Leukemia (cont.)
Nutrition and Physical Activity
It's important for you to take care of yourself by eating well and
staying as active as you can.
You need the right amount of calories to maintain a good weight. You also
need enough protein to keep up your strength. Eating well may help you feel
better and have more energy.
Sometimes, especially during or soon after treatment, you may not feel like
eating. You may be uncomfortable or tired. You may find that foods do not taste
as good as they used to. In addition, the side effects of treatment (such as
poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, or mouth sores) can make it hard to eat well.
Your doctor, a registered dietitian, or another health care provider can suggest
ways to deal with these problems.
Research shows that people with cancer feel better when they are active.
Walking, yoga, and other activities can keep you strong and increase your
energy. Exercise may reduce nausea and pain and make treatment easier to handle.
It also can help relieve stress. Whatever physical activity you choose, be sure
to talk to your doctor before you start. Also, if your activity causes you pain
or other problems, be sure to let your doctor or nurse know about it.
Follow-up Care
You'll need regular checkups after treatment for leukemia. Checkups help
ensure that any changes in your health are noted and treated if needed. If you
have any health problems between checkups, you should contact your doctor.
Your doctor will check for return of the cancer. Even when the cancer seems
to be completely destroyed, the disease sometimes returns because undetected
leukemia cells remained somewhere in your body after treatment. Also, checkups
help detect health problems that can result from cancer treatment.
Checkups may include a careful physical exam, blood tests, cytogenetics,
x-rays, bone marrow aspiration, or spinal tap.
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You may want to ask your doctor these questions after you have finished
treatment:
- How often will I need checkups?
- Which follow-up tests do you suggest for me?
- Between checkups, what health problems or symptoms should I tell you about?
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