depression

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Living with Chemotherapy

Living through any sort of long-term medical treatment can put your body under untold stress. Unfortunately, sometimes, it’s completely impossible to avoid them.
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When it comes to the most hard-hitting medicines, life can get much harder than you would expect.
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Harsh medical drugs tend to be used when you’re suffering from a serious illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. At these times, you’re already weak; taking harsh medicine on top of it can make it even worse.
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One of the best examples of this is cancer, and the treatments used for it. Living with this sort of issue doesn’t have to be all trouble though. This post will be going through some of the effects chemotherapy can have on your body and your mind. We’ll show you ways to make them much less toxic to your overall life. 

• What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a term originally used to describe any sort of drug being used to fight a disease. Nowadays, though, this type of treatment is associated with cancer.
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Chemotherapy employs drugs which are used which can destroy cells. The goal is to shrink cancer tumours, eventually stopping their growth altogether. The chemicals used in chemotherapy are toxic to cancerous cells, enabling their destruction. However, most of the other cells in your body can also be damaged by chemo.
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For the young or the elderly, this can be particularly devastating. This sort of treatment will make major changes to your body, regardless of age. Your hair and nails could fall out. You could have to deal with discomfort and nausea. Many people find themselves daunted by the prospect of this sort of treatment. 

• What can it do to your body?

One of the most well-known side effects of chemotherapy is hair and nail loss. These are usually the biggest noticeable differences people will see when you undergo chemotherapy.
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And, although it’s not physically painful, it’s a pressing concern a lot of people will have.
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Most people don’t like the idea of being bald. But, you have a few options to help you here.
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Some people like to go for a wig. Others may prefer a specially designed hat. A website like www.hatswithheart.com can help you to find something suitable for you.
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Being able to keep your head hidden like this will also protect you from the sun.
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Other more uncomfortable side-effects of chemotherapy are painful mouth sores. But, you have some options. Creams and products like Bonjela can create protective shields and help to heal. Of course, you’ll have to apply it throughout the day.
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Many people suffer from nausea. There are many products to help with this. You should always do some research, though. Websites can give you information about any drug before you buy them. Of course, while you’re suffering from something like cancer it could also be worth talking to your doctor before picking up anything new.
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Many people experience bone marrow issues after chemotherapy. But, unfortunately, all you can do for that is eat well and do as your doctor tells you.
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Other side-effects include digestive issues which usually result in diarrhea.
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At the end of the day, your best comfort during this trying time are the people around you. Those people who care about you and are there to help and comfort you. 

• What can it do to your mind?

With chemotherapy, most people will experience some sort of brain fog. This can linger for long periods, resulting in the difficulty to think straight.
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During moments like these, you may be irritable or hard to be around. The best way around this is to keep your mind active.
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Completing puzzles like crosswords and sudokus will help to keep your brain active. During these times, try to have people around you.
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Depression is also a challenging issue. With the chemical balance in your body is all out of whack, this is the easiest time for your emotions to run wild.
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Feeling depressed will often leave people lonely and confused. Seek professionals who have the training and experience to help you.
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Nothing you have to say will shock them. And, they won’t be burdened by your feelings.
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Of course, it’s also wise to keep a strong support network around you. People are one of the best cures for depression. And, simply being around them can be enough to drag you out of a bad mood.
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Living with any sort of medical treatment is hard. But, something as aggressive and life changing as chemotherapy can be unbearable. People are becoming much more aware of issues like cancer as more and more people are being affected by it. This means that, as a group, humans are getting better at helping each other through issues like this.
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Hopefully, this will give you a good idea of what you can do to improve your life when dealing with treatments like chemotherapy.
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Unfortunately, a large part of this is researching and doing your own work to find the answers. But, considering how harsh chemo can be, it’s well worth putting the effort in. It benefits you the most, after all.
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