A cancer diagnosis is a difficult and life changing situation for anyone. Often when people receive the news, their families gather around them for support. Some try to underplay the importance of family and claim that the patient needs to create a better mental space for him or herself. However, the role that family plays in a cancer patient’s life is simply undeniable.

Staying Strong with Family

One of the most basic roles of the family members is to be a source of support. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, one of the thoughts that certainly will run through their mind is the possibility of death, dying young, and leaving loved ones behind. This is where family members can step up with open communication to let the patient know that they are all going to fight through together. Making sure to talk a lot about feelings of both the patient and family members will help ease stress and make a patient feel supported. Despite any fear, the ability of loved ones to remain strong can inspire a patient. If they can remain strong, then the patient feels that he or she has not lost hope yet.

Becoming a Caregiver

Going through cancer treatments, whether they are weekly visits for chemotherapy or taking medications, is strenuous on a person's body. Nausea, tiredness and weakness are all signs that can be associated with the treatments and with the disease itself. Family member can become involved with a patient’s care by bringing them to appointments and assisting in creating care plans. At home, loved ones can create warm and welcoming spaces for the person to come back home to. For a person with cancer, thinking about dealing with the consequences alone can be terrifying. When they arrive home after their treatments or are in the hospital, seeing their family members can help them to feel better. They know they have someone who is going to advocate for them and take care of them in their times of need.

Finding a New Normal

Family is also important because they can help engage a patient in their normal activities. Some assume that all cancer diagnoses mean that the patient can no longer do the hobbies and pursuits that they used to do, but this thought is simply not the truth. For example, adult children can make sure their mother with cancer is still able to make it to church, or a couple who has a child with cancer can still take her to her Girl Scout meetings.

It's all going to depend upon the actual state of the individual person and their diagnosis, but families can work together to make the best possible situation and keep hope alive.

The holidays are a stressful time even when you are not sick. Hours of shopping, putting up decorations, and cooking meals and baking cookies – it is no wonder that this time of year can wear a person down. When you are battling an illness like cancer, staying healthy has to take priority. That is easy to say, but not easy to do when the holidays create memories that no one wants to miss. Staying organized and listening to your body is the key to dealing with the stress of holiday season with cancer.

Don’t Let Depression Rule You

Between the anxiety of being ill and the hectic holiday schedule, it is easy to give into depression this time of year. Depression directly affects the ability of the immune system to fight infections. Certain triggers can elevate depression like financial struggles or missing family members. You need to be realistic about your abilities. If your cash flow is low because of your illness, talk it out with your family. Plan gifts you can give that don’t cost much money or exert a lot of pressure on you.

Keep the Planning Simple

On top of all the planning and festivities, cancer patients must deal with fatigue and discomfort from treatments. Sit down and discuss ways to simplify the season for everyone. This year, plan a basic menu each member of the household can contribute to. Consider one or two big gifts instead of a dozen small ones. This would be a good time to take part in a gift swap or to donate to a favorite charity in a loved one’s name instead of buying presents.

Don’t Ignore How You Feel

Managing an illness takes a toll on you both physically and emotionally. Going through the holidays ignoring the fact that you have cancer is not helpful. This is not the time to try to push through or pretend nothing is wrong. Dealing with your feelings is not only practical, it is healthy.

Pass It On

If you are one of those people who likes to cook all the treats and wrap all the gifts, you might need to ask for help or delegate. Your body is going through tough treatments that will leave you physically drained. If you try to do it all, you will only wear yourself too thin. This year, supervise the activities. It is a good time to teach the kids how to make cookies or let them do the decorations. You can be a part of the fun without doing all the work yourself.

Don’t Forget to Enjoy Life

The holiday season is all about joy and family. That has not changed just because you are ill. Don’t forget the spirit of the season. Spend more time with your loved ones and less time with your disease. By keeping that in mind, you will remain in the spirit and make it a holiday to remember for everyone.

Cancer can bring your life to a screeching halt, but you’ll find that as you go through treatment and as each day comes closer to normal, you still need to move forward. One way to normalize each day after a cancer diagnosis is through exercise. The National Cancer Institute states that exercise has an enormous positive benefit on both cancer treatment and cancer risk reduction. However, if you have never exercised before it can be hard to get into it.

If you are worried about getting started with exercise, remember that you do not have to do it alone. You will find that there are likely family members and friends who are wiling to help you. But if you want good concrete information, sign up for a gym membership and talk to a professional trainer. At the very least, the gym will help you learn how to use all the different equipment. A lack of knowledge in this area is very common with adults and if you are nervous about using the equipment for the first time, remember that everyone had to start from somewhere!

For the beginner, here are a few basic steps for getting you started on creating an exercise schedule to stick to--

1. Warm Up
   Warming up before exercise is important for any person exercising, no matter what their fitness level. Good, simple ways to warm up are light aerobic activities like walking and doing jumping jacks. Getting your heartbeat elevated and increasing your blood flow are important before putting your muscles to work.
2. Cardio
   Cardio, short for cardiovascular, is an aerobic activity like running, walking, or cycling for a few examples. Try to work some cardio into your routine almost everyday. Even if you’re just going for a walk around the block, moving your body a little bit is better than not at all. As more time passes and you are able to keep up your cardio exercises, working out will become easier and easier as you become stronger.
3. Strength Training
   Strength training usually brings to mind images of body builders lifting hundreds of pounds in weight at once. However, strength training just involves targeting specific major muscles groups and working them by lifting weights at a comfortable level. The amount of weight that can be used will depend from person to person. To prevent injury, read the directions of a machine thoroughly or hire a trainer. Strength training should be done a couple of times a week and the same set of major muscles should not be targeted two days in a row.
4. Cool Down
   Walking slowly or stretching at the end of a workout to cool down is essential to help prevent injury and jumpstart the recovery process for your body. Stretching is a part of flexibility training and is also another important component of keeping a healthy body and increasing your range of motion. Stretches should be done slowly and be a part of the process of bringing your heart rate down to it’s usual beats per minute.

Remember that you do not need to stick with one exercise if you find that it is boring, dull or painful. As a matter of fact, the old saying of “no pain, no gain” is completely wrong. Good exercise leaves you feeling sore and pleasantly tired. Exercise taken too far leads to pain and fatigue. If you are pushing your body too hard, you’ll find that you won’t be able to exercise the next day.

Once you have started, keep going! Anyone can do a few strenuous exercises over the space of a few days, but it takes a great deal more effort to keep at it for a regular stretch of time. Make a schedule and stick to it. Remember that just by exercising three or four times a week, you can make a huge difference in your physique and well-being.

Whether you are dealing with breast cancer, testicular cancer, or mesothelioma, you’ll find that exercise can improve your general health and can greatly improve your mood. Exercise releases endorphins into your body, and it allows you to clear out the stress that you may be experiencing. Take a few moments to consider what your options are and what kind of exercise is most likely to suit you. Above all, use exercise as a fun outlet to feel good about yourself.

Physical activity is known to decrease the risk for certain cancers and other serious illnesses. What's more, recent studies suggest that regular exercise can also improve overall health and quality of life for those who have already been diagnosed with the disease: this includes people who have just been diagnosed, those currently in treatment and even those in remission.

Benefits of Exercise for Cancer Patients

1. Increased Energy Levels

Cancer, and especially chemotherapy and other treatment methods, can have a significant effect on energy levels. Many patients experience fatigue and exhaustion of both the body and mind. Exercise can boost energy by getting the heart pumping and the blood flowing, which can improve energy levels throughout the day and lead to better quality of sleep at night.

2. Improved Appetite

Malnutrition and dehydration are common concerns among cancer patients. Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation and pain medication can often cause reduced appetite, which can quickly lead to malnutrition and dehydration. Without the proper nutrients and hydration, the body is unable to fight off illness. Due to this, symptoms of cancer and side effects of treatment can become worse. Regular exercise can significantly improve appetite, which greatly reduces the risks of malnutrition.

3. Improved Body Function

When it comes to physical fitness, cancer patients receive the same benefits as everyone else. However, for people with cancer, the benefit of improved overall body function is even more significant. Due to chemotherapy and pain management methods, nearly all cancer patients experience decreased body function. This often includes bowel and urinary disturbances, decreased mobility and general aches and pains. Regular workouts can help keep the body in better working condition by regulating blood pressure, relieving pain and improving muscle, bone and joint function. These benefits will improve the chances of remission as well as decrease the risk of other illnesses.

4. Decreased Risk of Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are common among cancer patients. Exercise can help relieve the symptoms of these conditions by promoting the release of endorphins in the brain. These chemicals boost mood and provide a calming effect on both the body and mind. Exercise also improves symptoms of depression by increasing self-confidence and allowing patients to take control and play an active role in their own treatment and recovery.

Recommended Exercise Options

Although most cancer patients can benefit from exercise in some way, not all workouts are recommended for everyone. For example, for those who have received a mesothelioma diagnosis, difficulty breathing can make intense workouts challenging and even dangerous. For this reason, low-impact workouts like the following are recommended:

• Swimming
• Walking
• Biking
• Tennis
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Elliptical
• Weight training

These workouts can provide many significant health benefits when performed on a regular basis. Thirty minutes, three or four times a week is more than enough to increase energy, boost mood and self-confidence, improve overall health and lend to better quality of life.

Before beginning any exercise routine, even if for those who were physically active prior to a cancer diagnosis, it's important to speak with a doctor. An oncologist or other trained medical professional can offer tips and advice, as well as recommend workouts that will work best on an individual level.

Research experts have identified several categories of benefits available to patients who engage in physical fitness programs, but questions have remained because every type of cancer exhibits a different set of symptoms and varies in treatment programs. Researchers have trouble with some types of cancer and treatment plans due to the lack of sufficient patients to perform gold-standard studies. However, trials have shown significant promise of benefits even in these hard to study areas.

All cancer patients were once thought to be unable to reap any benefit from exercise, and treatment was entirely in the hands of a doctor. This has changed significantly, but there is still some concern about patients receiving palliative care, which is also known as symptom management. Research has shown this concern may have some basis even as benefits of exercise have been established. In a study for the Journal of Palliative and Supportive Care, researchers sought to establish whether patients were willing and able to engage in-group exercise.

They identified 101 patients with a life expectancy of less than one year and asked for their inclusion into the program. Of these, 63 patients agreed to participate in the 6-week program meeting twice each week. Before the program started, 16 of them dropped out for various reasons. Of the 47 remaining, another 13 dropped out before completing the program for reasons including medical problems, social reasons, and death. One of the leading reasons for dropping out was an increased experience of pain or other symptoms. Of the original 63, 34 patients completed the fitness program.

Creating an Individualized Experience

Exercise programs can be beneficial for some patients while others will require a program tailored to their interests. The official recommendation for cancer patients by the American College of Sports Medicine is for all patients to avoid physical inactivity, and this provides an open field of opportunity. It is likely that the patients dropping out for reasons of pain would have continued with a program structured both around their individual experience of symptoms and personal interests especially considering the benefits of fitness.

Walking programs in a gym setting and other structured activities can have negative or neutral associations for some people, and this may limit their motivational capacity. Gardening, playing with a pet, or even walking in a special setting with positive associations for the person may be required to achieve the requisite motivation for participation. This is a primary reason for advocating the inclusion of fitness experts into every cancer treatment program. Many patients will not need their services, but those receiving mesothelioma treatment or facing advanced stage lung cancer, for instance, will benefit from access to expert fitness care.

The benefits make any extra effort worthwhile. Exercise can increase treatment efficacy and reduce the risk of recurrence for those with treatable cancers. It has been proven time and again to reduce severity of symptoms and increase quality of life for all patients. Research in this area is still ongoing. Increased understanding of benefits is essential to promoting inclusion of fitness into every treatment program.

Exercise is beneficial for your overall health and quality of life. It improves your circulation, the health of your bones, and increases your appetite. It also greatly improves the health of your muscles by rebuilding lost muscle mass. Research has found that exercise can also decrease nausea and pain, and that cardiovascular activity can boost your immune system. Another benefit of regular exercise is that it reduces fatigue and creates an energy balance in your body. Suggestive, but by no means definitive studies show exercising may make you have a less likely chance of relapsing and dying from cancer.

Exercise can also be very helpful to your morale. It can keep you focused and positive, take your mind off of negative aspects in your life, and decrease stress. Exercise has been linked to improved rates of self-esteem and general emotional well-being and reducing depression and anxiety. For an added boost of morale, it could also be very beneficial to look for an exercise program for cancer patients in your community and find others to work out with.

There are also important considerations to take heed of before developing an exercise routine. It is very important that you discuss exercising with your doctor and develop and individualized plan because every person is different. Exercise can impair patients with reduced lung function, such as those who are undergoing mesothelioma treatment who will need to start slow with light exercise. Your physician will advise you on your preferable frequency and intensity and what activities are safe for you. Cancer patients beginning their exercise routine should start slowly and moderately, as exercising too much, too fast should be avoided. Choose activities that are easily accessible, comfortable and enjoyable. Timing is also important. Cancer patients undergoing their first chemotherapy treatment therapy should wait until their cycle is complete. For those using radiation therapies- you should decrease the intensity of exercise towards the end of your treatment cycle. It is also important to listen to your body: You should skip your routine if you are not feeling well enough to participate. Also, Inform your doctor immediately if you experience blurred vision, dizziness or swelling.

Amy oversees the listing of cancer support groups, helps train volunteers and manages those who participate in the phone buddy peer support program. Amy also helps monitor question and answer sessions on the cancer support forums on the Lung Cancer Alliance's website.

DH: What types of services does the Lung Cancer Alliance specialize in and find most valuable to those who have been diagnosed with lung cancer?

AC: The biggest service that the Lung Cancer Alliance tries to provide is support. This support originated with a phone buddy program for 1-on-1 peer support, and has moved to not only that, but also listing as many specialized lung cancer support groups who meet in certain areas and also online message forums.

The biggest value that is derived from these different programs is that the patient and their family can feel more comfortable because most lung cancer patients seem to want to have a specialized support group in lung cancer and this is provided at the Lung Cancer Alliance. Also, while these services include a list of face-to-face support groups, Amy stated that not everyone wants a face-to-face support group. There are many reasons for this including transportation hassle, group proximity, or they just don’t feel comfortable with a face-to-face group and feel they can gain the knowledge and support through the internet or the phone.

DH: What are some of the more common questions that individuals facing a lug cancer diagnosis ask when first attending a support group?

AC: A lot of these people just feel the need to connect. Most newly diagnosed lung cancer patients have never met anyone with lung cancer before which creates a sense of isolation. Through these support groups they gain that sense of camaraderie and learn that other people are in the same situation as they are. The questions that people normally ask are very specific to their situation and how to deal with their situation such as how to cope with treatments or how to best keep the cancer from recurring.

DH: How beneficial do you think support groups are for the people who have been diagnosed with lung cancer and their caregivers?

AC: These groups or communities are very beneficial. One can gain a first hand perspective from someone who has gone through the same thing that they are going through. This is extremely important in the healing process to be able to speak to people who are struggling with the same thing that they are going through not only physically, but also mentally by discussing how to handle fears, anxiety, and depression.

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On behalf of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, I'd like to thank Amy for speaking with us about some of the great opportunities the Lung Cancer Alliance provides for patients, their loved ones, and caregivers.

Amy added that support groups are not just for the patient. She spoke about her first hand knowledge of attending a support group when one of her parents was going through a cancer diagnosis. She found it very helpful to her because she found out how to best care for her loved one. Caregivers can learn many things from attending a support group such as how to deal with the emotions that their loved one is going through and how to best care for their loved on when going through various treatments.

Mary Hesdorffer is a nurse practitioner working with The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. She oversees the various support groups that MARF has to offer for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, their family members, and people who have lost a loved one to this deadly disease. She can be reached at mhesdorffer@curemeso.org.

The following is a discussion she and I had over the phone last week.

DH: What are some of the most common questions that individuals facing a mesothelioma diagnosis ask in support groups?

MH:

1. The patient usually will ask if they are undergoing or about to start the appropriate treatment.
2. Patients will often ask if the doctor that they are seeing, or are planning on seeing, is a specialist familiar with their specific diagnosis
3. Patients often ask if the treatment they are receiving fails are there other options for treatment that may work.

DH: In What Ways can we support the work that you are doing in hopes that more and more people receive the services and support they need?

MH: Become and advocate for support groups and help encourage people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families to seek out a support group.

DH: Support Groups contain a lot of value to people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. What have you found to be valuable for a patient who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in a support group?

MH: The most valuable thing is to hear information from both the practitioner and the patient’s perspective. Learning information and techniques from people who are going through mesothelioma or have already gone through mesothelioma is extremely valuable because they can let each other know of what has worked when trying to cope with treatment symptoms and also give a timeline on what to expect 3 months after surgery, 6 months after, etc.

DH: How Beneficial do you think support groups are not only for people who have been diagnosed with cancer, but also family members of those that have been diagnosed with cancer and people who have lost a loved one to cancer?

MH: They are extremely beneficial to all who attend. It gives everyone a sense of camaraderie and empowerment that they can fight the disease with the help of others and gets rid of the lonely feelings that makes people think they are in the fight alone. Also, loved ones gain knowledge and information on how to best give care and support to the person that they are close to who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. This sense of community and knowledge is invaluable in the fight against cancer.

Mary has asked me to relay that she has now added a support group for young adults who have experienced loss and also does one-on-one support for those who do not wish to be a part of a group. Groups are also password protected for privacy. Mary’s office phone goes directly to her cell so people can reach her 7 days a week.

I’d like to thank Mary for her time and help.

• Mary Hesdorffer, Nurse Practitioner
• Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
• 1317 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314
• (703) 879-3820
• (877)363-6376 (toll free)
• (703) 299-0399(fax)

For more information please visit www.curemeso.org. Also, please contact Mary directly if you would like to participate in one of the Support Groups. Group calls are password protected to help maintain privacy among the members. You will receive the conference call number and passcode prior to the call. Please contact MARF for specific meeting times.

Cancer support groups are extremely important to the psyche of the patient who is going through a diagnosis of any kind of cancer. These groups are very willing to give not only information about the cancer they are going through, but also provide a sense of camaraderie and positive outlook towards beating that cancer. While getting information from one’s doctor is extremely valuable, one can also benefit from hearing different views of people who are going through the same treatments. When attending a support group, one can receive information from a variety of different people such as practitioners, people who are going through the same cancer, and people who have beat that cancer. These people can share valuable tips on how they coped with their treatments and also how they kept their body and mind strong through one of life's more difficult ordeals.

Cancer support groups can truly be priceless throughout one’s battle with cancer. There are support groups out there for all types of people and all types of cancer. For lung cancer specific support groups you can consult the list I have compiled at the bottom of this page. I would urge all cancer patients, as well as family members and loved ones, to consider utilizing the support one of these groups can provide you with.

In-Person/Online Support Groups for Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

MARF – Mesothelioma Telephone Support Groups and Teleconferences

Lung Cancer Alliance – support groups by area – online support groups

Stay tuned for the next part of this series, which will feature a discussion with Mary Hersdorffer of The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

According to the National Cancer Institute at least 35 percent of all cancer cases are related to poor nutrition. [source]. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine what best aids in the fight and prevention cancer, including mesothelioma. Among the most prevalent healthy suggestions are:

Berries

Berries, often described as the ‘super food,’ are among the fruits highest in antioxidant content and are excellent sources of several phytochemicals that seem to help block cancer development. Berries contain a host of healthful nutrients including fiber and vitamin C, in addition to a variety of cancer-fighting nutrients and antioxidants. The key is to eat these berries in their raw, whole fruit form rather than to eat processed berries or fruit drinks made from berries. In order to get the healing phytonutrients, you must get the berries in the freshest form possible – that means no processed berries, just raw berries, right from the bush or straight from the grocery store. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, cranberries are among the most popular healthy berries.

Three ways to eat berries:

• On cereal. When sprinkled on healthful cereal, berries offer an added sweetness.
• Added to jello or pudding. Add some berries to a quick-setting jello or pudding for an added healthy benefit.
• Berries topped with fresh cream or whipped cream. Berries in their most simple form – just topped with a dollop of whipped topping.

Dark green leafy vegetables

Dark, green leafy vegetables are a must on everyone’s list. These greens are a good source of many vitamins (such as Vitamin A, C, and K and folate) and minerals (such as iron and calcium). These greens are also a great source of fiber. Research suggests that nutrients found in dark green leafy vegetables contain healthful antioxidants fighting off free radicals in the body. Free radicals are highly reactive oxygen compounds that can damage and destroy the body’s “good” cells. “Good” cells that have been damaged are more likely to spread illness & infection and, also, become cancerous. Spinach, kale, broccoli, collard greens, mustard greens, swiss chard, and romaine lettuce.

Three ways to eat dark green leafy vegetables:

• Make a salad. Leafy greens taste great mixed in a salad with different types of veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, carrot & lettuce).
• Wrap it up. Make a wrap with tuna, chicken or turkey and add romaine lettuce, spinach, arugula, and other veggies for some extra taste.
• Add to a soup. Try mixing leafy vegetables such as kale or collard grens into your favorite soup.

Flax & flaseed oil

Flaxseed oil has been shown in laboratory tests to reduce the speed and growth of cancer cells. Heart-healthy and loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants, flax and flaxseed oil is a super source of lignans, fiber and Omega-3 fats. The concentration of lignins in flaxseed is more than 100 times greater than found in any other lignin containing foods such as grains, fruits and vegetables. Studies suggest that flaxseed oil is most effective when taken with a sulfur based protein, such as cottage cheese.

Three ways to eat flax and/or flaxseed oil:

• In cereal. One of the best ways to eat flax seeds if for breakfast, either sprinkled on cereal.
• On oatmeal. A sprinkle of flaxseed on homemade oatmeal adds taste and texture.
• With yogurt. Faxseed give a nutty taste and texture to yogart, with fruit.