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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffYou can take steps to keep your body healthy if you've been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Try to:
- Do what you can to avoid infections. People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia are prone to frequent infections. Take steps to keep yourself healthy. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling rested. Exercise most days of the week. Do your best to avoid people who are sick. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly to help keep germs away.
- Reduce your risk of second cancers. People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia have a risk of second cancers. Lifestyle changes may help reduce your risk, such as not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating a healthy plant-based diet and using sunscreen when you're outside.
- Go to all of your appointments. Frequent blood tests to see if your cancer has progressed can wear on you. Each time you go for your test, you may experience anxiety that your cancer is worsening. Don't let this stop you from going to all of your appointments. Instead, expect that you'll have some fear and plan for it. Find relaxing activities to occupy your mind while waiting for test results. For instance, exercise, read, or spend time with friends and family.
References
- Montserrat E, et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: A short overview. Annals of Oncology. 2008;19(suppl):vii320.
- Caligaris-Cappio F, et al. Novel insights in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Are we getting closer to understanding the pathogenesis of the disease? Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2008;26:4497.
- Elphee EE. Caring for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2008;12:417.
- Dighiero G, et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The Lancet. 2008;371(9617):1017.
- Nabhan C, et al. Controversies in the front-line management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia Research. 2008;32:679.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment (PDQ) patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/CLL/patient/allpage/print. Accessed Oct. 13, 2008.
- Hallek M, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A report from the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia updating the National Cancer Institute Working Group 1996 guidelines. Blood. 2008;111:5446.
- SEER stat fact sheets. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/clyl.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Questions about treatment. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsabouttreatmentPS172R.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Campath (prescribing information). Cambridge, Mass.: Genzyme Corp.; 2007. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2007/103948s5070lbl.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Rituxan (prescribing information). San Francisco, Calif.: Genentech; 2008. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2008/103705s5256lbl.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Cancer-related fatigue. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/fatigue.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Shanafelt TD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 12, 2008.
