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marketing@ionetwork.com
In Healthy Lifestyle

Coping with Cancer During the Holidays

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, the holiday season can be a difficult time. What often comes as a stressful time of year, is further escalated with the news of cancer. It can be both physically and emotionally draining. Allow yourself to get in the holiday spirit and enjoy the fullness of the season with these recommendations from the National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research.

Be okay with not feeling okay. Be in the moment, and identify when your thoughts or emotions don’t match with others’ emotions in the moment. For example, if you’re in a happy moment, and you can’t enjoy it, take a step back to check in with yourself. It’s good to try to share in happy moments and find joy for yourself, but you are allowed to feel your real emotions, give yourself time to cry and reflect if you need to.

Have a go-to list of friends and family for support. Make a list of trusted people in your life who you can talk to when you need someone to listen to your concerns. Find people who will be able to be the support you need, a listening ear, a smile, or a word of encouragement. Bring a support friend or family member along with you to holiday events, or when you feel overwhelmed or stressed, call someone from your list.

The food you eat makes a difference. Eating a balanced diet gives your body the nutrients it needs to function correctly, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Limit sugary foods and alcohol to avoid dips in your energy. Plan your meals or eat before attending parties and events if you think it will be difficult to stick to a balanced diet.

Ask for help. Hosting can be overwhelming, especially if you are going through treatment. If holiday traditions take place at your house, make the adjustments you need to accommodate for your health. Suggest a potluck instead of cooking dinner for everyone, or ask friends or family for help preparing. They can help wrap presents, clean the house or cook.

Take time for self care. Find activities that help you feel good and relax. Try new things and set routines. Go for walks or runs, try dance classes or painting, get a massage, find what you like and make time for it. While you make time for relaxing activities, also be aware of what activities add stress. Don’t overexert yourself, be okay saying not to things or taking a break from routines. Allow yourself to take small steps to complete tasks and do what you can to preserve energy.

Don’t be hard on yourself. There are a lot of things that are out of your control, be mindful of your self-blaming thoughts and instead be positive and focus on things you can actively control.

EXPERT CARE

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marketing@ionetwork.com
In Healthy Lifestyle, Nutrition

A Guide to Healthy Holiday Eating

Holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year, but if you’re trying to stay true to your healthy eating plan, you might start dreading the holiday season, knowing it could be an end to your so-far-successful meal plan. The parties last for weeks, the food seems endless and everyone is splurging, so how do you avoid the pitfall and stick to your meal plan?

Here are 3 tips to help guide you in eating through the holidays.

Plan Ahead

The holidays typically are accompanied by lots of parties and social outings, which means food! And good food. You want to attend the get-togethers, but don’t want to sacrifice your meal plan. While you can’t control the food you’re served there are some things you can control to help keep your eating plan in place.

  • Eat close to your usual times to keep your blood sugar steady. If your meal is served later than normal, eat a small snack at your usual mealtime and eat a little less when dinner is served.
  • Invited to a party? Offer to bring a healthy dish along.
  • If you have a sweet treat, cut back on other carbs (like potatoes and bread) during the meal.
  • Don’t skip meals to save up for a feast. It will be harder to manage your blood sugar, and you’ll be really hungry and more likely to overeat.

If you slip up, don’t sweat it. Get right back to healthy eating with your next meal.

Limit the Trips to the Buffet

When you face a spread of delicious food it can be hard not to pile up your plate. You don’t need to avoid the buffet completely, but there are some safety nets you can set up so you don’t overeat.

  • Have a small plate of the foods you like best and then move away from the buffet table.
  • Start with vegetables to take the edge off your appetite.
  • Eat slowly. It takes at least 20 minutes for your brain to realize you’re full.

Treat Yourself

You don’t have to miss out on the fun holiday foods, have your favorite dessert, cook your favorite dish to share, and enjoy it yourself. It can make it more difficult sometimes to stick to your meal plan if you limit yourself to healthy foods only. Have that slice of pie or stuffing, just make sure to slow down when you’re eating to savor it, have a small serving and only one serving.

EXPERT CARE

No two situations are the same. That’s why our caring team of experts are here to provide you with a custom-tailored treatment plan that is unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Click on the button below to learn more.

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marketing@ionetwork.com
In Cancer Awareness, Healthy Lifestyle

Back to School? Don’t Ditch the Sunscreen Just Yet

As you prepare to send your kids back to school, the to-do lists and back-to-school shopping start to pile up. It’s no surprise sun protection slips down the list of priorities as you move away from outdoor activities and focus on classroom needs.

But don’t put the sunscreen away just yet. Studies show that children sustain significant amounts of sun exposure while at school. About 23 percent of lifetime UV exposure occurs before the age of 18. This exposure can have far-reaching effects. Because sun damage is cumulative, too much sun exposure during childhood can contribute to a higher risk of skin cancer later in life.

Consider the following tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation before your kids return to school.

Recess or Outdoor Activities:

Ask the school administration, teacher, or coaches about the planned breaks while the class is outside. UV rays are most intense from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Typically, students have outdoor recess or after-school sports between these peak sun hours. Ask if there are accommodations for shaded break areas. Covered areas like gazebos, roof structures, awnings, shade sails, and natural shade, such as thickly leaved trees, are some examples of shaded rest areas.

Clothing Choice:

Clothing choice is a basic form of sun protection. Dressing in densely woven and bright-colored clothes is the single most effective form of sun protection for the body. Send your children to school in densely woven and bright- or dark-colored fabrics. The more skin you cover, the better, so choose long sleeves shirts and pants whenever possible.

Head and Neck Protection:

Send children to school with a wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap and UV-blocking sunglasses to protect their face, neck, and eyes.

Sunscreen:

Make sunscreen part of the morning routine. At least 30 minutes before children go outside, parents should apply a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher to their skin. Older children should learn to apply sunscreen themselves and make it a routine habit. To remain effective, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating. At a minimum, remind children to reapply sunscreen before after-school sports and outdoor activities. One ounce of sunscreen (about the size of a golf ball) should be applied to the entire body. Remind children to cover those easy-to-miss spots, such as the back of the ears and neck, as well as the tops of the feet and hands.

Expert Cancer Care

No two situations are the same. That’s why our caring team of experts are here to provide you with a custom-tailored treatment plan that is unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Click on the button below to learn more.

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marketing@ionetwork.com
In Healthy Lifestyle, Nutrition

Prep For Success With These Meal Planning Tips

Are You Ready to Start Eating Well?

If you are about to start a new nutrition plan, set yourself up for success as you restock your fridge with these easy steps.

Whether you’re switching up your diet as part of a lifestyle change, or you’re about to start cancer treatment and are looking for foods to keep you strong, knowing your goals and having a plan to follow will make it easier to stick to your plan.

Take the Time to Prep Before Jumping In:

  • Make a list. Go through your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer to see what foods you need to add, and maybe which foods need to be thrown out and replaced with a healthier substitute.
  • Half the battle is preparing meals. To help you win, make sure you choose meals with easy prep – even frozen dinners or ready-to-eat cooked foods work for this.
  • Set up a routine for grocery shopping to keep your kitchen stocked with the foods you need. If going through cancer treatment, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask your family or friends to help you shop on the days you need rest.
  • Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. Discuss your goals, or what to expect if going through cancer treatment. They may have recommendations or advice to help you meet your goals and keep you healthy.

Starting Cancer Treatment?

Oftentimes, your doctor or nurse can refer you to a dietitian who will help you choose the best food and drinks specific to your needs during and after treatment.

Eating problems can sometimes be a result of cancer treatment. Because everyone is different, there is no way to know if you will have eating problems from treatment and, if so, how severe the effects are. Eating problems can be mild, but sometimes it’s a little more complicated. It will depend partially on the cancer diagnosis, what part of the body the cancer is at, and the treatment type.

Don’t be alarmed if you do start to develop eating problems. Talk to your doctor, there are many helpful medicines and other ways to manage dietary issues they can walk you through.

Expert Cancer Care

No two situations are the same. That’s why our caring team of experts are here to provide you with a custom-tailored treatment plan that is unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Click on the button below to learn more.

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nakin@ionetwork.com
In Healthy Lifestyle

Cancer Care and the Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is known to have a number of health benefits and helps sustain a higher quality of life. The amount of physical activity an individual participates in might change with age; at any stage of life, regularly engaging in a form of exercise can significantly impact your health.

Exercise can be anything from light physical activity to intense workouts. Activities like walking, running, dancing, biking, swimming, performing household chores and playing sports are great ways to be physically active.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there is strong evidence linking higher physical activity to lower cancer risk in several types of cancer including the following:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Stomach cancer

How Does Physical Activity Reduce the Risk of Cancer?

An over-sedentary lifestyle such as sitting, reclining, or lying down for extended periods of time (other than sleeping) increases the risk of developing chronic conditions and can lead to premature death. According to the National Cancer Institute, physical activity reduces the risk of cancer in these ways:

  • Prevents high blood levels of insulin
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Improves the immune system’s function
  • Alters the metabolism and bile acids which decrease exposure to the gastrointestinal tract to theses suspected carcinogens
  • Reduces the time it takes for food to travel through the digestive system which decreases gastrointestinal tract exposure to possible carcinogens
  • Helps prevent obesity which is a risk factor to many cancer types
  • Lowers the level of sex hormones such as estrogen and other growth factors that can be associated with cancer development and progression, more common in breast and colon cancers

What is an Appropriate Amount of Physical Activity?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, released in 2018, recommends the following to reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic disease in adults.

  • 150 to 300 minutes of light to moderate-intensity exercise or 75 to 100 minutes of vigorous exercise a week. Your weekly exercise routine can be broken into separate episodes of any length, just try to hit the weekly amount appropriate for the level of the aerobic intensity
  • Along with your aerobic exercise, add in at least 2 days of muscle-strengthening activities a week
  • Incorporate balance training to your workout routines

EXPERT CARE

No two situations are the same. That’s why our caring team of experts are here to provide you with a custom-tailored treatment plan that is unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Click on the button below to learn more.

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