Cancer and its treatment can have a significant impact on patients’ and families’ daily lives and we want patients to maintain their wellness and comfort in order to continue to enjoy time with loved ones while receiving information about their treatment. Gastric cancer, commonly known as stomach cancer, affects the lining of the stomach and for some people with this type of cancer, the cancer cells produce excess amounts of a protein called HER2.
Gastric cancer is a malignant disease of the stomach (abdominal) lining. It affects many parts of the world and has increased in some countries in recent years. The stomach cancer cells in some patients produce excess of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Treatment for gastric cancer can be greatly affected by the level of HER2 produced by the stomach cancer cells and patients with HER2 positive stomach cancer are treated with different types of cancer medicines than those with HER2 negative cancer.
Understanding the Connection Between Wellness and Cancer Care
Not all people with cancer have symptoms affecting their eating. Side effects can sometimes make it difficult to cope with treatment and other aspects of daily life. The ways patients can stay as active as possible while they are undergoing and recovering from treatment for all types of cancers are presented in a practical and helpful manner.
By saying that patients need to support their Everyday Wellness while Learning About Gastric Cancer Treatment, we don’t mean that patients must keep up perfect habits while going through treatments. Rather, we hope that by learning about her2 positive gastric cancer treatment, patients can develop meaningful ways to support their physical comfort and emotional well-being while trying to maintain their independence in Daily Activities.
There are several ways to support patients in maintaining their health and active lifestyle while under treatment for their cancer. Depending on the stage of the cancer and patient’s current health and nutrition, the cancer doctor may suggest several approaches and adaptations to support the patient’s daily activities and health. These can be discussed with the patient’s cancer doctor and other members of the cancer treatment team, in addition to the patient’s dietitian and other health care professionals.
Making Nutrition a Daily Priority
While someone is receiving treatment for their gastric cancer, for example while they are receiving chemotherapy, their appetite may decrease and they may feel nauseous or experience early saturation, indigestion or be completely off food and drink. To maintain their strength and their overall health to fight cancer it is very important for people with gastric cancer to try to eat as well as they can while they are receiving treatment for the disease.
Eat smaller amounts more frequently instead of 3 large meals a day. Choose foods that contain protein like eggs, yogurt, fish, chicken and tofu and other foods of your choice. Choose soft foods and eat small, frequent, simple meals.
The needs of individual patients with respect to their diet during gastric cancer will vary and must be advised by an experienced health care professional. Restrictive, unproven cancer diets that promise to ‘cure’ cancer, and fasting or very restrictive dieting in general can cause serious nutritional deficiency with resulting weight loss. Your oncology dietitian can assist in planning the best diet for your consumption based on your requirements. If you experience vomiting, have difficulty swallowing food, or notice weight loss, report to your health care team as soon as possible.
Staying Active Within Personal Limits
The type and amount of activity a person with cancer can do during their treatment depends on their individual situation. Some people are able to continue all of their normal activities, while others can do less than usual and have more time to rest between activities.
Walk gently and, if possible, perform some stretches or other mobility exercises. It is essential to start slowly and try to increase activities as much as possible, within given limits.
Remember, rest is important too. Patients should be able to manage their cancer and treatment without exhaustion. Try to break down tasks into more manageable parts to help conserve energy each day. It is very important to speak with your oncologist before beginning any form of exercise or physical activity. Even with anemia, with significant weakness, problems with balance, and with many treatment related symptoms and complications, patients can remain very active.
Understanding Treatment and Its Potential Effects
In HER2-positive gastric cancer, a combination of treatments including surgery and/or chemotherapy with or without immunotherapy can be used depending on the stage of the cancer and other individual circumstances.
For advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric cancer patients, trastuzumab (in combination with chemotherapy) is the standard of care for eligible patients. In some cases, patients can also be treated with pembrolizumab, depending on the molecular characteristics of the cancer and in accordance with clinical guidelines. Other HER2-targeted therapies, such as tislelizumab, are approved for specific treatment settings.
When going through her2 positive gastric cancer treatment, it is very important for the patients and their families to have in-depth conversations with the oncologist to get the most information on the intended use of each of the medicines to be prescribed. Patients should also get the expected treatment schedule as well as be fully appraised of potential side effects.
Nausea and diarrhea are common side effects of chemotherapy for gastric cancer. Fatigue and loss of appetite also occur. There is also the potential for trastuzumab to cause heart problems, and trastuzumab deruxtecan can cause interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis. Writing down symptoms and a treatment schedule can be very helpful for discussing with the oncologist at subsequent appointments.
Supporting Emotional and Mental Well-Being
There are several uncertainties associated with a gastric cancer diagnosis, not only relating to the person’s own treatment and outcome but also to how they can continue to manage to carry out responsibilities to family members and in relation to work and finances.
Open discussion about feelings with family, friends and even health care providers is the best way for patients with gastric cancer to express feelings of anxiety, fear and other concerns related to their illness. Many patients find talking with other cancer patients and their families very helpful.
Emotional wellbeing need not mean feeling ‘positive’ all the time. And yes, it’s okay to ask for support. Gastric cancer patients are encouraged to maintain as normal a lifestyle as possible. Maintaining familiar routines and hobbies and interests that are suitable for someone with gastric cancer can help to make them feel connected to family and friends and other things that are important to them. As a supporter the most important thing you can do is listen, go with them to their doctor’s appointments as needed and make sure they are getting the care that they want.
Building Healthy Daily Routines
Having some control over daily organization can make living with cancer a lot easier. Planning and managing the various aspects of your treatment, keeping track of your medicines and monitoring your responses to treatment can all help to manage your cancer in your daily life.
Good quality sleep, sufficient and appropriate fluid intake at home and a supportive home environment to aid completion of treatment-related activities are also important to help maintain daily functioning. The importance of regular monitoring cannot be overemphasized. Patients must monitor the development of their cancer, in addition to recognizing signs of deterioration. They must attend all their appointments and report any symptoms; however irrelevant they may seem.
Making Wellness Part of Individualized Care
Supporting cancer patients in their everyday lives and making wellness part of their cancer care is crucial during the gastric cancer treatment phase. A meaningful approach to patient care encompasses a balance of healthy nutrition, adequate physical activity, and meaningful support by family and/or friends as well as by cancer care teams and organizations. Informed communication between patients and their medical teams and healthcare providers is critical to this end.
All wellness routines will differ depending upon individual circumstances including the type of cancer, the treatment and any other health problems a person may have. Only with the best possible care and with adjustments to daily activities that are as practical as possible, can patients and their families master all stages of treatment and still preserve the best possible quality of life.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. The treatment of localized and HER2 positive metastatic gastric cancer can be different and will depend on the cancer stage, biomarker status, patient overall health and the current clinical practice. Consult with an oncologist about the best treatment options. Patients should not start, stop or change any prescribed treatment without consulting with their oncologist first.
Albert Newman has been a dedicated contributor to Top Wellness Activity Hub, leveraging his extensive background in digital content creation to enrich the platform with engaging and valuable information. Known for his meticulous research and a knack for simplifying complex wellness topics, Albert focuses on producing content that is both informative and approachable. His articles cover a broad spectrum of wellness subjects, from healthy eating habits to the latest trends in yoga and fitness. Albert's ability to break down intricate health concepts into easily digestible insights has made the platform a trusted source for wellness advice.
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