Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. It can affect anyone, especially people with compromised immunity and those with a family history of cancer. One rare type of cancer affecting individuals in the U.S. is mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is among the rare types of cancer in the United States. Yet, people continually get diagnosed annually. Asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma, but people are still contracting the disease despite the country’s strict regulations against this material.
Though there is no known cure for cancer, you can mitigate its effects through fitness and diet. But you may ask how exactly nutrition and fitness improve the quality of life of people with mesothelioma? What is the connection between fitness, the immune system, and quality of life for individuals with such a condition?
Fitness routines, exercise, and a healthy diet strengthen the body and immune system, which can benefit individuals with mesothelioma.
You can find more information about the stages of mesothelioma in this article and how this condition can affect the body, particularly the immune system.
This write-up also offers insight into the benefits of routine exercise and a healthy diet to improve the immune system and quality of life of people with mesothelioma.
Benefits of Diet and Exercise for People With Mesothelioma
Diet and exercise have been a cliche for many health and fitness advocates for decades. These terms have been repeatedly used many times, probably losing some of their impact on people.
Only when diseases strike and severe conditions appear one truly feels the necessity of a good diet and adequate exercise. In mesothelioma cases, nutrition and fitness are crucial to ensure the effectiveness of treatments for an improved quality of life.
A high-protein diet may be helpful.
Mesothelioma may cause high metabolism, leading to rapid weight loss if not quickly replenished with food intake. It’s one of the reasons people with cancer tend to lose weight quickly.
Unexplained weight loss is an early sign of cancer.
The body must be well-nourished in preparation for the battery of medication and treatment that will be administered to prevent the spread of cancer in the body.
Eating high-protein food is one way to regain the lost weight and nutrition from cancer. A high protein diet helps provide energy to the body and maintain mass and weight.
According to a 2018 study, 34.1% of patients have experienced prediagnosis weight loss already. The research reinforces the importance of nutrition in treating and caring for people living with cancer.
An increase in fruits and vegetables is equally essential.
Accompanied by the increase intake of protein are fruits and vegetables. Eating raw vegetables may help improve the body’s well-being and replenish the vitamins and minerals lost due to the high metabolism experienced by people with cancer.
- Exercise and fitness routine
Individuals living with cancer and those receiving chemotherapy and other cancer treatments experience fatigue and weakness.
A 2017 study suggested that cancer patients should have exercise routines immediately after diagnosis. Also, exercise routines should continue, especially during chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which take a toll on the body.
Here are some benefits of exercise for people with mesothelioma:
- It lessens fatigue and boosts energy in the body.
- It improves body functions.
- It stimulates appetite.
- It strengthens the body, especially the muscles.
- It reduces the harmful effects of chemotherapy.
- It improves the quality of life, mood, and emotion of people with cancer.
Brief Overview of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It’s an aggressive form of cancer that has a high mortality rate. Around 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma, despite the stringent regulations against asbestos in the country.
There are three main types of mesothelioma.
- Pleural mesothelioma: This type affects the smooth linings of the lungs.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma: This type affects the smooth linings in the abdomen.
- Pericardial mesothelioma: This type affects the smooth lining covering the heart.
Four mesothelioma stages are determined by the level of growth of the cancer cells in the body.
- Stage 1: The cancer cells or tumor is localized in the smooth lining of the affected area.
- Stage 2: Cancer has begun to spread to nearby organs.
- Stage 3: The cancer cells have spread to nearby tissues and the lymph nodes, which is one of the stepping stones for further spreading.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread to multiple nearby and distant organs and tissues and has metastasized. It is also called end-stage cancer, and people with terminal cancer are given palliative care.
As of the moment, there is no known cure for mesothelioma. But progress is steady in providing care and treatment to lessen its impact on the body and slow the rapid spread of these cells.
