Category Archives: Stress Management

Living with Cancer, Stress Management

How Do I Keep My Job While in Cancer Treatment?

Feeling Bombarded with Questions on How to Handle Cancer at Work? We Have Some Tips.
Feeling Bombarded with Questions on How to Handle Cancer at Work? We Have Some Tips.

If you’re diagnosed with cancer, one of your immediate concerns is how it will affect your everyday life, including your job. Can you continue to work while in treatment, or will you even be able to keep your position?

Can Work and Cancer Treatment Co-Exist?

No matter what form of cancer you have, your particular case is unique so there are no hard and fast rules concerning your job performance. Answers will depend on factors such as your overall health, stage of cancer, and your duties.

Go At Your Own Pace

You may find that you’re able to continue with your regular work schedule during immunotherapy for cancer or other treatments. If your job becomes too much of a strain or your doctor recommends that you cut back, here are some tips to help you manage:

• Change to a part-time schedule

• Work from home either full- or part-time

• Modify your working conditions, such as having a desk closer to the restroom

• Enlist help from your family with household chores so you have more energy for your work responsibilities

You’ll need to coordinate any modifications with your supervisor, so be sure to communicate with him/her regularly. As for co-workers, it’s your choice whom you tell and how much you tell them. You may want to discuss your illness only with your closest and most trusted co-workers.

Immunotherapy for Cancer: Individually Tailored for Your Specific Case

Immunotherapy for cancer includes personalized non-toxic therapies that can reduce the number and severity of side effects. Contact us to learn why Issels® is the leader in comprehensive immunotherapy for cancer protocols.

Living with Cancer, Stress Management

Tips on What to Eat While in Cancer Treatment

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Start Your Day and Body Off Right with a Healthy Diet!
Start Your Day and Body Off Right with a Healthy Diet!

Cancer does not exist in a vacuum. Immunotherapy for cancer takes a patient’s lifestyle, environment, and genetic tendencies into consideration in developing personalized protocols. It’s not surprising that nutrition can play an important part in successful cancer treatment.

Here are some tips from WebMD regarding healthy eating habits and dietary choices to follow during your treatment for cancer:

Healthy Eating Habits

  • Instead of waiting until you’re hungry, eat smaller meals at scheduled times of the day.
  • Eat dense, nutrient-rich foods such as avocados, nuts and beans that pack a lot of power into a small amount.
  • Make a point of plating your food using garnishes and other decorative touches to make it visually appealing.
  • During treatment, you may be more susceptible to germs. Use proper treatment methods such as washing and rinsing produce and cooking meat thoroughly.

Healthy Dietary Choices

  • At least 50 percent of each meal should come from fruits and/or vegetables, and aim for meatless meals two to three times a week.
  • Choose whole grain breads and cereals instead of so-called “white foods” made with processed and refined flour.
  • Avoid high-sugar foods that provide empty calories with no nutrition.
  • Keep items like carrot sticks, apples and berries on hand for convenient snacking.
  • Get nutrition from natural sources rather than supplements. In any case, consult your doctor before using dietary supplements, as they can interfere with treatment.

Issels®: Leading the Way in Immunotherapy Treatments

Immunotherapy for cancer is designed to boost your own immune system’s ability to identify and fight tumors. Contact us to learn more about our non-toxic treatments such as cancer vaccines and activated NK cells.

Cancer Survivors, Living with Cancer, Stress Management

Tips for Returning to Work after Cancer Treatment

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Getting Back to Work
Getting Back to Work

Resuming normal activities after immunotherapy for cancer is a good way to re-establish your sense of self and reduce the sense of isolation that may accompany treatment. Returning to work allows you to feel productive while interacting with others.

No matter how long you’ve been away from work, the transition back can be a little bumpy. Use these tips to prepare yourself for a smooth re-entry.

  • Talk to your supervisor about a more flexible structure as you become adjusted. Possible options include job-sharing or working from home.
  • You’re under no obligation to give your co-workers full disclosure. Decide how much and with whom you want to share.
  • Not all reactions will be positive. Some people feel uncomfortable in the face of illness, while for others it may trigger painful memories of a loved one who was diagnosed with cancer. A few co-workers may even be resentful about taking on additional responsibilities in your absence. Take some time to plan your responses to the various reactions.
  • Legislation like Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects the workplace rights of individuals with cancer and other health problems. Consult your company’s human resources department for more information.
  • Unfortunately, legal protection doesn’t guarantee an absence of discrimination. Document any workplace conversations you have about your illness and save copies of performance reviews in case problems should arise.

Our Issels® personalized immunotherapy for cancer is focused on your individual needs so there is a minimum of disruption to your lifestyle. Visit our website to learn more about our comprehensive non-toxic treatments.

Living with Cancer, Stress Management, Uncategorized

Cancer Patient Tip: Are You Sad or Clinically Depressed – How to Tell the Difference

Sad or Depressed?
Sad or Depressed?

Issels® Center for Immuno-Oncology provides state-of-the-art techniques to support and encourage a patient’s immune system to defend against cancer cells. Often times, even though treatment is progressing, cancer patients may experience a feeling of sadness.

The question is if the patient is having random moments of sadness or is clinically depressed. Knowing the difference is important.

Random Moments of Sadness

When you’re feeling sad, it can be for any number of reasons from worry about a health condition to stress of paying medical bills. Being sad doesn’t encompass your feelings for the majority of the time. You’re sad; you work through the issue, find a resolution, talk with friends or family, and continue your normal daily routine. Depression is the exact opposite and a much more serious condition.

Clinical Depression

Studies show that between 15-25 percent of the people who’ve been diagnosed as having cancer are candidates for depression. Some of the signs of depression may seem like sadness but there are differences.

  • Depression is long-term unhappiness
  • Experience excessive tiredness
  • Lack of interest in hobbies and activities
  • Eating routine changes
  • Restless and nervous feelings
  • An obvious change in sleeping habits
  • Lack of concentration
  • Significant change in mental and physical reactions
  • Feeling as if you no longer matter
  • Continued thoughts of the possibility of death
  • Thoughts of suicide

Anti-depressants, exercise, counseling, established routines, and psychotherapy are all ways to deal with depression. If you suffer from any of the listed symptoms, contact your physician to determine a plan of action.

If you need information about the services available at Issels® Center for Immuno-Oncology, contact us by phone or use the online form to submit your request.

Living with Cancer, Stress Management

Put Worry to Bed and Get a Good Night’s Rest

A Good Nights Sleep
A Good Nights Sleep

When you’re coping with cancer, making sure you get a good night’s sleep can be challenging. Between worrying about your condition and dealing with symptoms, you can end up having trouble falling asleep or difficulty staying asleep throughout the night.

Benefits of Improved Sleep

Taking steps to ensure that you’re able to get restful sleep is an important part of living with cancer. A good night’s sleep gives you more energy and allows your body time to rest and recover from the day. Not getting enough sleep affects your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infection.

Tips for Getting Better Sleep

The key to improving your sleep quality while you’re coping with cancer is to make sure you’re feeling relaxed at bedtime. The following tips can help ensure that you’re in a better frame of mind for a good night’s rest:

  • Limit naps. Only allow yourself to take one nap of 45 minutes or less during the day. Just make sure you don’t nap after 4pm, or you’ll have trouble falling asleep later in the evening.
  • Unwind before bedtime. Take at least one hour to relax before going to bed. Spend this time reading, writing in a journal or listening to music instead of watching TV or using a computer or tablet.
  • Stay positive. Repeat a helpful, upbeat phrase to yourself before going to bed. Avoid researching your condition or discussing it between dinner and bedtime, which will help you feel less stressed.

If you’d like information on healthy ways to treat cancer, please contact Issels®. We offer integrative immuno-oncology programs and personalized non-toxic therapies to help you get better and feel stronger.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Stress Management

Tips for Treating Hot Flashes and Night Sweats While in Cancer Treatment

melatonin-cancer
Treating Hot Flashes And Night Sweats

Do you sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to warm skin and damp sheets? Night sweats and hot flashes are a common occurrence with cancer patients. It can result from your course of treatment or from the tumor itself. Women tend to be more susceptible, but men can also experience either condition.

Sweat is your body’s natural way of regulating temperature. When the moisture evaporates on your skin it creates a cooling effect. Patients being treated for breast cancer or prostate cancer often have hot flashes because treatment can trigger menopause or menopause-like symptoms.

Help is available to control hot flashes and night sweats, allowing you to rest more comfortably. Discuss these options with your physician to determine which one is most appropriate for you.

  • In some cases hot flashes may be treated with hormone replacement therapy. Some patients have had success with certain antidepressants or anticonvulsants.
  • Stress and anxiety are contributing factors, so learning coping skills to deal with these emotions can help moderate night sweats and hot flashes. Meditation is a powerful method, and hypnosis is a newer treatment that has shown positive results.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothes made from natural fibers and keep your home well-ventilated.
  • Manufacturers of herbs and supplements such as Vitamin E and flaxseed make extravagant claims, but studies show that the results are mixed at best. Do not attempt this treatment without consulting your healthcare provider.

At Issels® we utilize a course of immunotherapy that strengthens your own immune system and reduces side effects. Visit our website to see and hear success stories from our patients.