Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer

April 27, 2015

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Ask questions

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer marks the beginning point towards successful cancer treatment

It is always said that it is the sick that needs the doctor and not the other way round. This statement is very significant in the quest to finding all the information you need to make the best decision about your cancer treatment. Understanding the emotional side effects of cancer will only be possible when you ask question. This way you will be getting answers to all your concerns and avoiding making mistakes. Says doctor Dalal Akoury. Doctors and nurses are professionals making them to be the best sources of information when you have medical questions. Therefore, before you book for that appointment with doctor Akoury in her office at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource center, and for memory purposes, write down all the questions you may have about things disease. The questions may include: your type of cancer, treatment, side effects, and limits on activity you might have during treatment. Remember that other members of your health care team, like pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, physical therapists, and radiation therapists are also experts in their different areas of discipline and can also help you with your questions. Doctor Akoury emphases that it is your life we are talking about and therefore you need not to be afraid to ask those questions.

Asking questions shows you want to learn and take an active role in your treatment. If a health care team member doesn’t have time to answer all of your questions, and don’t be surprised about that because it do happens due to their schedule of work. You can ask when a good time for them is so that you would be to finish your conversation or ask about other ways to get the answers you need. Besides the known questions you have off head, you can also research on the other questions to ask from various sources like going online so that you can find more conclusive list of questions to ask your doctor. The objective of this is starting right; therefore no question is too small or too silly to ask. I encourage patients never to be afraid to call the doctors or other medical staffs with questions about anything including even questions about their bills and insurance. If you were to visit our facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) it will interest you to find out that our doctors and his staffs are all trained and experienced professionals who will be willing to answer any question you may ask. You can also have an opportunity to speak to our pharmacist who will help you in making special arrangements when we needed to get prescriptions, especially pain medicine, filled after our regular business hours.

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Know how to reach your doctor any time

In the quest to understanding the emotional side effects of cancer, consistency is very important. People with cancer must know when they need to call their doctor. Ask which side effects or unusual problems that needs to be reported right away. Some things can wait until the next office visit, or until regular office hours when you can call and speak to a nurse. But if you’re having severe or unexpected side effects, you need to know how to reach a doctor even when the regular office hour is closed. In this case, patients’ needs to be sure that they have a hot line phone number and that your loved ones have it, too. Nonetheless if your doctor isn’t available after hours, find out what you should do if you have problems.

And because it is a collective responsibility, some family members may also wish to speak with members of your health care team. This is very important as it can help them get answers to their questions and find support to deal with their feelings as well. Remember that by doing all these you are not in any way disturbing. Your health care team is bound by law to keep information about your health confidential. They will not discuss your health with family members and friends unless you give your permission for them to do so. Let your doctors and nurses know which family members and friends may be contacting them and with whom they can share information. You may have to sign forms giving your permission for these discussions.

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Feel comfortable with your health care team

It is a common practice across the globe that all health care professionals would be patient, understanding and have all the time in the world to answer questions, and know how to explain things to you so you could easily understand. This is and will always be the practice as it is entailed in the ethical guidelines. However, these professionals are also humans and occasionally finding all of these qualities in one person is rare. Even if you find some little discomfort it is still worth it for you to trust your doctor and other members of the health care team. Nonetheless if you feel growing discomfort and that lack of trust and open communication is keeping you from getting good medical care, you are at liberty to ask for a referral to another doctor with whom you feel more comfortable. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor for a referral for a second opinion. You need to be an active member of your health care team. As an active team member, you will need to do things like keep your scheduled appointments, take medicines as prescribed, and report side effects timely.

Finally with determination there is not obstacle that you cannot overcome. With the right experts and professionals around you, you will be on top of your health and beating all the obstacles as they may come. One of the ways of eliminating those obstacles is by consistently being in touch with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Doctor Akoury who is also the founder of the facility will handle your individual case professionally and with a lot of confidentiality. So don’t be afraid go ahead and schedule for that appointment today.

Understanding the Emotional Side Effects of Cancer: Ask questions

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments

April 15, 2015

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: The benefits of alternative medicine

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments is equally important in cancer treatment

The treatment of cancer has become very expensive and many people are today struggling with the disease because of the escalating cost. This has made many to look for alternative means of getting help with the devastating pain that is associated with cancer. Even though some of the methods sought for may not be certified, the alternative cancer treatments are being embraced as a possible solution in cancer management. While introducing this discussion in our previous article, we looked at the use of alternative cancer treatments and listed ten of them. We now want to continue with the discussion progressing with the remaining seven and with the expertise of doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center; you can afford to miss out in this discussion. Doctor Akoury has a heart for you and she understand what you are going through in your struggle with cancer. She has been in the medical practice for well over two decades and is vastly experiences in offering timely solutions to those who need help. You can schedule for an appointment with her today even as we progress into the discussion to cover the remaining portion of the use of alternative cancer treatments.

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: Massage

Massage is one of the applicable alternative cancer treatments and must only be done by a professional massage therapist. The process of massage is that your practitioner kneads your skin, muscles and tendons in an effort to relieve muscle tension and stress and promote relaxation. There are several massage methods applicable and they are normally light and gentle, or they can be deep with more pressure. There is evidence from past studies that massage can be helpful in relieving pain in cancer patients. Besides that massage can also help relieve anxiety, fatigue and stress. It is important to note that when going for massage the choice of a knowledgeable massage therapist is very paramount and you need to consult wisely with your doctor so that you don’t begin on a wrong footing. While doing this there are certain things that you must have knowledge on like for instance:

Don’t have a massage if your blood counts are very low.
Ask the massage therapist to avoid massaging near surgical scars, radiation treatment areas or tumors.
If you have cancer in your bones or other bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, ask the massage therapist to use light pressure, rather than deep massage.

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a deep state of concentration. During a hypnotherapy session, a therapist may mesmerize you by talking in a gentle voice and helping you relax. The therapist will then help you focus on goals, such as controlling your pain and reducing your stress. This is ideally helpful for cancer patients who are experiencing anxiety, pain and stress. Besides that it may also help prevent anticipatory nausea and vomiting that can occur if chemotherapy has made you sick in the past. This should under all circumstances be performed by a certified therapist for safety purposes. Ensure that if you have had in the past some history of mental illness, then this information must be disclosed to your therapist says doctor Akoury.

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: Meditation

This is a situation or a state of positioning your mind into a deep concentration when you focus your mind energies on one image, sound or idea, such as a positive thought. During meditation, you may also do deep-breathing or relaxation exercises. The benefits of meditation to cancer patients are that it will be helpful in relieving anxiety and stress. Doctor Akoury reiterates that meditation is safe and you can do it on your own at home for a few minutes twice daily or alternatively you may take lesions with an instructor.

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: Music therapy

During music therapy sessions, you might listen to music, play instruments, sing songs or write lyrics. A trained music therapist may lead you through activities designed to meet your specific needs, or you may participate in music therapy in a group setting. Music therapy may help relieve pain and control nausea and vomiting. Music therapy is safe and doesn’t require any musical talent to participate. This service is available in many medical centers with certified music therapists on staff.

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: Relaxation techniques

In the busy society we live in many times we often overwork ourselves and forget to have some time to rest. Relaxation is a technique that enables you to focus your attention on calming your mind and relaxing your muscles. Such techniques may include activities like visualization exercises or progressive muscle relaxation. Experts recommends it for relieving anxiety and fatigue this way it can be helpful to cancer patients in causing then to sleep comfortably. It is important to appreciate that relaxation techniques are safe. For a start a therapist will lead you through relaxation exercises and eventually you may be able to do them on your own or with the help of guided relaxation recordings.

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: Tai chi

Tai chi is a form of exercise that incorporates gentle movements and deep breathing. Tai chi can be led by an instructor, or you can learn tai chi on your own following books or videos. Practicing tai chi may help relieve stress. Tai chi is generally safe. The slow movements of tai chi don’t require great physical strength and the exercises can be easily adapted to your own abilities. Nonetheless it is still very important that you talk to your doctor before beginning tai chi and avoid doing any tai chi moves that causes you pain.

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: Yoga

Yoga combines stretching exercises with deep breathing. During a yoga session, you position your body in various poses that require bending, twisting and stretching. There are many types of yoga, each with its own variations. Yoga is likely to provide some stress relief for people with cancer however, it has also been shown to improve sleep and reduce fatigue.

Finally all these alternative cancer treatments can be applicable collectively or individually depending on individual patients. Like for instance deep breathing during a massage may provide further stress relief. But like I had mention before, always consult with your doctor regularly whenever you are taking any decision. Remember that at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we have highly trained and experienced professionals who will be there to help you in overcoming all your cancer pains in the most efficient way. You can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury the head of this facility for commencement of the treatment exercise.

The Use of Alternative cancer treatments: The benefits of alternative medicine

The corresponding link between Cancer and Depression

March 10, 2015

The corresponding link between Cancer and Depression: How Stress may Cause Cancer

The corresponding link between Cancer and Depression are very clear in the common sense understanding even without scientific evidence

We may not like it but it is here with us. In one way or the other we have to be depressed. Things that are happening around us often make us to be stressed up to the extent that stress is seen as a part of our lives. We need to be care full in dealing with it because the way we handle stress can have an impact on our health. It goes without mention that stress is a common occurrence to everyone, no wonder we hear more and more about the harm it is causing to our minds and bodies from heart disease to anxiety attacks. Now researchers across the globe are trying to determine if stress is also a factor in the development of cancer and we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care are not left out. We are equally making effort to finding the corresponding link between cancer and depression to join in the fight of keeping our society free from cancer. It is true that currently there is no clear evidence that stress is a direct cause of cancer. However evidence is accumulating that shows the association between stress and development of certain kinds of cancer as well as how the disease progresses.

Several studies have measured how stress impacts on our immune systems and fights disease. At various higher learning institutions researchers have actually established that students under pressure have slower-healing wounds and they take longer to produce immune system cells that kill invading organisms. According to a renowned researcher Dr. Dean Ornish M.D. who has spent over two decades examining the effects of stress on the body, his findings indicated that stress-reduction techniques could actually help reverse heart disease. And Dr. Barry Spiegel, M.D., a leader in the field of psychosomatic medicine, found that metastatic breast cancer patients lived longer when they participated in support groups. In connection to that other studies have even gone as far as to show those women who experienced traumatic life events or losses in previous years had significantly higher rates of breast cancer.

Still, the National Cancer Institute reports that even though studies have shown that stress factors, such as death of a spouse, social isolation, and medical school examinations, alter the way the immune system functions, they have not provided scientific evidence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship between these immune system changes and the development of cancer. Nonetheless in the process of putting the corresponding link between cancer and depression into perspective, some medical experts have reported that the link between cancer and stress is that “if stress reduces the body’s ability to fight disease, then it is capable of losing the ability to kill cancer cells.”

The corresponding link between Cancer and Depression: Environmental Factors

Doctor Dalal Akoury says that every day, our bodies are exposed to cancer-causing agents in the air, food and water we’re exposed to. Typically, our immune system recognizes those abnormal cells and kills them before they produce a tumor. There are three important things that can happen to prevent cancer from developing and they include the following:

The immune system can prevent the agents from invading in the first place
DNA can repair the abnormal cells
The killer T-cells can kill off cancer cells.

It has become very clear from the research findings that stress can lower the body’s ability to do each of those things. This now leaves us wondering that does it therefore means that there’s a direct link between stress and the risk of developing cancer? It may appear to be so but the bottom line is that it is not true in any way. Nonetheless the part of the reason that stress may be linked to cancer is simply that when people are under pressure they make very dangerous and poor choices like beginning smoking, discontinuing exercises and eating unhealthy foods all factors that are also linked to cancer. That is what makes people think that there is some iota of relationship between cancer and depression.

She adds that even if that’s not the case, there are a lot of things that have to happen for cancer to develop. In her opinion she thinks it’s fair to say that stress could be one of the many components in lowering immune systems and therefore making us more vulnerable to cancer and a faster progression of the disease. But stress might just be one piece of the puzzle what percentage is the question. I fall back on the fact that regardless of what percentage it might be, it’s a percentage we’re more in control of. We can’t control genetics, but we can change how we respond to stress,” she said, adding that it’s not necessarily the stress itself as much as the way people handle stress that may be linked to disease. That’s why it’s important that the public understand the connection between stress and cancer, despite lack of hard scientific evidence, according to Dr. Dalal Akoury the M.D and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Ideally when you take the scientific information available and pool it together with the common sense evidence, then the link becomes obvious. The problem we have in Western medicine is what we consider acceptable evidence.

The corresponding link between Cancer and Depression: While waiting for Scientific Evidence

As we near the conclusion of this article, I want to make certain emphasis for the good of your health. Evidence is very good however I wonder whether we need concrete or cemented evidence as a clearance to encourage people to start moving in the direction of better health. Good health can and should not weight for evidence and so feeding well on good food, engagement in healthy physical activities and being composed and calm to defeat stress are things you can do without waiting for scientific evidence. It will take science some time to get the evidence they are looking for but while that is progressing this will be very helpful for you. Now with this information you’re aware that stress will impact negatively on your health if not addressed. You’re also aware that it may not be possible to completely eliminate stress. Therefore, the key isn’t in doing away with all of life’s pressures but in how you handle them as they come. I want to make few suggestions to help you get through life pressures. When you visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, doctor Akoury and her team of experts have developed a group stress reduction class for cancer patients and survivors where proper management of the two is professionally dealt with. This will be very good for you and your loved ones if only you can schedule for an appointment with the experts at this facility today. We will take you through various techniques of reducing stress and by extension cancer in a much more relaxed environment. Some of the methods may include the technique of deep breathing, careful meditation, imagery and mindfulness. We will be very glad to be part of your solution, call doctor Akoury today.

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