Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
From a Naturopath Point of View Part 5 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND You may have heard the saying that sleep and a good healthy diet are both the base of the pyramid of health. As a Naturopath I agree with this concept 100%! But …
Alcar with ALA Capsules Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of the most popular products here at Invite Health has always been our Alcar with ALA formula. If you have been using Invite’s Alcar with ALA you may notice some changes to it! Now the …
Stress and Anxiety
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Before we move on to a different topic I felt it was important to talk about our mental health. Being diagnosed with cancer or any other chronic illness is much more than just the physical aspects of the illness. There is also the stress that is associated with diagnosis. In fact studies have found almost half of all people who are diagnosed with cancer have some degree of anxiety. In addition studies have found that approximately one fourth of people with cancer report a high level of anxiety. It has also been found that as the cancer spreads or the treatment becomes more aggressive the amount of anxiety experienced becomes more pronounced. (1)
What are some of the most common symptoms of anxiety? Well you may feel irritable or feel as though you’re “going crazy”. You may notice shortness of breath, fast heartbeat that may even make you feel like you’re having a heart attack. Additionally you may start sweating and feeling nauseated as well as dizzy. In some cases your muscles may become tight. (1)
What are some of the factors that can worsen anxiety? Having a history of anxiety as well as a history of physical or emotional trauma can also increase your risk of anxiety. Having a poor support system can also increase anxiety risk. Having cancer that is not improving with treatment or has metastasized can also increase anxiety. In addition having pain or other physical symptoms that are not controlled can also worsen the anxiety you experience. (1)
The amount of anxiety that is experienced can vary greatly from person to person. Just because your experience is different from someone else doesn’t mean that your personal experience isn’t still valid. If you feel that the anxiety you have impacts your life it doesn’t matter if you don’t have the classic signs. Everyone is different and so everyone has a different experience. Now some people who are diagnosed with cancer may have what is referred to as a normal adjustment. There may be psychological and social distress. Some people may also be diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. Lastly an induvial may be diagnosed with a specific anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can include diagnoses such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety and panic disorder. Lastly anxiety disorders can also include specific phobias (for example fear of mice) and agoraphobia. Even obsessive compulsive disorders and PTSD are forms of anxiety. (1)
What can you do to help control your anxiety?
Overall I hope that this series has been helpful for anyone who has any concerns about side effects related to cancer treatments. Remember if you have any questions you can always reach out to an Invite nutritionist.
Sources:
Neuropathy Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Neuropathy is usually something that most people associate with diabetes. This is an accurate connection because one of the most common causes of neuropathy is diabetes. But did you know that neuropathy can also occur after cancer treatments? To …
Cerebral Care Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to take the time to talk about one of my favorite formulas for our memory and brain health. This formula is called Cerebral Care. But what is it about this formula that I like so much? …
Combat Chemo Brain
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
One topic that comes up a lot is what to do about the side effects that can occur as a result of the different cancer treatments. The first side effect I will be talking about is called cancer-related cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction. You may have heard it referred to as chemo brain or chemo fog. Chemo brain refers to thinking and memory problems that can occur during and/or after cancer treatments. (1) In my professional opinion on working with those who experience chemo brain it is best to wait until treatment is complete before addressing the symptoms experienced with chemo brain. This is to ensure no potential interactions between the supplements and cancer treatments that could occur.
What are the most common symptoms of chemo brain that you may experience? Well you may notice that you are unusually disorganized and have difficulty concentrating. You may also notice that you feel confused and have a short attention span that may make it difficult to multitask. In fact you may find that it takes you longer to do things than it would normally. When you are speaking you may have trouble with finding the right words and later on you may find you have trouble with verbal memory or even visual memory. In other words you may notice you have trouble recalling conversations or in recalling a list of words. You may also experience difficulty planning activities. You may notice that there is an increased difficulty in learning any new skills. Overall you may find you have short term memory changes and a general feeling of mental fatigue. (1) Lastly you may even find it difficult to make up your mind or even plan things such as family outings. (2)
While anyone who is undergoing treatment for cancer can experience chemo brain there are some factors that can increase your risk. These can include having brain cancer or cancer that has spread to the brain. Having received radiation to the brain can increase your risk. Additionally if you receive higher doses of either chemo or radiation you are at a higher risk for chemo brain. Being either younger or older at the time of cancer diagnosis as well as treatment places you at a higher risk of developing chemo brain. (1) Being anemic or just not getting all the nutrients you need can also increase chemo brain risk. If you have an infection it can also increase chemo brain risk. Certain chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, trouble sleeping, chronic pain, anxiety or depression can all increase chemo brain risk. Additionally alcohol or other mind altering substances can increase your risk. Even certain hormonal changes such as menopause are risk factors. Lastly being weak or frail can both increase your risk of chemo brain. (2)
What can you do if you find that after treatment you have developed chemo brain?
Sources