People with thyroid cancer can use home remedies to feel better physically and mentally and to reduce the side effects of treatment. Home remedies include healthy habits, such as eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising, which will help manage the uncomfortable symptoms of treatment.
Ease discomfort
- Nausea or vomiting. You can eat some ginger or peppermint tea, chew gum or candy.
- Feeling tired. You may feel most tired at the beginning or end of treatment. This is the time to learn to control your energy and get more rest.
- Dry mouth. Drink plenty of water. Sugar-free gum or hard candy can help keep your mouth moist so you can avoid tooth decay. Sour liquids and foods (such as lemonade or dill pickles) can help stimulate saliva production. Artificial saliva can also be purchased.
- Hair loss. High doses of radioactive iodine treatment can cause hair loss, but it is usually not serious. Sometimes no one will notice if you don’t care about it.
Low iodine diet
After surgery, if you need radioactive iodine treatment, you will be instructed to maintain a “low iodine diet” for a period of time. You should avoid iodine-rich foods, such as milk and other dairy products, baked goods (such as most breads), seafood, and foods colored with food red coloring No. 3 (the scientific name is “erythrosine”, which contains iodine). Foods that may be colored with “erythrosine” include juice drinks, carbonated beverages, candy, pastries, etc. Please read the food additive instructions carefully before purchasing packaged foods.
Caution! A low iodine diet is not the same as a low salt diet, and salt that does not contain iodine is safe.
Stress relief
Having cancer can be very stressful in itself, and finding new ways to cope with stress will improve quality of life. For example:
- Spending time with people who care about you and letting them help you.
- Take care of yourself.
- Take good care of yourself. Get enough rest and make sure you are nourished.
- Talk about how you are feeling. Find a group of people with the disease who can share their experiences.
- Stay positive. Do something every day that helps you stay calm and relaxed.
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Try some complementary therapies to relieve stress:
- Acupuncture for pain relief.
- Meditation or yoga to relieve stress.
- Massage or biofeedback for pain relief.
- Massage or biofeedback to reduce pain and relieve tension.
- Breathing exercises to relax.
Body and mind therapies can make you feel better and more relaxed about your treatment. They can also reduce back pain, joint pain, headaches, and more from treatment.
But before trying complementary therapies, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor to find out how they work and what the side effects are. If you have already started complementary therapies, it is also important to inform your doctor. Please understand that complementary therapies do not replace standard medications.