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Yoga is a series of stretches and poses, usually in a class, for flexibility, strength, and balance development. The intensity of yoga can be adjusted according to the level of experience.

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Migraine

Coping With Cancer: Getting the Nutrition You Need

How cancer can impact nutrition

Cancer can affect your life in many ways, including how your body uses food. Even before treatment begins, cancer can affect the body’s need for protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Cancer treatments can benefit many people. But they also can have a number of side effects that can lead to poor nutrition, weight loss, or even malnutrition because:

  • Treatments such as surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy can affect how the body digests and absorbs food. So even though you may appear to be eating enough, your body may not be able to absorb all of the nutrients.
  • Intensive chemotherapy can often lead to lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, sores and infections in the mouth, and changes in how food tastes. These side effects can make it difficult to eat and get proper nutrition.

Maintaining your weight and energy level are important—especially when you’re fighting cancer. Eating the right kinds of foods before, during, and after treatment may help you feel better and stay stronger. In addition, your health care professional may recommend nutrition therapy.

What is nutrition therapy?

Nutrition therapy helps find and treat nutrition problems early—and may improve your chance of recovery. Possible goals of nutrition therapy include preventing or correcting malnutrition, helping you tolerate treatment, and maintaining strength and energy. Based on your needs, your health care professional or dietitian may give you nutrition-specific advice. You may be monitored and have follow-ups as needed to see if the therapy is helping.

Working with your cancer care team

If you have any nutrition-related concerns, be sure to talk with your cancer care team as well as a dietitian. If you do not know a dietitian, a cancer specialist may be able to refer you to one. For more information, visit the Web site of the American Dietetic Association at eatright.org.

Tips for Food Safety

Because cancer treatments can weaken the immune system, food safety is key. To help prevent infection and lower the risk of food-borne illness:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food and before eating.
  • Use special care in handling raw meat. Keep raw meats and ready-to-eat foods separate.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables very well.
  • Fully cook meat, poultry, and seafood.
  • Beverages such as milk and juice should be pasteurized.
  • Store foods promptly at low temperatures (below 40°F) to minimize bacterial growth.
  • Avoid foods that may be contaminated such as salads from salad bars, sushi, raw or undercooked meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, and eggs.
  • Contact the local public health department to have water checked if there is any question or concern about bacteria.

Further Resources

About.com

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

American Academy of Pediatrics

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

The Cleveland Clinic health information

eMedicineHealth.com

KidsHealth.org

Mayo Clinic

Pollen.com

WebMD


Further Resources

Allergy and Asthma Network - Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

American Lung Association

CDC: asthma's impact on children and adolescents

CDC: how to quit

EPA: asthma and indoor environments

NIH: asthma and physical activity in the school

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute


Further Resources

American Diabetes Association

Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation

Diabetic Exercise and Sports Association

International Diabetes Federation

NIH: NIDDK diabetes health information

NIH: NIDDK nutrition information

NIH: National Diabetes Education Program

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation


Further Resources

American Council for Headache Education

American Headache Society

National Headache Foundation

New England Center for Headache


Further Resources

American Dietetic Association

Dietary guidelines for americans

Food and nutrition information center

NIH: nutrition information

NIH: weight loss and control

NIH: weight control


Always check with the health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing activity. It's also important to ask him or her about target heart rate to help determine appropriate exercise intensity.

Always check with your health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing your activity. It's also important to ask him or her what your target heart rate is to help determine what exercise intensity is appropriate for you.

Always be sure to check with your health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing your activity.

It always helps to ask:

  • What activities are right for me?
  • How much should I do each day?
  • How many days a week?

It's also important to ask him or her what your target heart rate is to help determine what exercise intensity is appropriate for you.

This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

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Before making Medicare choices, always:

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Health Coach Call

Listen to an example of what a call might sound like.

PlayNutrition call (7:16)
PlayActivity call (7:22)

Here are some important things to know about your Health Coach Call:

Our Coaches are employed by a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., a pharmaceutical company. The information provided is based on generally available nutrition and physical activity guidelines and information applicable to most people. Health Coaches are not licensed dietitians or health and fitness professionals, and they are not in a position to assess your individual nutrition or activity needs. This information is not appropriate if you are pregnant, and it may not be appropriate if you have specialized dietary needs or limitations on the level of activity or exercise you can safely undertake due to your medical conditions. Consult your health care professional regarding your specific needs, limitations, and health conditions. Health Coaches can educate and coach you on nutritional and physical activity recommendations for the typical person. Health Coaches are not health care professionals and cannot offer medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your health care professional because he or she knows you best. If you have a chronic health condition, check with your health care professional to find out if physical activity is safe before you start. If during your call you have concerns about any condition, special dietary needs, limitations on the level of activity or exercise, any treatments, side effects, or adverse experiences, your Health Coach will refer you to your health care professional.
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Activity Points Explained

This Planner uses Activity Points as a way to help you stay motivated and focused on your activity goals. Points are assigned to each activity in the Planner. You'll earn more points when you increase the duration of the activity.

For example, when you bicycle for 15 minutes at a moderate pace (12 to 14 mph), you earn 120 Activity Points. To earn the same number of Activity Points while cycling at a very easy pace (less than 10 mph), you would need to bike for 30 minutes.

If you are currently inactive or get very little activity during the week, a good goal to work toward is 500 Activity Points each week. This is equal to 30 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic exercise on 5 days a week.

If you are moderately or highly active (more than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week), you may want to aim for up to 1,000 Activity Points each week. This is equivalent to 1 hour of activity on 5 days a week.

What you'll gain

At 500 Activity Points per week: Once you consistently reach this level (ie, 150 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic activity per week), you may gain substantial health benefits. These benefits include lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and depression.

At 1,000 Activity Points per week: When you consistently reach this level (ie, 300 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic activity per week), you may gain even more health benefits. These benefits include a decreased risk of colon and breast cancer and an even lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.

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