How do I decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence?
It can be unpleasant to even entertain the notion that your cancer might return. However, it’s impossible to guarantee that your cancer won’t return after you’ve completed the treatment.
But all hope is not lost, there are some steps you can take – little tweaks to your everyday life- that will certainly shift the statistics in your favour:
Get moving:
You’ve been in and out of hospitals for a while now and it can be tempting to lay down and take rest, but research shows that getting your blood pumping is the way to go. Research indicates maintaining a healthy weight is vital to reduce your risk of recurrence of breast cancer.
Exercise regularly, aim to squeeze in at least 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate intensity activity. Even a small amount of physical activity is better than none; build-up slowly and find low impact exercises like yoga to get you started.
Eat well:
A healthy diet is a foundation to good health in everybody, this fact is especially pertinent when you are recovering from a serious illness. Eat a diet that includes a range of vegetable and fruits and generally high in fiber. If you have the option, opt for organic food, and wash the produce thoroughly to reduce you exposure to pesticides and other potential toxins. Limit your intake of red meats, a diet high in saturated fats increases your chances of developing cancer. You can instead incorporate fish and lean meats into your diet, this can give you a boost to your intake of essential fats and improve overall health.
Emotional wellbeing:
Stress and its effects on your health don’t disappear overnight, but we can find ways to limit or cope with stress.
Each woman’s method of dealing with stress may be different, it is important to find practical ways that work for you. Put your needs first, ask for help when you need it, there is no shame in this. It can also be helpful to connect with people who have survived similar circumstances, find and attend a support group of breast cancer survivors.
Try journaling, it could help you navigate your inner world and alleviate confusion or frustration you may be experiencing. It could also be beneficial for you to explore creative avenues, give painting, drawing, pottery, or writing a shot.
Even after forming sustainable routines it may be hard to cope with daily stress, this is completely natural. Seek the services of a mental health counsellor or psychotherapist, they are trained professionally to equip you with strategies to cope with stress.
Cut out the alcohol:
It is postulated that high alcohol intake can increase circulating estrogen. Alcohol intake, especially in moderate-to-high quantities have been linked to higher rates of breast cancer. It is recommended that survivors of breast cancer limit their alcohol intake to a maximum of one drink a day, to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Take supplements:
While ensuring that your nutrient intake is sufficient is important, taking supplements excessively, that is, greater than the recommended daily intake can have unintended negative effects on cancer survivors.
To circumvent this problem, it is best to speak to your doctor, take blood tests to check your vitamin levels and receive accurate recommendations from your doctor. If you plan on starting on any new supplements, reach out to your cancer care team and wait for their go-ahead before you start.
Take medication:
After you’ve had treatment for breast cancer, there are many changes to your body, some of which are permanent. These changes are most often seen in the endocrine systems particularly in the female sex hormones. To counteract this your doctor may prescribe endocrine therapy drugs. Research indicates that many women do not keep up with these prescribed medication, either because of forgetfulness, cost or undesirable side effects.
Not taking these endocrine therapies as prescribed can have an impact on health. If side effects are a concern, speak to your oncologist, they can help you manage these side effects. And if you are worried about cost, get in touch with your insurance provider, they may provide alternatives and solutions through either financial assistance.
Go to your follow ups! Even after the bulk of your treatment for breast cancer is over, you are required to do tests, screenings and visit your doctor. Immediately after treatment, these appointments might be scheduled for every few months. However, after 5 years with no recurrences, your visits way be less frequent – once every six months or a year.
You may be doing everything right, but the cancer may still return. Nevertheless, by following these guidelines and staying cautious, you can still live a good life and be as healthy as possible.
Know the cancer – Breast cancer treatment
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