If you have cancer, you know the treatment has side effects. Some say the cure is worse than the disease. Pain, nausea, fatigue, anemia. So how do you deal with cancer treatment side effects?
Food can help.
Seriously.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to help you cope with the side effects but you might also want to consider items you already have in your pantry.
Having cancer is bad enough. At least you can do something to alleviate the discomfort that comes with the treatment.
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Cancer Treatment Side Effects
The American Cancer Society website documents the side effects of cancer treatment and classifies each by treatment. If you have cancer, or know someone who does, the link above may help. Here are just a few of the topics addressed on that page.
- Chemotherapy side effects
- Radiation therapy side effects
- Pain
- Nausea
- Sexual side effects
- Coping with the disease and the treatment
In addition to medication prescribed by your doctor to deal with the side effects, you may want to consider natural ways to cope.
Foods That Help
The natural inclination for many is to turn to medicine to help deal with the problems in curing your cancer. But you may also want to consider nutritional changes in your diet.
Eating may be the last thing on your mind, but at least consider how eating the RIGHT food can help.
The Roswell Park Cancer Institute recently published Recipes for Recovery. Below are just a few of the food recipes in their article.
- Banana milkshake to boost your appetite
- Apple and prune sauce for constipation
- Fruit and cream to relieve problems with a sore mouth
You might also want to Google “foods that combat cancer treatment side effects” and “recipes for cancer patients”. Here are a few links to get you started. “Diet for cancer treatment side effects” and “Diet and Nutrition During Treatment“.
Finding the right combination that works for you may involve trial and error. But don’t give up.
Does Medicare Cover Cancer Treatment?
If you are on Medicare you probably wonder what is covered and what isn’t. If you have original Medicare and a supplement plan, you have the best coverage available. With Medigap plan F, G or N your out of pocket for treatment will be minimal. Roughly 90% of my clients own plan G, a few have F and the balance opted for plan N.
Medicare supplement plan N includes some of the cost sharing in Advantage plans but with a lot less out of pocket exposure. Doctor copay’s are capped at $20 regardless of whether you see a general practitioner or specialist.
Any claim approved by Medicare is also approved by your Medigap carrier, no questions asked. Here is what Medicare covers when you have cancer treatment.
You can use Google to find “Does Medicare Cover Cancer Treatment” but here are a few articles we found helpful.
- Managing the Cost of Cancer Care
- Medicare Chartbook – Why Cancer Patients Depend on Medicare
- Medicare Part D – Things Cancer Patients Want to Know
One of my clients recently asked abut Medicare and Mental Health coverage. Her treatment is working and her bills are being paid by Medicare and her supplement plan, but she wanted therapy to deal with the stress of cancer.
The CMS Mental Health Services Booklet is a bit technical but provides a lot of detail on mental health treatment. This link to Medicare Coverage of Outpatient Mental Health Services might be easier reading.
Clients of Georgia Medicare Plans know they can always rely on us for solid advice, the best Medigap rates in Georgia, and quick answers to their Medicare questions.
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