Lung Cancer - Home Treatment

Home Treatment

During treatment for any stage of lung cancer, you can manage some side effects that may accompany lung cancer or cancer treatment. If your doctor has given you instructions or medications to treat these symptoms, be sure to follow them. In general, healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly may help control your symptoms.

Home treatment may help relieve some common side effects of cancer treatment.

• Home treatment for nausea or vomiting includes watching for and treating early signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth, sticky saliva, and reduced urine output with dark yellow urine. For more information on how to deal with these side effects, see:

  Controlling nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

• Home treatment for diarrhea includes resting your stomach and being alert for signs of dehydration. Check with your health professional before using any nonprescription medications for your diarrhea.
• Home treatment for constipation includes gentle exercise along with adequate intake of fluids and a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Check with your health professional before using a laxative for your constipation.
• Home treatment for fatigue includes making sure you get extra rest while you are receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Let your symptoms be your guide. You may be able to stick to your usual routine and just get some extra sleep. Fatigue is often worse at the end of treatment or just after treatment is completed.

Other issues that arise may include:

• Hair loss. You may be concerned about losing your hair from cancer treatment. Not all chemotherapy medications cause hair loss, and some people have only mild thinning that is noticeable only to them. Talk to your health professional about whether hair loss is an expected side effect of the medications you will receive.
• Sleep problems. If you find you have trouble sleeping, having a regular bedtime, doing some exercise during the day, avoiding naps, and taking other steps to relieve sleep problems may help you sleep more easily.
• Loss of appetite or difficulty eating. Eating several small meals throughout the day or eating soft, bland foods may help if you do not have an appetite or if certain foods are difficult to eat.
• Mouth sores (stomatitis) can be a side effect of certain chemotherapy drugs. There are ways you can reduce your discomfort:
  • Drink cold liquids, such as water or iced tea, or eat flavored ice treats or frozen juices.
  • Eat foods that are easy to swallow such as gelatin, ice cream, or custard.
  • Drink from a straw.
  • Rinse your mouth several times a day with a warm saltwater solution. You can make the saltwater mixture with 1 tsp (5 g) of salt in 8 fl oz (0.2 L) of warm water.
  • Do not eat or drink acidic foods, such as tomatoes or oranges.
• Coughing. You may have an ongoing cough or develop a severe cough. Your health professional can recommend some nonprescription cough medications or prescribe some medications to help relieve your symptoms.

Many people with lung cancer face emotional issues as a result of their disease or its treatment. The diagnosis of lung cancer and the need for treatment is very stressful. You may be able to reduce your stress by expressing your feelings to others. Learning relaxation techniques may also help you reduce your stress.

Not all forms of cancer or cancer treatment cause pain. If pain occurs, many treatments are available to relieve it. If your doctor has given you instructions or medications to treat pain, be sure to follow them. You may use home treatment for pain to improve your physical and mental well-being. Be sure to discuss any home treatment you use for pain with your health professional.

If your disease is at an advanced stage, you may choose not to have treatment because the time, costs, and side effects of treatment may be greater than the benefits. Making the decision about when to stop medical treatment aimed at prolonging life and shift the focus to end-of-life care can be difficult. For more information, see the following topics:

Hospice Care

Care at the End of Life