7 Ways to Prioritize Your Health After Breast Cancer Treatment
- Surviving Breast Cancer
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Taylor McKnight
Finishing your breast cancer treatment is an exciting moment. When you first faced your diagnosis, you might not have been able to imagine reaching this point. Now, you have the opportunity to reclaim and/or redefine certain aspects of the path ahead. As you begin the next phase of your care, here are seven steps to prioritize your health as a cancer survivor.
Learn How to Cope With Uncertainty
You’ve undoubtedly faced lots of uncertainty over the course of your treatment. While you might have once envisioned this moment as bringing you total relief, the truth is that most cancer survivors face continued uncertainty. The good news is that you’ve reached a major milestone by completing treatment. Still, it’s normal to worry about the cancer coming back or developing a new health issue. As best you can, try to focus on enjoying the present. You can’t stop everything difficult that happens in life, but you can maximize how you use your precious time.
Rely On Advice From Your Care Team
You may be wishing you’ll never see the inside of a medical facility again. The truth is, many breast cancer survivors need to continue with periodic testing and exams. You might also need to undergo physical therapy and other treatments to restore your mobility and overall health after cancer treatment. Make sure to follow all of the details outlined in your maintenance plan. Taking your medications and continuing with recommended screenings will help you maintain your health.
Develop a New Routine
After spending so much time in treatment, you might feel a bit lost looking ahead at a blank schedule. You may also need to adjust to changes in your medication regimen and other aspects of your daily routine. Take your time to ease into a new routine with plenty of time to eat healthy meals, rest, and enjoy gentle movement. Finding new hobbies can also help you address the physical and mental changes you may be experiencing during this time.
Revive Your Support Network
When you first received your diagnosis, you might have discovered that family and friends rallied around you to offer support. By now, some people from your support network may have dropped off. Or, people may not know what types of support you need once you’ve finished treatment. During survivorship, you might still need people to talk to about your anxiety. If you have lingering fatigue and mobility challenges, you may still need assistance with meal prep, driving and other daily activities. Reviving your support network now paves the way for an easier future.
Use a Medical Alert Device
One of the best parts of cancer survivorship is regaining many aspects of your independence. While you might not be confined to a bed or the cancer treatment center, you will need to be careful as you regain your strength. Medical alert devices for cancer survivors help you strike the perfect balance between being independent and having someone monitor your well-being. If you experience dizziness and fall, you can use a medical alert device to ensure that an alert will be sent that you need assistance.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
Going through cancer can be traumatic. Talking to a professional therapist can help you work through your trauma and identify any underlying conditions that impact your overall mental health. Depression, anxiety and PTSD are all treatable conditions that you can address to improve your outlook moving forward.
Address Lingering Side Effects
Some people experience side effects even after treatment is over. For now, you may need to use medication to overcome nausea to ensure you get good nutrition. You might also need to work on your balance, strength and cardiovascular health as you continue the process of healing. Finding ways to address your lingering symptoms allows you to feel your best each day.
Everyone’s cancer experience is different, and being able to work toward better health is an essential goal. As your body continues working on its recovery, make sure to give yourself the support you need. Finding ways to live safely with greater independence while also knowing when to reach out for support allows you to get the most out of survivorship.
By Taylor McKnight, Author for SureSafe
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Beyond One and Done: The Realities of Surgery and Reconstruction
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