Custom Search
|
|
How To Cope After Breast Cancer Recovery
So you've survived breast cancer! You are probably feeling very lucky at this moment in time, but could still be feeling the after effects of all your treatments and any operations you may have had. Now is the time is start getting your life back on track both emotionally and physically. It's important to take care of your body after breast cancer. You're probably still recovering from all your treatments, but there are some things you can do to ensure you make a full recovery. You might feel like you have a new lease of life after surviving breast cancer, so why not look into a new healthy way of life? Looking after your long-term health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be a priority now. Once you are feeling up to it there are some very simple things you can do to improve your health. If you smoke - stop! If you like an alcoholic drink, it would be wise to limit your intake. Always eat a balanced diet and exercise where possible. Exercising after surviving breast cancer Exercising after surviving breast cancer can help you on your road to recovery, however you will need to talk to your GP about what types of exercise you can do before you start. This will depend on your fitness level, age and the treatments you are recovering from. You GP should be able to advise you on what types of exercise you can do, the frequency you do them and how long you should spend on each type of exercise. Exercise is a great way to help you feel happier and move alive! When you exercise, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are like a natural pain killer in your body and once they enter the bloodstream you will start to feel happier and more positive about life in general. Make sure you feel ready to start exercising, you don't want to push yourself too hard. When you have made the decision to start exercising, you should start off with some gentle walking or cycling, there's no need to sign up for expensive gym memberships. Make small changes to your lifestyle, walk to the shop instead of driving or take the stairs instead of a lift. Once you've started a new exercise regime, you should start to feel more alive and stronger. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, improve circulation and may even help with depression. Of course there are other great benefits, you may start to lose weight and improve your muscle tone, your skin should look healthier and you should gain some confidence back after your illness. You may even find that you are sleeping better and will feel less tired. Eat a healthy balanced diet and maintain your weight There are some simple rules you can follow to start and maintain a healthy balanced diet. Stay away from ready made meals, they will often be higher in saturated fats, sugar and salt. Get back to cooking Eat healthy fats - it's essential that we have healthy fats in our diet, these can be found in fish such as salmon and mackerel, vegetable oil, olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, flaxoil, avocados, seeds and nuts. Eat 5-a-day! 5-a-day is a combination of fruit and vegetables. Try and vary them each day, you will find they are packed with natural vitamins and minerals. Ensure you include protein in your diet, but ensure they are low in saturated fats. Good sources of protein are fish, lean meats, eggs, nuts and seeds. Eat carbohydrates - many diets out there opt for none, however it's important to have them especially when you are recovering but make sure you choose healthier options such as wholegrains. Cut down on sugary snacks such as sweets, chocolate, biscuits, pastries, cakes and puddings. Just have them as a treat once in a while. Cut down on alcohol - The recommended limits for women are no more than 14 units per week and that includes no more than three units in a single day. There are 1 ½ units in a small glass of wine, 1 unit in a standard pub measure of spirits and 1 unit in half a pint of beer, lager or cider. Maintaining a Healthy Weight It's important that you maintain a healthy weight after suffering from breast cancer. Some people automatically think of losing weight, but more often than not doctors are recommending that their patients need to put on weight in order to get their strength back. This doesn't apply to everyone, so make sure you ask your doctor for advice. You should be supplied with information after your treatments and operations on this very subject. If you do need to gain weight talk to your doctor about what types of food you should eat, you may need extra protein to help build your strength back up. If you need to lose weight, do it slowly and aim for no more than 2 pounds a week weight loss, use the tips listed above or speak to your doctor. Smoking and the effects after breast cancer Everyone knows the risk of smoking, however smoking after suffering from breast cancer will only add to the already long list of risks. If you decide to stop smoking after your illness, you will reduce the risk of your breast cancer recurring and the risk of developing a secondary type of cancer will be lower. Of course stopping smoking is easier said than done, so if you're struggling to give up ask your doctor for some help or call the NHS smoking helpline which is free to call on 0800 0224 332. Once you've followed these simple guidelines, you should start to feel healthier and more alive. You should look at incorporating all of these tips into your everyday life to ensure a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com www.breastcancercorner.org Lots of help and advice for those touched by breast cancer. The site also has forums where you can ask questions, chat to other people dealing with breast cancer or just general get across your point of view |
|