Mycosis fungoides – Nutritional guide and treatment options
Mycosis fungoides is a rare form of T-cell lymphoma of the skin. It is a form of cancer that progresses slowly. People with mycosis fungoides develop plaques and ulcerated tumors on the skin. A study found that 1 in 100,000-350,000 individuals gets diagnosed with this rare form of cancer. As a result, not many are aware of this condition. The following article discusses foods to eat and avoid and other mycosis fungoides treatment options.
Foods to eat:
Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain active ingredients like lupeol, lutein, and citric acid, which complement the treatment used for managing mycosis fungoides. These nutrients cause a reduction in the specific biochemical pathway that initially caused cancer to grow in the body. The decrease in the biological pathway and the consumption of antioxidants further help with the management of mycosis fungoides.
Cucumbers
Apart from being a great source of hydration, cucumbers can also be used to manage the symptoms of mycosis fungoides. Ingredients like lupeol, cucurbitacin E, and Fisetin inhibits the growth of cancerous cells.
Foods to avoid:
Bell pepper
The vegetable contains active ingredients like solasodine, maltol, and capsaicin that can interfere with medicines administered to treat mycosis fungoides. They may also accelerate biological pathways, which may increase the growth of cancerous cells.
Margarine
Although delicious, margarine can accelerate the malignant cells of mycosis fungoides. It contains active ingredients like lauric acid, myristic acid, and palmitic acid that can interfere with the medicines used to manage cancer. Moreover, the unhealthy saturated fats in margarine can increase free radicals in the body, making it challenging to manage mycosis fungoides.
While changes in nutrition can help better manage mycosis fungoides, it is important to be aware of its treatment option. This will help control cancerous growth.
Mycosis fungoides treatment options:
Photodynamic therapy
This type of treatment is used in combination with laser and certain types of medicines. The medicine that is injected intravenously is activated when exposed to the laser; this helps kill cancer cells. Certain medicines in this therapy use ultraviolet A radiation.
Extracorporeal photochemotherapy
This treatment draws blood and exposes it to ultraviolet A light. After that, the blood is injected back into the body. The treatment can also be used in combination with total skin electron beam (TSEB) radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy
It is one of the most widely used treatments for mycosis fungoides. This type of therapy involves using high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing.
Chemotherapy
This type of therapy involves certain medications that kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. However, chemotherapy also kills normal cells, which can affect the quality of life. Hence, it is vital to use other medicines and treatment options to improve the quality of life affected due to chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy
This form of treatment is the same as chemotherapy, expect the medication used in immunotherapy boosts the immune system. The energized immune system finds and kills cancerous growth in the body.