What You Should Eat and Avoid During Immunotherapy Cancer Treatment
When a person starts immunotherapy for cancer, most people think only about the medicines and the hospital visits. But there is something else that is also very important. That is food. What you eat at this time can change how much strength you have, how fast you heal, and how well your body accepts the treatment. Food is not only for filling the stomach. It is like fuel. This fuel gives your body power to fight, to recover, and to stay strong during this hard journey. Dr Vikesh Shah always tells patients that eating during cancer treatment does not mean spending money on costly food or following strict diets. It means eating simple, safe, and balanced meals. Good food supports your body and wrong food can make you weak. Let us now understand in clear words what foods are helpful and what foods are not good during immunotherapy. Why Food is Important in Immunotherapy Immunotherapy makes your immune system stronger so it can fight cancer better. The immune system is made of very small living cells. These cells also need food just like the rest of the body. The right food can reduce swelling, give steady energy, and make side effects lighter. If you eat the wrong food, you may feel weak, tired, and may get infections easily. Food does not replace medicine. But it works with medicine. You can think of food as a helper that makes treatment easier. Foods That Help During Immunotherapy Fresh fruits and vegetables Fruits and vegetables give vitamins, minerals, and something called antioxidants that protect your body. They also give fiber that helps your stomach and digestion. Try to eat many colors daily. Spinach, carrot, papaya, apple, tomato, and berries are good. Each color gives a different benefit. Green leafy foods give iron and folate. Orange foods give vitamin A. Proteins Your body needs protein to repair and to make new immune cells. If you do not eat enough protein, you will feel weak and recovery will be slow. Good protein comes from eggs, chicken, fish, beans, lentils, and tofu. If you do not eat meat, you can take milk, curd, pulses, nuts, and seeds. Whole grains Brown rice, oats, quinoa, and whole wheat bread give steady energy. They are better than white bread or sugary snacks because they do not make blood sugar rise too fast. Healthy fats Not all fats are bad. Some fats are very good. Healthy fats come from nuts, seeds, olive oil, and avocado. Omega 3 fats from walnuts and fish like salmon help to reduce swelling. Water and fluids Water is very important during treatment. It helps kidneys remove waste, helps digestion, and reduces tiredness. Plain water, coconut water, and clear soups are better than soft drinks or sweet juices. Foods to Avoid During Immunotherapy Junk and processed food – Chips, fried food, instant noodles, and ready meals may taste good but they give no strength. They have bad fat and too much salt. They can cause swelling and make you feel heavy. Too much sugar- Sugar makes the immune system weak. Cakes, sweets, soft drinks, and packed juices have hidden sugar. Instead, eat fruits or a little honey if you want something sweet. Red and processed meat – Bacon, sausages, and other processed meats are heavy and hard to digest. Red meat also puts extra load on the body. It is better to eat chicken, fish, or pulses for protein. Alcohol – Alcohol makes it hard for the body to absorb nutrients. It makes side effects worse and weakens the immune system. It is best to stop alcohol during treatment. Raw and unsafe food – Raw milk, raw seafood, or half-cooked meat may have harmful germs. During treatment, your immune system is weak, so these germs can easily cause infection. Always eat food that is cooked properly. Common Side Effects and How Food Can Help During immunotherapy, some people feel tired, some have nausea, some lose appetite, and some have loose motions. The right food can reduce these problems. If you feel tired, eat foods rich in iron such as spinach, beans, and lean meat. If you feel like vomiting, eat light foods such as banana, plain rice, or crackers. If you have loose motions, eat soft foods like boiled potato, toast, and banana. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. If you do not feel hungry, eat small meals many times instead of three big meals. Balanced Plate An easy way to plan meals is to look at your plate. Half the plate should have fruits and vegetables. One quarter should have protein. One quarter should have whole grains. Add a little healthy fat. This gives a full and balanced meal. About Supplements Many patients ask if they should take vitamin or mineral tablets. Food is always the best source. Supplements should only be taken if the doctor advises. Some tablets may reduce the effect of treatment. For example, very high doses of antioxidants can disturb immunotherapy. Always ask your doctor before taking new supplements. Listen to Your Body Each patient is different. What suits one person may not suit another. If a food makes you uncomfortable, avoid it even if it is normally called healthy. Keeping a food diary can help you and your doctor see what is best for you. Eating and Emotions Cancer treatment is stressful. Many patients lose interest in food. But food can also bring comfort. Eating with family, enjoying home cooked meals, and choosing foods you like can help your mood and health at the same time. Final Thoughts Immunotherapy is not only about medicines. It is also about caring for the body in simple ways. Food is one of the strongest supports. Eating fruits, vegetables, proteins, and whole grains gives strength. Avoiding junk food, sugar, alcohol, and unsafe foods protects your body. Right choices make the immune system stronger and the treatment journey easier.Dr Vikesh Shah always says there is no one diet that is perfect for all
What Are the Different Types of Immunotherapy in Ahmedabad?
What Are the Different Types of Immunotherapy in Ahmedabad? When someone is told that they have cancer, it feels like the ground has moved from under their feet. Everything changes in a moment. They may feel scared. They may not know what to do next. Many people cry. Some stay quiet. Some feel lost. And that is okay. It is a lot to take in. But now, cancer is not as scary as it used to be. Many new treatments are helping people get better and live longer. One of those treatments is called immunotherapy. This treatment is different from the old ones. It works with the body, not against it. The body has something called an immune system. This system is like a group of tiny soldiers inside us. These soldiers protect us from things that make us sick. They fight germs, viruses, and sometimes even cancer. But sometimes cancer hides in the body. It wears a kind of disguise, so the immune system does not see it. Immunotherapy helps the immune system see the cancer. Once the immune system sees it, it starts to fight. That is why immunotherapy is so special. It does not hurt the body. It helps the body do what it was already made to do. Let us now learn about the different types of immunotherapy that are used to treat cancer. These are used in many places today, and more people are now receiving immunotherapy in Ahmedabad with good results. Checkpoint Inhibitors This kind of immunotherapy helps the immune system stop being fooled. Cancer cells are tricky. They send signals to the immune system that say, “Do not hurt me. I am part of you.” And the immune system listens. Checkpoint inhibitors are medicines that block those signals. They stop the cancer from hiding. When the signals are blocked, the immune system can finally see the cancer and start fighting it. This treatment has helped people with skin cancer, lung cancer, and some others. It is often given through a small drip into the arm. Doctors watch carefully to make sure the patient is safe. CAR T-Cell Therapy This is a special kind of immunotherapy. It starts with the person’s own blood. The doctor takes some blood and removes certain cells called T-cells. These cells are like tiny fighters. In a lab, the doctors train these T-cells. They teach them how to see the cancer better. After the training, the cells are put back into the person’s body. These cells now know exactly what to do. They find the cancer and start to destroy it. This treatment is used mostly for blood cancers. It does not work for every type of cancer. But for some people, it has worked like magic. It has helped people who had no other hope. Monoclonal Antibodies This treatment uses special proteins that are made in a lab. These proteins are sent into the body to find the cancer. When they find it, they stick to it. This helps in two ways. First, they call the immune system to come help. Second, they sometimes carry medicine straight to the cancer. It is like sending a tiny package to the exact place where it is needed. These are already being used in breast cancer and blood cancer. They can also be used along with other treatments. Doctors decide what is best for each person. Cancer Vaccines Most people think of vaccines as something you get to prevent sickness. That is true. But some vaccines are made to treat cancer too. These are not like the flu shot. These vaccines help the body learn about the cancer and fight it. One good example is the vaccine for cervical cancer. It helps the body stop the cancer before it even starts. Other vaccines are being made for skin cancer and prostate cancer. These vaccines are still being tested, but many people have already seen good results. Cytokine Therapy The immune system has messengers inside it. These messengers are called cytokines. They help different parts of the body talk to each other. Cytokine therapy gives the body more of these messengers. This helps the immune system move faster and be stronger. The treatment can make people feel tired or warm, but the doctors help with that. This type of treatment has helped people with kidney cancer and skin cancer. It is another way of giving the body what it needs to keep fighting. Oncolytic Virus Therapy This one sounds a little different. It uses viruses to fight cancer. But do not worry. These viruses are changed in a lab so they are safe. When they go into the body, they find the cancer cells. Then they break the cancer cells from inside. This also wakes up the immune system. It is like ringing a loud bell that says, “Help is needed here.” This treatment is still new. But it is showing great promise in early tests. Doctors are hoping it will become more common very soon. Personalized Immunotherapy Every person is different. Every cancer is different. So some treatments are made just for one person. Doctors look at the person’s blood, their health, their cancer type, and many other things. Then they create a plan that is just right. Sometimes doctors mix two or three types of immunotherapy. Or they mix immunotherapy with another treatment like chemotherapy. This helps the body fight the cancer from more than one direction. Doctors also change the treatment plan if something is not working. They keep checking and adjusting so the patient gets the best care. What People in Ahmedabad Should Know Many people in the city are hearing about immunotherapy for the first time. Some ask, “Is it safe?” The answer is yes. When it is given by a good doctor and in the right place, it is very safe. Some ask, “Is it painful?” Most immunotherapy treatments are not painful. Some people feel tired or get a little fever, but these are often