Clear medical records help medical staff grasp patients’ condition in a timely manner. The patient or his/her caregiver can develop a personal health record, which comprises the following:
Apart from personal health records, patients or their caregivers should also collect information about follow-up care. A detailed summary comprising the following should be made:
Physical activities and a balanced diet are indispensable for a healthy life. Moderate exercises, such as jogging, are beneficial to cancer patients. Maintaining an appropriate amount of physical activities every day after cancer treatment not only enhances immunity but also helps reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. Besides, it
Patients can start with milder activities such as walking, jogging, Tai Chi, and body stretching, etc. All these should be performed only when they are energetic while avoiding exhaustion. If the patient plans to resume vigorous exercise, he/she should consult the medical team first. Furthermore, patients who have had surgical resection should avoid activities that involve moving heavy objects in order to prevent damaging the wound and affecting recovery.
Exercising with partners can help maintain the healthy habit through mutual support and encouragement. Besides, patients can consider indoor walking during bad weather.
In general, eating more fruits and vegetables are beneficial to cancer patients. For example, carrots, tomatoes, onions, mixed vegetable salad, and citrus fruits are all effective in preventing gastric cancer. It is recommended that everyone should eat five servings of vegetables and fruits a day. Bear in mind that "Two plus Three is the Way", which refers to a daily intake of two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables (about 80 grams per serving leading to a minimum of 400 grams of fruit and vegetables every day).
In addition, cancer patients should also avoid eating high-calorie foods and high-sugar beverages such as chocolate, French fries, fried chicken, etc. Eating less foods high in fat, sugar and calorie can also help reduce the risk for overweight and obesity. Consumption of red meat such as beef, pork, lamb and processed meat (which refers to smoked food, salt-preserved food or food with added preservatives, including ham, bacon, salami, etc.) should be minimised. Foods that irritate the digestive tract such as curry or spicy foods should be avoided, especially among those who have had gastrointestinal surgery. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy should avoid eating raw or undercooked foods (including vegetables, meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, etc.) and raw or unpasteurized dairy products.
Alcohol consumption will place extra burden to our body, particularly the liver. Therefore, avoiding alcohol is of great importance in maintaining a healthy diet. Even if you fail to stay away from alcohol, it is important for you to control your drinking. Regarding health effects of drinking and drinking advice, please refer to the website of the Centre for Health Protection.
Cancer patients are recommended to have several small meals throughout the day, choose foods that can be digested easily and chew slowly while eating. Besides, taking a rest after meal can help your digestion as well.
Maintaining an ideal weight can help restore physical strength and reduce risks of getting an infection or other diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. However, some cancer treatments may affect patients’ weight, which can be difficult to restore after the treatment is completed and the normal diet is resumed. Moreover, some cancer patients may lose weight due to the difficulty in chewing and swallowing.
If cancer survivors encounter weight problems after cancer treatment, they should try modifying their habits such as eating healthy food and doing exercise. They can set a body mass index (BMI*) target so as to facilitate weight management. Besides, waist circumference is also a good measure for weight management. Women's waist circumference exceeding 80 cm (approx. 32 inches) and men's exceeding 90 cm (approx. 36 inches) are defined as central obesity.
*BMI is calculated by dividing the body weight (in kg) by the square of height (in m): kg/m2. BMI ranges from 18.5 to 22.9 are classified as normal for Chinese adults in Hong Kong.
Smoking cessation is a vital step in fighting against cancer. By quitting smoking, patients can recover soon after surgery. On the contrary, studies have shown that smoking increases the risk of developing cancers in the same area or elsewhere in the body.
Many smoking cessation counselling services are available in Hong Kong. Among them, the Hospital Authority offers the Smoking Counselling and Cessation Programme at Smoking Counselling and Cessation Centres. The service is provided by health care professionals, who will offer professional counselling and follow-up services as well as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) if needed to assist smokers to quit smoking.
The Smoking Counselling and Cessation Centres will also provide information and advice to smokers' relatives and friends who may wish to help the smokers to quit smoking. Another feature of the service is that frontline health care staff will proactively promote smoking cessation services to smokers.
Apart from survivors suffered from skin cancer, who need extra sun precaution, survivors who have had cancer treatments, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, may be sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, survivors should take extra care to their skin by: