also include these teas in your diet, apart from green tea.
- Fiber-Rich Foods: To balance insulin levels, the patient can use potatoes, fruits, beans, nuts, and vegetables.
- Natural Sources of Coenzyme Q: Chicken, pork, trout, beef, soybeans, lentils, herring, and sardines have nutrients that can protect the heart from chemo damage.
Ask your doctor about vitamins and minerals intake in your diet
Ask your oncologist about adding vitamins and supplements to reduce any deficiencies. Do not start taking any supplements on your own. In very few cases, doctors recommend specific vitamins based on the needs of some mesothelioma patients. However, doctors don’t endorse any minerals and supplements because of their potential interference in treatments and compromising the effectiveness of cancer therapies.
Conclusion
A mesothelioma diagnosis can put your life on the back foot. The personal threat to your life does shift your perspective on life. Your worries about your health and your kids’ future may dominate every activity. However, constant fear can further deteriorate your health. So, you need to develop a healthy lifestyle and diet that helps you fight stress alongside fatigue and the side effects of cancer treatment. Ultimately, a mesothelioma patient can outlive the initial prognosis with the help of mild exercise and a carefully considered eating plan.
