What you need to know about surviving Cancer
Your cancer survival depends on several factors, such as:
the importance of a full dose on schedule
what to eat
what foods to avoid
what exercises to do
how to manage fatigue
And more.
However, less than 50% of oncologists share the impact of a healthy lifestyle to their patients.
Unfortunately, most patients lack the skills and knowledge required to improve their survival.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TO MAINTAIN A “FULL DOSE ON SCHEDULE. ”
Patients who achieve >80-85% of their required dosage have the best 5-year survival.
Your oncologist’s role is to make your cancer treatment effective and problem-free.
So, they'll often agree to adjust to your treatment if the side effects become too much.
But changes to your treatment schedule can decrease your survival.
Strong treatments must be administered to kill the cancer. But these strong treatments can make you sick and cause treatment delays.
When treatment reaches below 80% of the required dose, your chances of survival decreases.
Cancer cells, just like healthy cells, grow in cycles.
Each drug works differently and is effective at specific times in a cancer cell’s life cycle.
Some cancer cells grow slowly, while others grow rapidly.
Your treatment targets the growth patterns of your specific cancer cell type.
When you change the sequence of treatment, it can affect cancer cell growth and prolong treatment—or make it less effective.
Your survival depends on:
how you manage your side effects
how you work with your doctor to stay on the strongest dose you can manage.
YOU NEED TO BE YOUR OWN HEALTH ADVOCATE
Essential questions and knowledge many survivors should know for survival:
How to naturally treat The Worst Side Effects of Chemo and Radiation.
Take your time to read each blog as you feel comfortable learning more.
As your own health advocate, it is important to know when to apply information once you are ready to take action.
Cancer treatment becomes more bearable when you learn to take the proper steps.
Your doctor can prescribe medication to help reduce side effects, but more medication is not always the answer.
More medication can lead to more side effects.
In some cases, you may find yourself exchanging one side effect for another.
“If it’s not one thing that’s affecting me, it’s another.
I feel like I cant win.”
—Breast Cancer Survivor
With proper exercise and nutrition, you can get ahead of symptoms before they become severe.
If symptoms are severe, talk to your doctor right away. You will need medication before you try to add healthy lifestyle changes to your routine.
Remember, you can always add exercise and proper nutrition to your routine to manage side effects while taking medications.
As you feel better, you can wean off the added medication.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES IMPROVE YOUR SURVIVAL
Your oncologist’s role is to fight the cancer and reduce side effects, but you have a role in this fight too.
Lifestyle changes—either during or after chemotherapy—can improve your survival.
Exercise, getting better sleep, and eating proper nutrition helps patients with:
a better 5 year survival
less neuropathy
less fatigue
a better quality of life during treatment
Here’s what you need to know to ensure you receive the full dose of your cancer treatment as scheduled:
HYDRATE: Drink plenty of liquids (water, diluted juice, broth, decaffeinated coffee/tea) during cancer treatment. This will keep you hydrated and help you reduce nausea.
EAT: Drink/eat cool, frozen, or room temperature, bland foods. If you can't eat your calories, drink them. Blended drinks like healthy milkshakes, smoothies, or supplemental drinks (like Orgain, Boost, Ensure, or Kate Farms) help give you nutrients and calories needed for energy.
EXERCISE: 150 minutes of walking a week at a moderate intensity and two days a week of resistance exercise reduces risk of metastasis, side effects, and improves survival.
ELIMINATE: Strong odors, alcohol, processed meats, junk food, and food that irritates your stomach. Instead, emphasize small amounts of bland food that can help you reduce sickness.
MEDITATE: Choose an activity that helps clear your mind away from the stressors of cancer. This can be a walk outside, meditating, prayer, art, music, dance, or massage therapy. Each of these activities can help you relax, reduce stress, and return to being “you.”
It is normal to want to take action and add supplements to improve your health.
But some over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbal, and dietary supplements can be toxic during cancer treatment.
For example, Vitamin C supplements (not foods containing Vitamin C) can affect your treatment.
So, talk to a registered dietitian and your oncologist before adding any vitamins or supplements to your diet.
FEELING COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR CANCER RECOVERY
Cancer treatment affects you physically, mentally, and emotionally with:
Body changes
weight gain
scars
hair loss
loss of libido
All these can all make you feel unwanted and isolated.
It can become harder and harder to connect with loved ones and easier to feel like a burden.
But how you work through this can be freeing. Here are some ways you can improve your well-being.
Post-mastectomy bra. Underwire can be uncomfortable and give you a lot of friction. But surgery bras can look very unappealing. Many products can help bring confidence and comfort.
Whether it’s a family dinner, date night, or during exercise, the right bra can ease your mind
Compression sleeves can help with prevention and peace of mind during exercise. They come in different colors and sizes to help you feel more comfortable.
This is only needed when lymphedema is present or if you are at higher risk for lymphedema from lymph node removal.
Wigs or coverings can make you look and feel different. They can feel like real hair and can be cut, colored, or styled to your preference.
Worrying about your hair or appearance is not vain. It’s part of your image and how you feel.
Hair loss can make a huge impact to your self image, and thus doing what feels better for you is important.
Also, adding in a few extra “pick me ups” to your routine can help support your needs.
Tea, aromatherapy, and a good pillow can make a huge difference to your sleep, nighttime routine, and mental well-being.
Relax, journal, and stimulate your senses to bring you to the present and away from trauma.
Lotion for healing during radiation helps reduce irritation and pain.
Look for "dermatology-approved". Some products use marketing on websites to target cancer survivors.
Makeovers and mani-pedis. Look for something small and private you can enjoy to feel rejuvenated.
Walk and do resistance exercises to improve your body image, boost confidence, and create a sense of control.
Focus on achieving 7,500 steps a day and using bands twice a week doing 8-15 reps for 2-3 sets of upper or lower body work outs.
Depending on your personal circumstances, cancer treatment affects everyone differently.
But choosing what makes you feel stronger and better is essential for everyone.
HOPE, FAITH, AND PERSEVERANCE IMPROVE YOUR SURVIVAL
Your oncologist may have not told you that much of overcoming cancer isn’t just physical, but it’s also mental.
Your spiritual habits, beliefs, and outlook can drastically change your survival.
Your brain can produce chemicals that affect how well your body fights disease.
It stimulates nerves that reduce inflammation, calm your blood pressure, and boost your immune system.
Breathing techniques and meditation create a mind-body connection.
These, along with positive emotions and laughter, send signals to the brain to
relax your muscle
restore your energy
improve your mood
lower your stress.
This is not to say that techniques like guided imagery, relaxation, or meditation can control cancer growth.
But it IS saying that different forms of mental well-being help manage side effects and emotions related to cancer and cancer treatment.
You are a HUMAN- BEING
Not a HUMAN-DOING,
Enjoy, Laugh, Create,
Love. Take time to “be.”
“ I used to think that all I wanted was to forget about my cancer and move on with life.
But I realized the more I engaged with my health and with the cancer, the more I was able to move on and enjoy life”
— 74 Year Old Lymphoma Cancer Survivor
You must engage with the tough feelings rather than trying to go to treatment and forget it all.
The more you engage with your aches and pains, the more these techniques can help with fatigue, nausea, vomiting, distress, anxiety, and depression.
PRACTICAL ADVICE TO RELIEVE STRESS
Keeping all your personal health information organized and up to date will help reduce stress .
Each time you see a doctor, they will likely ask to review what medications you are taking.
So, keeping this handy and well-organized will give you a sense of control over your diagnosis and peace of mind that you have everything you need
Other healthcare providers will want to know this information as well.
If you are a cancer survivor, even the dentist will ask you for some information
So, keep track of all your:
Treatment records (start and stop dates):
Surgeries
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy (drug type, dosages)
Other Therapies
Lab work and test results (ask for copies)
Schedules and contact information
Updated list of medications
prescriptions
over-the-counter
vitamins/supplements
Your response to treatment is unique, and your will doctors rely on you to give you the strongest dose to kill the cancer.
Therefore, its important to keep track of your side effects:
when they start—time and date
how often they are
how it’s impacting your quality of life
Talk to your doctor
About side effects you are experiencing.
Untreated side effects can drain you physically and emotionally and delay your healing
Keep track of your blood count changes and blood sugar to ensure treatment remains on schedule.
Remember, the goal isn’t to obsess over every single detail about your treatment.
Therefore, if you don't find it helpful, it might be best for someone else to help you and take that off your shoulders.
When all the appointments, questions, treatment, and personal/doctor information are readily available, you will have more peace at each appointment.
YOU CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF A SECONDARY CANCER
Cancer treatment can cause a second cancer. It also increases your risk for cardiovascular disease.
You can, however, decrease the risk by incorporating healthy lifestyle choices into your routine.
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of a second cancer is by maintaining your weight and exercising.
Research shows that women who met the minimum physical activity guidelines of:
150 mins of cardio at a moderate intensity of exercise a week
two days a week of resistance exercise
At the two-year follow-up mark,
had a 55% REDUCTION in their cancer coming back
and a 68% REDUCTION in the chance of death from ANY cause (not just breast cancer).
“Before cancer, I was obsessed to exercise over how I looked.
I was constantly worried about my weight and appearance.
Now, I exercise to maintain my health and make sure the cancer does not come back”
—57 Year Old Breast Cancer Survivor.
Your oncologist can’t tell you everything, but you should update them on your lifestyle changes.
Some changes can be good; others can be harmful.
So, keep them involved along the way.
Use this season to take control of your life where cancer has stepped in.
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