- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogEating well during chemotherapy can help you maintain your weight and improve how you feel during treatment. A well-planned strategy and support from your cancer care team, can help you navigate any obstacles to maintain optimal health throughout treatment. You need more calories and protein during chemotherapy. Both cancer and cancer treatment increase the energy and nutrients your body needs, especially protein. Protein is important in helping you rebuild strength during treatment. Foods rich in protein and nutrients are the best choices during treatment, including: Beans Berries Bright orange fruits and vegetables Chicken Eggs Greek yogurt Leafy green vegetables Nuts and seeds Salmon Whole grains Chemotherapy may cause symptoms that can impact your ability to meet your nutrition needs. Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cancer cells. Despite its intended target, it often impacts healthy rapidly dividing cells as well, including those of your mouth, esophagus and the rest of your digestive tract. Because of this, digestive symptoms like mouth sores, heartburn and constipation are common. Medications given with chemotherapy can also cause side effects. For example, some pain medications can slow down the digestive tract making it difficult to digest food and have a regular bowel movement. The good news is your doctor expects and is prepared for these challenges. A registered dietitian can provide strategies, and help you plan a healthy diet that addresses your symptoms. Small frequent meals may help when you don’t feel like eating anything at all. Loss of appetite and early fullness are common side effects of chemotherapy. And if you don’t feel like eating, sitting down to a huge plate of salmon and greens isn’t exactly appealing. Here are a few ways to maximize the nutrients in your food: Add blueberries to a bowl of cereal Make grilled cheese on whole grain bread Mix chopped broccoli into mac and cheese Pump up chicken, tuna or egg salad with fresh celery and parsley Toss extra vegetables in a mug of soup Use peanut butter or avocado on toast Soups, stews and smoothies make great meals for getting in lots of nutrients. And smaller portions make eating and drinking seem less daunting. Focus on eating a few bites or drinking a few sips at a time. You can always get seconds if you’re still hungry. Take care in the kitchen to keep your food safe. According to the National Cancer Institute, it’s unnecessary to avoid all fresh fruits and vegetables during treatment. Research shows that general food safety practices reduce the risk of food-borne illness while allowing for a less restrictive diet. Food safety practices include: Washing hands Separating raw meat, poultry and eggs from other foods Washing fresh fruits and vegetables with cool water Avoid food buffets Mix up your routine to deal with taste and smell changes. Taste changes and smell aversions are also common during treatment. That’s because the tissues that line your mouth and nasal cavity are also lined with those same rapidly dividing cells impacted by chemotherapy. Identify your taste changes and add flavors to balance what you’re tasting using the FASS principle. FASS stands for fat, acid, salty, sweet. Patients experiencing taste changes may use these flavors differently depending on their specific tastes: Acids: Try something acidic, such as fresh lemon juice when food tastes too sweet Fats: Use nut butter or nut creams to help soothe mouth sores Salty seasonings: Add sea salt when food seems tasteless Sweeteners: Seasoning your food with natural sweeteners such as maple syrup or agave nectar, can help when your food tastes metallic or bitter Activity, fluids and fiber can help you stay regular. Bowel regularity is an essential part of staying well-nourished. Constipation can leave you feeling full even if you need to refuel. Loose, watery stool can dehydrate you. To alleviate discomfort, incorporate these strategies: Activity: Exercise and physical activity encourage movement of food products through the digestive tract. Fluids: Caffeine-free fluids, including water, herbal tea and unsweetened milk, help meet your body’s fluids needs. Soluble fiber: Soluble fiber holds water in the digestive tract and encourages soft stools. Good sources include peeled apples and pears, beans, peas, blueberries and oats. Talk to your doctor about your side effects. Side effects of chemotherapy are expected, and your doctor will have some options for making them better. Whether you’re dealing with constipation, heartburn or sores in your mouth, your medical team has strategies to improve how you feel so you can keep up with your nutrition. Inadequate protein and calorie intake can lead to muscle loss and treatment delays. Depending on your side effects, your doctor may suggest talking with a palliative medicine provider, who are specially trained to help you feel better. From appetite to energy and even your bathroom habits, they have an arsenal of tools, including medications, supplements and complementary therapies like acupuncture and massage. A registered dietitian is a great resource. Optimal nutrition during chemotherapy can help you feel good and maximize the benefits of your treatment. Treatment side effects may have you feeling a little out of sorts, but we’re here to help. If you would like more specific guidance, talk to your doctor about speaking with one of our registered dietitians today. Authors Monica Tomazic, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, and Maureen Shackelford, MS, RD, LDN, are registered dietitians specializing in oncology nutrition with Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- Why Choose Luminis Health for Revisional Weight Loss Surgery?We walk you through your options, explaining the risks and benefits, and why we recommend one approach over another. If we think you would improve with nonsurgical options, we ensure you get the treatment you need. We'll give you all the details, so you'll know what to expect before, during and after surgery.Luminis Health is a leader in life-changing weight loss surgery. Our patients' safety is our number one priority. We work as a team to choose the option with the lowest risk and the best overall outcome for each individual patient.After your revisional surgery, we monitor your recovery closely during the first year and beyond. We help you adjust your diet and reintroduce activities to ensure your success.Our team stays up to date on the latest advances and evidence in bariatric surgery and recovery. We're always looking for new, minimally invasive techniques to get our patients back in the game earlier.In fact, we're the only health organization in Maryland to offer one-anastomosis gastric bypass. Also called OAGB, it's a new form of surgery that can mean better outcomes to the roux-en-y surgery for some patients.TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageWeight loss surgery is supposed to give you a new lease on life. It's supposed to mean enjoying being active with loved ones and feeling good in your body again.In a small number of patients, however, a single weight loss surgery doesn't turn out as expected. That doesn't mean that weight loss surgery won't work. It just means there have been some unexpected bumps on your road to health.Our bariatric surgeons at Luminis Health are experts in revisional weight loss surgery. They correct problems with a previous weight loss surgery with a tailored approach.What Happens in Revisional Bariatric Surgery?We tailor each revisional bariatric surgery to your concerns. The surgeon may need to remove a faulty lap band or another device, for example. Or, the team may need to redo a gastric bypass using a more advanced technique, for example.0
- SpecialtyBook your lab test at a location near you in Annapolis, Kent Island, Easton, Pasadena or Lanham. Have questions about scheduling your lab test? Call Call (443) 481-3650 directly 443-481-3650 ., Why Luminis Health What can we say? We have high standards. Our labs meet the rigorous standards of the federal more about the standards of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA). We also go above and beyond these national requirements, having voluntarily sought accreditation from the highly esteemed more about the College of American Pathologists College of American Pathologists and the more about the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies . These two bodies inspect and audit labs to ensure we consistently achieve the highest degree of accuracy possible. In short, with our lab, you and your sample are in safe hands. Our Laboratories Need a blood test or a urine sample analysis? At Luminis Health, we offer fast and convenient lab testing by caring and experienced lab professionals. With multiple locations to serve you, you can schedule your appointment at the lab most convenient to you, whether that's close to your work, home or gym. Our service centers are in Annapolis, Kent Island, Easton, Pasadena and Lanham. When your health provider recommends your test, they'll provide you with detailed instructions if you need to fast or otherwise prepare. If you don't receive any special instructions, you're good to go for your test anytime, eating and drinking beforehand as you normally would. Fast, Convenient and Caring, Too We pride ourselves on keeping wait times to 10 minutes or less, so you'll be in and out in a jiffy. Some of our locations are open at 7am, so you can even arrive bright and early. Appointments are required for our labs, but you'll see many of our locations offer same-day appointments. If you have any questions about your test, you can ask your health provider beforehand. We're not only friendly, we're also knowledgeable. Oh, and if you have any fear of needles, be sure to let the phlebotomist know. Our calm and compassionate support are sure to help relieve any anxieties. Same-day, Precise Results Almost all our tests are analyzed right on site in our full-service laboratory, so you can expect most results to come back within a day. You'll see your results on your MyChart online medical profile. Some tests are a clear negative, and don't need explaining. But other tests are a bit more complicated. If your doctor would like to explain what your test result means for your health, they'll contact you to set up an appointment. If you're unsure about your result or have any questions, you can also reach out anytime to the doctor who ordered your test.0
- Why Trust Luminis Health for Vascular Surgery? Doctors from across the country refer their patients to us because they trust our skills and care. Our advanced surgical techniques offer treatments with less pain and faster recovery times. We're nationally recognized. The American College of Cardiology recognizes Luminis Health for our commitment to hospital care for our patients. We're proud to appear on the 2022 U.S. News & World Report list of “Best Hospitals." We have advanced expertise. Our vascular specialists perform the most carotid artery surgeries in the state, with excellent outcomes and a low risk of stroke. We support you with multidisciplinary care teams. Your care doesn't end with surgery. We have a dedicated team of health care professionals — including cardiologists, physical therapists, wound care specialists and other providers —who look after you as well. We're your health care partners, supporting you from diagnosis through recovery and beyond.TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageYour arteries, veins and capillaries are your body's superhighway. Your blood flows through them to carry oxygen and nutrients to every organ and tissue in your body. When there's a blockage on that highway, serious problems can occur. What Is Vascular Surgery? Vascular surgery repairs damaged blood vessels or opens blocked vessels, so your blood can flow through more easily. Vascular surgeons at Luminis Health are experts in advanced endovascular therapy. They open vessels and remove blockages to improve blood flow in your neck, legs, kidneys and other organs — using minimally invasive surgical techniques. That means tiny incisions, minimal pain and scarring, and a speedy recovery for you. Types of vascular surgery Your surgeon determines whether minimally invasive or traditional open surgery is the best option for you. The type of vascular surgery you have will depend on your medical condition and overall health. Some of the most common vascular surgeries performed at Luminis Health include:0
- ConditionConditions/Services/Treatments PageIf you're noticing pain in your jaw or face, locked jaw or popping sounds, you likely have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Physical therapy can help patients avoid surgery, recover from surgery for TMD and help to manage chronic pain associated with TMD.What are Temporomandibular Joint Disorders?TMD strains the joint that connects the skull to the lower jaw, as well as nearby muscles and nerves. TMDs can happen due to injury, arthritis, grinding/clenching, stress or an improper bite.These little joints can cause big problems. Some estimates suggest 10 million Americans have TMD. Over time, TMD can cause facial, neck, head and ear pain. It can also limit how much you move your neck and open your mouth, and make chewing painful.Fortunately, our physical therapists at Luminis Health can help you regain mobility and live free of TMD pain.0
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
View your Dashboard
Messages
Billing Summary
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Insurance Summary
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?