Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Cancer Related Fatigue Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to talk about cancer related fatigue because it’s so common in those who have cancer. It can also be difficult to work with because there can be a number of reasons why a person feels …
Green Tea, our most common questions!!! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Green Tea is probably one supplement that everyone has heard of! It’s probably been written about by almost everyone, including me! So why write about it again you ask? Well it’s recently come to …
Opportunistic Infections
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
What do we mean by the phrase opportunistic infections? Well it is exactly what it sounds like, it is an infection that takes the opportunity to grow when your immune system is compromised. Some types of cancer and cancer treatments can weaken our immune system. One way that this occurs is by reducing the ability of the bone marrow to make the white blood cells that fight infections. One example of a low white blood count is called neutropenia, or low neutrophils.
Now I’m sure you have heard that our skin is covered with bacteria and other “bad guys”. Normally these bacteria aren’t a problem. However for someone with a compromised immune system the bacteria or viruses on the skin and in the digestive system can make them sick.
I bet your first thought is so Doctor Claire exactly what type of “bad guys” make us sick when we have a compromised immunity? Well there are 4 types of bad guys that cause infection. These include bacteria, viruses, fungal infections and protozoal infections.
Of these 4 different types of bad guys bacteria have been found to be the most common in those with cancer. These bacteria include Staph, Strep, Pseudomonas, C. Diff, E.coli and Listeria. Symptoms that indicate that you may have a bacterial infection can include upset stomach, stomach pain, and change in appetite, diarrhea and even a fever.
In addition to bacteria viruses’ can also be a common infection if you are exposed to them. These can include the viruses’ that cause the common cold, the flu, Varicella (chicken pox virus), Herpes virus, Cytomegalovirus virus and Coronavirus. Viruses in general can cause fever, muscle aches, coughs, headaches and sore throat. Herpes as we know can cause cold sores or genital sores. (1) For more information please see the blog on Herpes written by Allie Might. Varicella or chicken pox can also cause raised bumps on the skin as well as small fluid –filled blisters. After a few days these will form crusts and scabs. (2)
One of the most common fungal infections that can occur in cancer patients is Candida. You may have heard of an infection in the mouth called thrush. This is another name for fungal Candida in your body. In addition to affecting your mouth thrush can also grow in your vagina or on your penis. Thrush usually looks like a white patch with read and sore skin. Less common fungal infections include Aspergillosis and Pneumocystis.
Toxoplasmosis is a type of protozoa that can infect our brain if we have a compromised immune system. (1) This usually spreads via undercooked meat or exposure to cat feces. The symptoms of a protozoa infection include fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, muscle aches, rash, eye pain, poor vision and floaters. For those with a compromised immune system it can also cause brain inflammation or encephalitis. This can present with confusion, poor coordination, muscle weakness, seizures and even changes in alertness. (3)
One dangerous side effect of having an opportunistic infection during cancer is an increase in the risk of developing sepsis. If you suspect you have sepsis go to the hospital. Sepsis is very dangerous. People can and do die from it. Some signs to be mindful of include slurred speech, confusion, extreme shivering or muscle pain, passing no urine (in a day), severe breathlessness, it feels like you’re going to die, skin mottled or discolored. SEPSIS is the acronym to help you remember the symptoms. (4)
Opportunistic infections can also leave to patients having to either reduce treatments or even stop treatments. It is important to support our immune system the best we can.
During treatments:
After treatments – I usually recommend the following after your treatments in order to avoid any possible interactions with the different cancer treatments.
Our product highlight will feature Green Tea and the most common questions I get asked about it!
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Cancer and Weight Loss
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Weight loss is a common side effect experienced by those with cancer. This weight loss can occur for a number of reasons. To start with, having cancer can lead to weight loss. This is because in some cases cancer cells can release hormones that alter the sensation of hunger. This clearly leads to weight loss because if you’re not hungry you usually cut down what you eat leading to less calories being consumed and thus weight loss. Cancer cells may also “take up space in the GI tract or abdominal cavity” thus causing you to feel full after only a small amount of food. Additionally those who have cancer often experience extreme pain which can decrease appetite. Cancer can also increase inflammation. This increase in inflammation decrease’s the hormones that stimulate appetite while also increasing metabolism. Lastly a diagnosis of cancer can lead to depression and anxiety. Both of these can cause a general loss of appetite thus leading to weight loss. (1)
Constipation can occur as a result of both cancer itself and different cancer treatments. It can cause you to feel full fast. It can also reduce your appetite. Constipation can also cause nausea and vomiting. This can, as anyone who has ever been nauseous can attest to lead to a decrease in appetite. It also leads to a decrease in our ability to absorb nutrients. (1)
Cancer treatments of different types can affect our weight. This can occur for a number of reasons. To start with the different treatments can decrease our overall appetite. Different treatments can decrease our sense of taste. On the same note different cancer treatments can change our perception of different flavors. What this means is you may find foods to be unappealing. You may even find that you dislike some of your favorite foods. (1)
Another way that different cancer treatments lead to weight loss is by causing nausea and vomiting. As I said previously in this blog having nausea and vomiting can lead to weight loss by decreasing appetite as well as by decreasing your overall nutritional intake. (1)
Diarrhea is another cause of weight loss in those undergoing different cancer treatments. This is partly due to the loss of good bacteria which can allow the growth of pathogenic organisms that can trigger diarrhea to occur. Additionally certain treatments affect our GI tract in a way that can trigger diarrhea. (1)
Cancer treatments can also lead to mucositis, or mouth and throat sores that occur when healthy cells are damaged by cancer therapies. Cancer therapies are made to eliminate cancer cells, these are typically fast growing cells. However sometimes healthy cells that have a high turnover or fast growth rate can be targeted as well. These cells often include the cells in the mouth, throat and GI tract. When you have mucositis it can be painful to eat thus reducing food intake and leading to weight loss. (1)
What can you do if you have weight loss while undergoing cancer treatments?
HAPPY GUT SMOOTHIE† (this recipe is from BREAST CANCER AWARENESS~ HEALTHY RECIPE GUIDE)
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
2 scoops InVite Vanilla Whey Protein
1 scoop G.I. Maintain
1 Probiotic Hx
1 cup water or non-dairy milk
1 cup ice cubes
1 banana
1 Tablespoons nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)
Empty the contents of the Probiotic Hx and combine with the other ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth, drink and enjoy! For more ideas please check out the original blog!
Our Product highlight will be Invite Protein Powders!
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