Intensive chemotherapy does not pass for patients without a trace. Virtually all inorganic systems are subject to serious disruptions and failures. Undoubtedly, such treatment leads to an improvement in the condition of the cancer patient, but his body undergoes a severe impact of adverse reactions, losing the already reduced immune status.
Therefore, after treatment, it is necessary to undergo rehabilitation therapy, which can be carried out not only in the clinic, but also at home.
How to restore the body after chemotherapy at home?
After chemotherapeutic sessions most malignant cellular structures die, but they do not leave the body on their own, but form into necrotic tissues.
Dead cells penetrate the blood and all organic structures, which is manifested by a serious deterioration in overall well-being.
Medications
In the recovery period, a lot of drugs are prescribed to patients.
- Because chemotherapy, due to its toxicity, causes nausea and vomiting in all patients, antiemetics such as Cerucal, Tropisetron, Dexamethasone and Navoban, Gastrosil and Torekan, Metoclopramide, etc. are recommended for symptomatic relief.
- In need of restoration are also hepatic structures,therefore, the use of hepatoprotectors Hepabene, Essential, Karsil, Heptral, etc. is shown.
- A characteristic side effect of chemotherapy is stomatitis, which also needs treatment. Inflammatory foci appear on the cheeks, gums, and tongue. To eliminate them, patients are prescribed rinsing of the oral cavity with medicinal solutions like Hexoral and Corsodil, Eludril and Chlorhexidine. If stomatitis is ulcerative, then Metrogil Denta is recommended.
- Blood needs restoration. To increase the level of white blood cells shows the intake of such drugs as filgrastim and generics like Neupogen, Leucostim, Granogen, Granocyte, etc. Leucogen is prescribed to increase leukopoiesis. In the presence of diarrhea appointed Loperamide, Smecta, Neointestopan, Octreotide, etc.
- A side effect of chemotherapy is hypochromic anemia, as toxins of antitumor drugs inhibit the production of erythrocyte cells of the blood. To eliminate this side effect, it is necessary to restore hematopoietic functions. Appointed drugs that accelerate the formation of red blood cells, for example, Recormon, Erythrostim, Epogen and Epoetin. All these drugs are produced on the basis of erythropoietin, a synthetic renal hormone that stimulates the formation of erythrocytes.
Nutrition
Special attention after chemotherapy requires the oncology patient diet. It should be based on the principles of healthy eating, contain more vitamins and trace elements, necessary for the rapid recovery of all organic structures.
Every day, on the table of the cancer patient, products of the following categories should be present:
- Sour milk products;
- Fruit and vegetable dishes in boiled, stewed, fresh;
- Eggs, lean meat, lean fish and poultry;
- Cereals and cereals.
Patient after chemotherapy treatment will have to abandon canned food, pickled and smoked products. Also, for faster removal of toxins from the body, it is recommended to increase the drinking regime. In a day, the patient should drink at least 2 liters of fluid.
Enhancing the immunity of
The most important task of restorative therapy after chemotherapy is to raise the immune status.
For the enhancement of immune protection prescribe the intake of antioxidant drugs and vitamins. Excellent immunity strengthens the preparation Immunal.
To survive chemotherapy treatment of cancer - this is only half the case, it is also necessary psychotherapeutic help. The patient needs to create all the conditions for an early return to normal life.
LFK for strengthening the body eliminates swelling and painful sensations, speeds up the removal of cancer cells. Procedures for lymphatic drainage contribute to the reduction of inflammation and the strengthening of immune forces and the restoration of material metabolism.
Vitamins
The body after chemotherapy badly needs vitamins, which accelerate recovery and normalize organic activity.
To accelerate the recovery of mucous tissues and overcome thrombocytopenia, vitamins such as ascorbic and folic acid, carotene and vitamin B9 are needed.
Therefore, patients are prescribed drugs like Calcium folinate, Calcium pangamate and Neurobex.
Also for the acceleration of recovery, bioactive additives containing trace elements and vitamins, for example, Nutrimaks, Antiox, Liver-48, Coopers and Flor-Essens, etc., can be used.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine has an arsenal of recipes for restoring the body and eliminating sidereactions after chemotherapy. To eliminate intestinal disorders and diarrhea, it is recommended to use a collection of yarrow and St. John's wort.
Herbs are mixed in equal amounts, then 1 large spoon of mixture is poured with boiling water( 0.2 liters) and allowed to stand, then take twice a day in a warm form.
Has well proved itself in restorative post-chemotherapeutic treatment and such collection:
- Pyriv;
- Meadow clover;St. John's wort and mint;
- White satin cloth and oregano;
- Nettles.
All herbs are mixed in equal amounts, after which they brew at the rate of 1 large spoonful of the mixture for a glass of boiling water. This broth is taken 30-40 minutes before meals for 2 large spoons three times a day. Such a phyto-drug cleans the blood well and increases hemoglobin.
Vascular repair
Since chemotherapy presupposes intravenous infusion of antitumor toxic drugs, an adverse reaction is toxic phlebitis or venous inflammation, which is manifested by burning and soreness along the veins.
In addition, in the area of the shoulders and elbow folds thickening of the walls and narrowing of the lumens in the vessels occurs, and phlebosclerosis develops, which breaks the blood supply. This complication requires the obligatory application of an elastic bandage and the rest of the limb.
For the treatment of veins are widely used and local external ointment preparations like Troxevasin, Indovazin or Gepatrombin. Ointment is applied, not rubbing, on the skin over the vein three times a day. Also prescribed the reception of Gumbix tablets, related to thrombolytic agents.
Liver treatment
Liver cells are quite badly damaged by antitumor drugs, it is the liver that is responsible for neutralizing toxins and medicinal components.
To facilitate hepatic activity after chemotherapy, oats are recommended.
The flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds contained therein improve lipid metabolism, normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal and hepatic structures.
The decoction of oats on milk is rightfully considered the best folk remedy for the restoration of liver functions. A large spoonful of oat grains should be cooked for a quarter of an hour in 250 ml of milk, then another quarter of an hour the broth should be insisted. With a proper approach to restorative therapy, the liver regenerates fairly quickly.
How to lose weight after chemotherapy?
Many cancer patients after chemotherapy, despite constantly harassing nausea-vomiting syndrome, are rapidly gaining weight.
But even in this situation you can not fixate on extra pounds and look for all the methods for losing weight. If the patient reduces the amount of food consumed, then the body will weaken and deplete even more.
To the weight alone and without consequences for the body came back to normal, it is recommended to give up sweets and limit the flour.
It is necessary to increase the number of vegetables in the diet and to walk more. When the body's forces are fully restored, the extra pounds will go away by themselves.
Video about recovery after chemotherapy, says Olga Butakova: