Mesothelioma Cancer - The Importance of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Rest

The progression of the disease and side effects related to chemotherapy may make it difficult to eat adequately. Good Nutrition is however a very important factor for the well being of the patient. The body needs a lot of energy in order to fight the disease and this can be obtained by eating food containing a high caloric value and proteins. This may be a challenge since the side effects of chemotherapy may sometimes be severe and will reduce the individual's appetite. It is very important that the patient talks with his physician about the food he/she needs to eat. A nutritionist may give invaluable advice to the patient.
Certain foods can help also to deal with certain side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea & vomiting, fatigue and others. It is important to eat small and frequent meals rather than large and less frequent meals. This will help to deal with diarrhea, fatigue and nausea & vomiting. Constipation can also be alleviated by eating food containing a high level of fiber while for diarrhea it is recommended a diet consisting of food with low-fiber content. It is also important that food is cooked well and to refrain from eating raw food since some treatments make you more prone to infections.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms that mesothelioma patients have to face. Fatigue arises from the side effects of certain chemotherapy drugs, from the mesothelioma itself and also due to the stress in dealing with mesothelioma. It is important to get plenty of rest, particularly if the patient is having chemotherapy. Sleep at least 8 hours during the night and supplement it with short naps during the day.
It is also important to limit certain household activities that you were used to do. Invite others to help you instead or better still to do them themselves If you are employed it is important to whether to continue working or not. If your work requires a certain degrees of physical activity you may decide to stop working. Some light exercise such as going for a stroll will also help you to sleep better and reduce fatigue.