Hi First name, Thank you for all of the love and kind wishes received in cards, emails and notes. The support of family, colleagues, patients and friends has been incredibly supportive during my cancer journey and often gives me a renewed sense of energy during the harder days. I strive to continue to be transparent and honest during my experience.
In this email I provide a health update following my 4th round of chemotherapy. I also speak more on my personal support system and the integral role it plays in my treatment. I also wanted to share some resources and helpful tips on one of the most challenging side effects of cancer treatments – nausea. |
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Combating Nausea During Cancer Treatment |
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Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy treatment for cancer. But in most cases, these side effects can be controlled with preventive medications and other measures. Whether you'll experience nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotherapy depends on: - what chemotherapy drugs you receive and their dosage
- whether you receive other cancer treatments — such as radiation
- whether you've experienced nausea and vomiting in the past
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If you are experiencing nausea try.. - to eat smaller, more frequent meals
- to consume protein at each meal to regulate blood-sugar
- to sip soup when nothing is appetizing to ensure optimal hydration
- ginger + peppermint teas or smelling peppermint essential oils
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In addition to nausea, many patients undergoing treatment lose taste and smell. Without our sense of smell, our sense of taste is limited to only five distinct sensations: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and the newly discovered “umami” or savory sensation. All other flavours that we experience come from smell.
Addressing nutrition during cancer treatment can often mean adjusting previous dietary preferences or restrictions to better suit the individuals needs from a nutrient level. While a patient's treatment plan may call for a low-carb diet, sometimes they are needed to keep the nausea at bay. Working with your practitioner to see if there is a plan that can suit both your needs and your plan is key. |
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A few meal ideas for you.. - broth
- apple sauce and nut butter
- greek yogurt or cottage cheese and berries
- blended soups
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Our registered holistic nutritionist, Rhiannon Lockhart, works with diverse conditions and can help to navigate nutrition challenges that arise from sudden changes in health or illness. Optimizing nutrients of everything consumed becomes even more important when the body is healing. Food can be an incredibly powerful tool for many conditions and illnesses we face. First name, Rhiannon wants to get you started with two free PDF recipes that support balanced blood-sugars and optimal hydration, key factors in supporting the system during treatment (and always). |
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Do you have a a specific question about nutrition during cancer treatment?
Any aspect of cancer care you would like to learn more about? Send it our way! It could be selected to be answered and featured in a future email update. |
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