Live Free Home Health Care, LLC. - Bristol, New Hampshire

All posts within: Cancer

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Cancer Care: Maintaining Nutrition

A healthy diet is a smart plan for anyone, but maintaining excellent nutrition is especially important for those diagnosed with cancer. By eating a healthy diet, a person will go into treatment with reserves to help keep up strength, prevent body tissue from breaking down, rebuild tissue, and maintain defenses against infection. Additionally, people who eat well are better able to cope with side effects and may even be able to handle higher doses of certain treatments.

When healthy, eating enough food to maintain proper nutrition is not usually a problem, but during cancer treatment, a person may suffer from lack of appetite. Under these circumstances, the person should simply try to eat anything that he or she can easily digest.

On treatment days:

· Talk with the nurse to learn about ways to relax if feeling sick before treatment.

· Learn the best time to eat and drink. Some people feel better when they eat a little just before treatment. Others feel better when they have nothing to eat or drink before treatment.

· After treatment, wait at least one hour before eating or drinking.

Here are examples of foods and drinks that may be easier on the stomach: clear broth, grape juice, baked chicken without skin, crackers, pasta, white rice, baked potatoes, bananas, gelatin, yogurt and popsicles.

Live Free Home Health Care offers specialized cancer care and community resources to help someone through the various stages of the disease. We’ll take care of the day-to-day needs such as housekeeping, meal planning and preparation and transportation as well as assist with any personal care needs so a person can focus on rest and recovery. Providing in-home care services in Concord, New Hampshire and the rest of the Lakes region and Central New Hampshire, contact us today to learn more about how we can assist.

Tags:   Cancer

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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

How to Help a Loved One Manage the Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Cancer treatments result in a number of side effects including severe energy loss, depression, skin impairments, hair loss, nausea and change of appetite; however, there are many ways that caregivers can help to buffer these symptoms and make their loved one feel more comfortable.

Skin Problems: Cancer patients are at risk for numerous treatment- and disease-related skin impairments. Caregivers can help these skin problems by encouraging the use of sunscreen, helping to protect affected areas from trauma, and keeping skin clean and dry.

Hair Loss: Caregivers can encourage the purchase of a wig prior to treatment (in order to match hair color to a wig), and can minimize hair loss by using baby shampoo, a soft hairbrush, and minimizing hair washing.

Depression: If depression is suspected, contact a mental health professional. Also be sure to have health care providers review all medications for depressive side effects.

Fighting Nausea: Nausea is a common side effect of chemotherapy but can be helped with anti-nausea medications, avoiding greasy or spicy foods, and eating smaller meals more frequently. Letting an in-home care agency or meal delivery service do the cooking can also help if cooking smells cause nausea.

Listening: The easiest and often best gift a caregiver can give to a cancer victim is communication. There are no right or wrong ways of communicating and often just having you be there, perhaps giving a hug or holding hands, is enough to show a loved one that you care. Be prepared for your loved one to talk about the illness if he or she chooses, and more than anything else, be ready to lend an open ear.

Contact Live Free Home Health Care in Concord today at 603-217-0149 for further guidance on caring for a loved one with cancer and options that can give you a welldeserved break.

Tags:   Cancer

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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Understanding Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be daunting and confusing, and it is normal to have a lot of questions. To help calm fears of the unknown, find out as much information as possible about the specific treatments and write down questions before an appointment. To help in your understanding of chemotherapy, here are the basics:

There are many different kinds of chemotherapy, and it can be given in these forms:

An IV (intravenously)

A shot (injection) into a muscle or other part of your body

A pill or a liquid that you swallow

A cream that is rubbed on your skin

Treatment can be every day, every week or every month, followed by a period of rest. Be sure to ask for a written copy of your treatment schedule from the doctor.

It is not always possible to tell how a person will feel during or after chemotherapy. Some people feel well enough to keep their normal schedules. Others feel more tired.

Today many side effects can be prevented or controlled. Talk with your doctor or nurse to learn what side effects you may have and how to manage them.

Here are some further points to discuss with the doctor:

§ Find out why you’re receiving chemo (what the chemo hopes to accomplish).

§ Ask how the chemo will be administered.

§ Find out information about clinical trials, and request contact information if applicable.

§ Check with your doctor or nurse before you take any medicine, vitamins, or herbs. Some of these can change the way chemotherapy works.

For further information on chemotherapy, click here.

Contact Live Free Home Health Care in Concord for in-home cancer care. We’ll take care of your everyday needs so that you can focus on rest and recovery.

Tags:   Cancer

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Thursday, July 07, 2011

How to Best Support Someone with Cancer

When it comes to cancer, everyone is a victim – even those not suffering from cancer firsthand are affected. The American Cancer Society reports that people spend far less time in the hospital today than in the past. This means that more sick people are being cared for at home. If you find yourself supporting someone who has been diagnosed with cancer, sometimes simply being there and allowing the person to express his or her emotions is the best form of support. Here are a few other tips for the cancer family caregiver:

Avoid the “everything will be all right” attitude but be sure to emphasize any good news.

Prepare to change roles. You may have to step in to fulfill some of the duties your loved one used to always do.

Be an advocate for your loved one. Research, scout out cancer specialists and learn everything there is to know about the cancer and its treatments, bringing questions to the attention of the oncologist at the appointments.

Help with the mundane, everyday tasks of life or contact Live Free Home Health Care in Concord, New Hampshire to help. Live Free Home Health Care can provide assistance from a few hours to 24 hours a day.

Home care and home health care services may be a good resource to provide some caregiving relief. Live Free Home Health Care can work with you and your loved one to develop strategies for coping with whatever emotional or practical challenges that arise.

For more information on helping cancer patients and their families, please click here.

Whether for a few hours a day or as an ongoing relief, whenever respite is needed, Live Free Home Health Care in Concord, New Hampshire and the rest of the Lakes region and Central New Hampshire can be there. Contact Live Free Home Health Care today at 603-217-0149 to find out how easy and comforting extra care in the home can be.

Tags:   Cancer

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