Self-Care During Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer ——
Your journey in the fight against breast cancer can be long and exhausting. It is important during this time that you find ways to nourish your body mind and soul. By practicing self-care, we can be attentive to our needs as they arise and also help build our resilience. The following self-care tips may help you better connect with yourself and keep up good morale.
1. Take it easy
The treatment you undergo can be both physically and emotionally exhausting. Take adequate time to recover before you return to activity as normal. It may take longer than you anticipated to bounce back, do not rush yourself.
2. Find an emotional outlet
It is normal to feel overwhelmed by the drastic changes happening in your life. These changes can cause stress, anxiety and shock. It can be useful to find an emotional outlet to help make sense of your mind and feelings. It can be helpful to start journaling or documenting your thoughts and feelings. Penning down these complicated emotions may help you sort through them and gain some reprieve.
3. Make time to meditate
It can be helpful to find a few minutes every day to do something like meditation or mindfulness. This can help you centre yourself and not be swept up in external chaos.
4. Talk to your loved one
After a diagnosis with breast cancer many of us might be in a rush to get this phase of our live over with. Often, we forget to connect and communicate with the people around us. But, it is important to remember you are not alone. A lot of people love you and care for your wellbeing. Do not hesitate to tell them what you need or ask for help when you need it.
5. Exercise
Heavy exercise and peak fitness may not be ideal when you are going through treatment, but this does not mean letting yourself go. Try to incorporate light exercises and stretches or leisurely walks into your daily life.
6. Find hobbies
Indulging in a hobby can help you to get your mind off of things when you’re not feeling your best. Experiment in things you didn’t have time for before. Try scrapbooking, colouring painting, pottery, or learn an instrument. The possibilities are endless, you may even make a new friend along the way.
7. Eat and drink well
Maintain a healthy balanced diet and drink adequate amounts of water. Try to eat at least 4 servings of fruits and vegetables every day and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. These simple steps will help you feel better and make your recovery feel smoother.
8. Prioritize sleep
The anxiety of treatment can often lead to restless nights. But the value of sleep cannot be stressed enough. It’s incredibly important for our bodies and minds to get rest if you couldn’t sleep at night, it is okay to ditch the guilt and sleep in.
9. Go outside
Spend some time outside, get some fresh air and relax in the beauty of nature. This can help you clear your mind after a hard day or just help reenergise after a day of being cooped up in bed.
10. Consider therapy
Sometimes, even with all the right coping mechanism and even the most supportive friends and family, it can be hard to wrap your head around your reality. There is no shame in seeking professional help for your troubles. Often a professional can help you identify patterns of behaviour and give strategies to circumvent them.
References:
Breast Cancer Self-Care and Recovery: Lifestyle Changes. University of California, San Francisco. https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/breast-cancer-self-care-and-recovery-lifestyle-changes. Accessed on 26-08-2021.
Self care during cancer. Penn Medicine. https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/about/focus-on-cancer/2018/october/self-care-during-cancer. Accessed on 26-08-2021.
Sivakumar VP, Susila C. Effectiveness of Self-care Measures on Knowledge, Self-efficacy and Performance Status among Cancer Patients. J Caring Sci. 2021;10(1):1-8. Published 2021 Mar 1. doi:10.34172/jcs.2021.003. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8008230/.Accessed on 26-08-2021.
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