Lung cancer patients face some difficulties in adapting to the disease and the treatment methods used, due to the symptoms, physical changes, and psychological changes. Therefore, as a contribution from us to ease the treatment journey, we have prepared for you the following article to get acquainted with the best tips for lung cancer patients to deal with symptoms and changes, in addition to a list of permitted beneficial foods. And foods that are prohibited for lung cancer patients, so be sure to follow up.

Advice for lung cancer patients

Living with lung cancer can be a challenge, as nearly 80% of patients have difficulty dealing with physical symptoms, and this includes breathing problems, fatigue, pain, sleep, and food, but there are some methods and strategies that can help improve the life of a lung cancer patient, So here are the most important tips for lung cancer patients:

1- Pay attention to the lungs

Shortness of breath is one of the most common problems faced by lung cancer patients, so the following can be tried:

• Quit smoking, and you can seek the help of a doctor to find out the best ways to do this, and passive smoking should also be avoided.
• Oxygen therapy experience, an additional amount can be obtained through an oxygen tube, and there are small types that can be carried, and it is preferable to speak with the doctor to find out the best type.

2- Energy conservation

Having lung cancer, and dealing with its associated symptoms, can make you feel tired all the time, so here are some tips that can help you maintain your energy during the treatment journey:

• Get more than one nap during the day.
• Do light exercise, such as walking, to boost energy.
• Ask for help when you need it.
• Follow a healthy, balanced diet, and increase calories to offset any weight loss.

3- Pain control

Lung cancer treatment can result in a lot of physical pain, and this pain can be relieved in some ways, including:

• Use of pain relievers to relieve physical pain.
• Using appetite suppressants to help lose weight.
• Use of anti-nausea medications.
• Talk to a psychiatrist or specialist to deal with the emotional and psychological problems that may result.

4- Meal planning

Some types of treatments such as chemotherapy can reduce appetite and cause nausea, which increases the difficulty of eating and entering the number of calories needed for the body, so meal planning is one of the suggested solutions to deal with this matter, and this also includes the following:

• Eat smaller and more meals throughout the day.
• Simple foods that don’t have a lot of flavor can help relieve nausea.
• Drinks that do not contain caffeine, such as ginger tea, can be tried to calm the stomach.
• Liquid meals can be tried.

You should talk to your doctor if nausea and loss of appetite persist.

5- Taking care of sleep

One of the best tips for lung cancer patients is to pay attention to sleep. The following tips can be tried to improve sleep:

• Keep a sleep diary, to see sleep patterns and problems that may appear.
• Going to bed when you feel sleepy, this feeling should not be fought.
• Shorten the duration of any naps during the day to one hour, in case you have difficulty sleeping at night.
• Do not drink any caffeine-containing beverage at least six hours before bedtime.
• Avoid drinking alcohol.
• Take the medicines at the same time each day.
• Try drinking warm, decaffeinated beverages before bed.
• Discuss the effectiveness of all medications you take with your doctor. Some medications can affect sleep.

6- Attention to feelings

It is common to experience a different set of emotions during the treatment process for lung cancer. In the case of mood problems, the following can be tried:

• Talk to a psychiatrist.
• Do not suppress feelings. You can talk to loved ones or find a support group close to you.
• Some light exercises can be tried to relieve any psychological stress.
• You can talk to your doctor about some medications that can help relieve these mood swings.
• Yoga, meditation, and other breathing and relaxation exercises can be tried.

Eat a lung cancer patient

After knowing some tips for lung cancer patients to adapt to the disease, it should be known that there are no specific foods that can cure lung cancer, but a healthy balanced diet can help support the body and general health during the arduous journey of treatment. Here are the most important food options that you must try and that you should avoid:

Useful foods

• Protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, low-fat dairy products, nuts, legumes, and soy foods.
• Fruits and vegetables of all kinds, to increase the antioxidants that enter the body, and you should eat a cup of fruit and approximately 3 cups of leafy vegetables.
• Whole grains for carbohydrates, such as whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta and brown rice.
• Healthy fats to support the nervous system and reduce inflammation, such as avocados, nuts, seeds and xenon oil.

Foods to avoid

There are some foods that can increase side effects during lung cancer treatment that should be avoided, including:

• Oily or spicy foods that can cause nausea and diarrhea.
• Extremely hot foods, as they can cause stomach upset, and this also applies to dairy products.
• Caffeine-containing foods or drinks cause fluid loss and lead to constipation.
• Unripe, unpasteurized or undercooked foods.
• Cold and dried meats and pre-prepared salad to avoid infection with any bacteria and food poisoning.
• Unripe eggs, eggs that are cracked or kept outside the refrigerator, and any foods containing unripe eggs should be avoided.
• Raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products such as yogurt and soft cheeses such as feta.
• Fish that is undercooked or not cooked at all, such as sushi, shellfish or shellfish.
• Raw honey and raw nut butter.
• Any food left in the refrigerator for more than 3 days.
• Frozen fish, meat and chicken.

Dietary tips for dealing with side effects

Symptoms and side effects of lung cancer treatment can be managed with diet. Top tips for lung cancer patients to manage symptoms with dietary changes include:

• for lunchReducing the size of meals, and choosing meals that do not have a strong smell or are full of spices and flavors.
• For loss of appetite: Eat small meals every few hours, 4 to 6 times a day, and increase the number of calories in these meals through additions such as peanut butter, avocado, butter and cheese.
• To lose weight and muscle: Increasing the number of calories and relying on protein-rich meals such as eggs, chicken, fish and dairy products.
• For tiredness and exhaustion: Preparing meals in advance when you are feeling better, so that you have ready-made and healthy meals when you are feeling tired. You can also keep healthy snacks with you at all times, such as nuts, granola or cottage cheese.
• For dehydration: You should drink approximately two liters of decaffeinated fluids each day. If you can’t tolerate plain water, juices, sports drinks or milk can be tried.