Surviving cancer is a huge achievement as well as a milestone for many people. Often when people are told they have “the C word”, it can seem that life is already over, as it is one of the most terrifying things a person can be told. Having support through this journey is vital to recovery, and this support comes well after the chemotherapy treatment rounds have finished. This article will examine two aspects that are of high importance when it comes to achieving better health after cancer treatment: follow-up care, and nutrition.
Routine checkups
It is common to have routine checkups after cancer treatment. It is recommended you keep your oncologist, as he/she knows your chart inside and out. However, in some cases patients have a medical emergency that is a result from cancer treatment but that can be treated by any physician. For example, rash and blistering of the skin can occur in some patients who have had radiation treatments. Chemotherapy can cause people to have extremely low levels of energy, and if they experience side effects from their treatment, getting out of bed and going to the hospital can feel as if you are trying to climb a mountain.
An alternative to mountain climbing
Instead of patients subjecting themselves to long hours in an ER waiting room, concierge medicine offers an amazing alternative option to patients who are forced to fight through fatigue and wait hours just to be seen for a few minutes. This is not something you would want to use instead of your insurance, but rather it is a supplemented plan to make recovery much easier.
How does it work?
Concierge health care offers some of the best doctors right at your doorstep. They can come to your home at any hour without having to first make an appointment. Not only is this a convenient health option for those who are recovering from a serious illness or disease, it helps relieve stress from the patient knowing that they won’t have to wait for hours to get subpar service, or rely on others to drive them at odd hours in the night. Furthermore, the one-on-one attention patients receive from their doctor who participates in concierge services is phenomenal. The doctor truly gets to know you as a person and not just as a patient. It is even common for concierge physicians to follow up with patients throughout the week by e-mail or phone calls. Also, patients have their doctor’s phone number and peace of mind knowing that if an emergency arises, treatment is close and easy.
There is a downside. Concierge health care is not covered by insurance. However, most people find it to be surprisingly inexpensive. It used to be the case that only the wealthy could afford concierge health care. But now the average yearly service charge a member pays amounts to about what one would spend on their Internet and cable bill. If you or someone in your family may benefit from this service, you may want to do some research and learn more about it.
Nutrition
Undoubtedly, we have all heard that blending and juicing is ideal for those who have (or had) cancer. But which one is better? According to an article published by breastcancerconqueror.com both blending and juicing for cancer are equally advantageous.
Juicing is prized for its absorption abilities. When one juices, the juice from fruits and vegetables are grinded and squeezed away from the fibers. When consuming these juices, your blood stream absorbs them much more quickly, which allows your digestive system to rest.
Blending relies on a high power blender to break down low glycemic fruits, leaves and stems to make smoothies. Blending permits one to amalgamate several times more nutrients from blended vegetables than what we normally get from chewing and swallowing. When a blender goes to work all the antioxidants are released at once, and blended drinks oxidize less quickly.
Taste
If you aren’t used to blending or juicing, you may find it a challenge to like what you drink. Blending or juicing green drinks with kale, kelp, spinach, and other nutritious vegetables are often mixed with an apple for some added sweetness. However, if your taste buds demand additional sweetness, try adding some organic honey or agave syrup to heighten the sweetness.
Here’s to your health
Better health care and nutrition is easily attainable within the closed doors of one’s home. Check your options, get in the routine of making those nutritious green drinks, and raise your glass to good health.
Author bio: Sara Fletcher is a freelance writer who is currently researching concierge health care plans for her first book. When she isn’t writing she loves spending time with her two kids in the garden.
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