Melanoma is a type of cancer that starts in cells that affect the pigment melanin; these cells are called melanocytes. The unusual growth of these cells results in this type of cancer. This condition is a highly common yet highly serious type of skin cancer. It is mostly recognized by an unusual growth or change in the existing mole on the skin.
Types of melanoma
There are typically four types of melanoma. Each of the types comes from a different way in which cancer has affected the melanocytes.
- Superficial spreading melanoma
- Nodular melanoma
- Lentigo malign melanoma
- Acral lentiginous melanoma
A high-fiber diet may help your gut
A healthy diet is said to trigger a better response from the body when the patient is undergoing treatment for melanoma. Some studies have shown that fibers lead to a more diverse type of bacteria called microbiome which is a thriving gut bacterium.
The gut microbiome has shown to trigger a strong response to immunotherapy in patients that have aggressive skin cancer. On average, a high-fiber diet may help your gut battle melanoma five times more if you start a high fiber diet at the beginning of your immunotherapy.
Since a high-fiber diet may help your gut battle melanoma, you must make it an essential part of your routine. Like any other form of cancer, the chances of contracting this type of cancer is high due to factors like obesity.
Maintaining a healthy weight is vital to prevent deadly diseases like melanoma. A high-fiber meal essentially has plenty of fiber and antioxidants. They are present in retinol rich foods like milk, eggs, leafy vegetables, fish and fruits that are yellow or orange. Antioxidants have a 20% chance of reducing the development of melanoma.
Along with your vital fibers, vitamin D levels also need to be in check as they are associated with a risk of developing cancer, especially melanoma.
It is very important to keep a check on your diet as it plays a huge role in recovery. Since a high fiber diet may help your gut battle melanoma, you must have foods with more fiber. It is vital to keep an open conversation with your doctor and discuss the risks of cancer and how it can be treated. If treatment is vital, you need to consult your doctor about the diet as well.
Treatments for melanoma
The treatment options for melanoma are the same as those for cancer, such as medication, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In a few rare cases, surgery is performed on the patient. The treatment is based on the stage and type of cancer.
While melanoma is only 1% of the cases of skin cancer, it is the deadliest and accounts for the most number of deaths caused due to skin cancer. It is vital to take all precautions to fight the disease. One essential part is to follow the high fiber diet may help your gut battle melanoma and boost the immunotherapy treatment.
