A breast cancer diagnosis is never easy. Patients, friends and family will react in individual ways and may turn to different sources of comfort and support. Albie Aware can offer structure and support in your journey. The rest is up to you. Here are five wellness tips to help make your journey as smooth as possible:
1. Hydrate.
Dehydration occurs when the body is losing more fluids than it is taking in, with the result being a diminished ability for your organs to carry out their normal functions. Being dehydrated means more than just losing fluid. It also means not having enough electrolytes, the minerals and ions that are carried in body fluids and that are so important for proper body functioning. Good hydration plays an important role in your health generally, but it is doubly important when you are combating breast cancer and in recovering comfortably from its treatment.
2. Weight & Diet.
Stress, treatment side effects and the changes to life’s routines that a breast cancer diagnosis can bring, can make it hard for you to keep weight in check. Still, maintaining a healthy weight — or at a minimum, not gaining weight — is an important goal for which all breast cancer survivors should strive.
A healthy diet can help keep your weight in check and give your body the nutrients and energy it needs to make it through a busy day. Discuss your diet with your doctor, but a good rule of thumb is focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains and keep red meat to a minimum. It’s also important to cut back on bad fats (saturated and trans-fat) and choose healthy fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats) more often.
3. Exercise.
After a breast cancer diagnosis, try to maintain your routine as much as possible, staying involved with your usual work and recreation. The benefits of regular activity make it well worth the effort to fit it in your schedule. Not only does it boost your health, but also improves mood and helps counter cancer-related fatigue. Regular exercise may also lower the risk of recurrence.
4. Attitude.
Do something good for yourself every day! It simply feels better to find the glass half full. You can choose your thoughts. Keep a positive attitude and if there is any time to erase negativity in your life, it’s NOW! Choose to LOVE LIFE and never lose HOPE.
5. Support.
Your doctors will be your primary resources, but look also to your loved ones, other patients and breast cancer survivors for support. Surround yourself with positive people and positive energy. You may be overwhelmed by your feelings and experiences, so learning to share as well as to find support in a community can benefit you.
As you go through this challenge with breast cancer, you will be amazed by your strength, courage, and stamina. You will also be amazed by the resilience of your body, especially if you establish a wellness program or approach that you can live by. It may even help you in regaining your life!
