Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer that women are suffering from. When a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer, it does not matter how one has lead life, the concern is how one will lead the remaining part of life. Following a restricted lifestyle, food habits and exercise is a must. One should immediately consult doctor in cases when weight loss, loss of appetite, swollen legs, back pain, heavy bleeding from vagina and fatigue occurs. If diagnosed early, there are treatments that have better chances for it to work. One needs to stand strong and fight back.
Lifestyle measures with cervical cancer
1. Dietary measures– There are some tips on your diet that can help to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
a. Low Glycemic food
The foods which are digested slowly like fruits, legumes and non starchy vegetables are low in glycemic index. The glycemic index measures the ability of carbohydrates to raise the blood sugar. Foods such as potatoes are rich in carbohydrates and must be avoided.
b.Low protein food
Pancreatin serves two purposes- one being digesting proteins and the other acting as an active defense for cervical cancer. If foods rich in proteins are consumed then lot of time is wasted on its digestion and defense mechanism gets a setback. A body must be protein free for almost 12 hours a day for good defense against cancer.
c.Foods delivering I3C
Vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage and Brussels release indole-3-carbinol which are considered to prevent cancer. This component is released when the vegetables are chewed, crushed or chopped. It also possesses anti-estrogenic activities.
d.Curcumin
It is a phytochemical which is responsible for the bright yellow color of the turmeric. It is considered to fight against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer.
e.Ellagic acid in foods
Scientists have found that foods that contain ellagic acid provide a good defense against cancer by activating detoxifying enzymes in the body. It enhances the immune system. It is found in raspberries, berries and red fruits.
f.Low nitrate food
It has been studied that nitrates have the ability to cause cancer. But vitamin C and vitamin E have shown signs of inhibiting the formation of nitrosamine. The processed foods have high nitrate content than the green vegetables.
g.Foods with Aflatoxin
Aflatoxin has the ability of damaging DNA, thus high risk of causing cervical cancer. Grains, legumes and nuts develop carcinogenic substances while being processed and transported. It is therefore advised to consume fresh grains and avoid eating those that taste or look peculiar. Chlorophyll rich green vegetables must be preferred.
h.Foods with Vitamin C and E
These have the ability to enhance the immune system of human body and act as antioxidants. One must therefore eat foods that are rich in vitamin C and Vitamin E content.
i.Foods with low fat
Animal fat has arachidonic acid which helps to spread cancer faster, reduce the defense mechanism of the body. It increases the cancer growth. Thus, one must avoid eating foods rich in fat or animal fat.
j.Foods with zinc
SOD (superoxide dismutase) is an important enzyme of body that is produced with the help of mineral zinc. This enzyme provides a good fight back to the free radicals in the cervical cancer. It even helps the body to get rid of worn out cells and some abnormal cells too.
2. Exercise
There are a certain discussions on whether one should exercise or not after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Exercising regularly is sure to benefit one against this cancer. It helps one to enhance the immune system against cervical cancer. The major aim must be increasing the muscle mass. This helps in increasing the strength of the body. Strength training is a must for cancer survivors, especially weight lifting.
3. Take proper rest
Cervical cancer can be caused due to excessive stress and tension. One needs to keep away from things that stress one’s mind. It is advised not to work in period of treatment as well as recovery. One needs to take as much rest as possible. It must be kept in mind that the treatment takes a little time, so being calm and patient is the only way out.
4. Quit smoking
It has always been advised to keep yourself away from smoking. It causes many cancer causing chemicals to enter in your body. Especially during recovery, smoking has unavoidable effects. It’s best to avoid smoking completely.
