Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare type of cancer in your blood and bone marrow, where your blood cells are made. You’ll need treatment for it right away, but even afterward, AML may return.
No matter where you are on your treatment journey, it’s important to take care of your overall health.
“After an AML diagnosis, your health is not defined only by what’s happening in the bone marrow. Your strength, nutrition, sleep, emotional well-being, and other medical conditions all influence how you feel day to day and how well you tolerate treatment,” says Wael Harb, MD, head of R&D and scientific strategy for early phase oncology medical management at Syneos Health in Newport Beach, California.
Intense chemotherapy, which kills the cancer cells in your body, is usually the first step of AML treatment. But if you’re advanced in age or unable to have chemotherapy, your treatment plan could try to keep the cancer from spreading while helping to maintain your quality of life.
“Supporting your overall health can help reduce complications, improve recovery from side effects, and help you stay as active and independent as possible,” Harb says.
These tips can help.
Focus on Your Nutrition
“Nutrition matters because AML and its treatments can affect appetite, energy, weight, and your immune function,” Harb says. To make sure your body is getting the fuel it needs:
Eat healthy foods
Aim for balanced meals that include protein, such as eggs, yogurt, fish, chicken, tofu, and beans. “Protein supports muscle, healing, and recovery,” he says.
If you’re struggling to take in enough calories, try smaller, more frequent meals, smoothies, and nutrient-dense snacks.
Drink plenty of water
Dehydration (not having enough fluid in your body) is a common side effect of cancer treatment. “Drink fluids regularly throughout the day, especially if you’re having fevers, diarrhea, or reduced intake,” Harb says.
Water is your best choice. Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol, or that are high in sugar (like some sports drinks.)
Be mindful of food safety
Discuss food safety with your care team. Among the foods that you may need to avoid: raw or undercooked meats and seafood, unpasteurized products, and foods that carry a higher bacterial risk, like unwashed fruits and vegetables.
Get expert advice
Planning what to eat may feel overwhelming when you don’t feel good. You don’t have to figure it out on your own. Ask your doctor to connect you to a registered dietitian who can give you personalized meal tips.
Try to Be Active
When you’re managing AML treatment, staying active, at a level that’s safe for you, “can help improve fatigue, mood, sleep, mobility, and strength,” Harb says.
Exercise can also reduce your risk of “deconditioning,” a common side effect of cancer treatment. When you don’t feel well, you don’t move around as much. That can lead to muscle loss as well as damage to your joints, heart, and lungs.
To safely get moving:
Go slow
You don’t need a hardcore workout at the gym to get the benefits of exercise. “Start with what’s realistic: short walks, gentle stretching, light household movement, or chair exercises,” Harb says.
Set small goals you can reach
If you’re not feeling motivated to exercise, “Set a small goal that feels achievable, like 5 to 10 minutes a day, and build from there,” says Harb.
Get advice from your doctor
Check in regularly with your health care team. They can confirm which activities you can safely do. “There may be days when your activity needs to be adjusted based on blood counts, dizziness, or infection risk,” Harb says.
Prevent Infections
Because your immune system is weakened during cancer treatment, you’re at high risk of infections. To be vigilant about your hygiene:
Wash your hands often
If you don’t have access to running water and soap, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Unless your doctor gives you different advice, shower every day.
Avoid germy areas
Do your best to avoid sick people, large crowds, and very dusty areas. If you can’t, you may want to wear a mask. Avoid letting pets lick your skin, especially your face. If they do, wash the area as soon as you can with soap and water.
Take care of your oral health
To prevent infections in your mouth, gently brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. Ask your doctor or dentist to suggest an alcohol-free antibacterial rinse that you can use as well.
Know when to contact your care team
Ask your doctor for a list of symptoms that signal you should call them or seek urgent medical care. Make sure everyone you live with is familiar with these symptoms, too.
Care for Your Mental Health
AML treatment helps your body physically fight cancer. That can have an emotional toll. “Anxiety, low mood, and stress are common, and they can affect sleep, appetite, focus, and even your ability to follow through with treatment and appointments,” Harb says.
You don’t get extra points for ignoring your mental health and “powering through.”
Try to:
Stay connected with your community
If you don’t have friends or loved ones who can support you, join an online community or support group for people going through acute myeloid leukemia treatment.
Find ways to manage your stress
For instance, you could try breathing exercises, mindfulness, or journaling. You may also find it helpful to find a therapist or counselor who’s experienced in cancer care.
“If you notice persistent sadness, panic, or trouble sleeping, tell your oncology team,” Harb says. They can offer more suggestions. In some cases, medication may be helpful.
Accept help
When friends and family members ask what they can do for you, have a list of tasks, like grocery shopping or mowing your lawn, that they can choose from. Getting small chores out of the way gives you more time to focus on your health.
Talk to Your Doctor
“Many concerns people feel embarrassed about — fatigue, anxiety, appetite, bowel changes, intimacy, financial stress — are extremely common in AML and often treatable,” says Harb.
He reassures his patients that he’s heard it all before — and that his job is to help, not judge.
If it’s hard to explain your concerns aloud, write them down and bring them to your next visit, or start off by saying, “I’m nervous to ask this, but I need help.”
“The more your care team knows, the better we can support you and adjust your plan to help you feel your best,” Harb says.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images
SOURCES:
Wael Harb, MD, MBA, board-certified hematologist, medical oncologist, head of R&D and scientific strategy, early phase oncology medical management, Syneos Health, Newport Beach, California.
Stacey Koleszar, MSW, LSW, senior information specialist, Blood Cancer United.
Cleveland Clinic: “Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).”
Mayo Clinic: “Acute myelogenous leukemia: Diagnosis.”
National Cancer Institute: “Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment (PDQ ®)—Patient Version.”
Blood Cancer United: “Staying Hydrated,” “Dental and Oral Health.”
City of Hope: “10 Foods That May Help Cancer Patients Stay Hydrated.”
Canadian Cancer Survivor Network: “Deconditioning.”
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health: “Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Chemotherapy.”
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: “Food Safety During Cancer Treatment.”
American Cancer Society: “Preventing Infections in People with Cancer.”
