Content Overview
- Overview
- While Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery
- Lifestyle While Undergoing Treatment
- Keep Track Of Symptoms
- How To Live With Medications and Supplements
- Fatigue, Pain And Other Side Effects
- Practical Tips While Undergoing Chemotherapy
- Practical Tips While Undergoing Radiation
- Medical Appointments
- Home Care
- If Treatment Is Not Working
- How To Consider "Complementary" or "Alternative" Treatments
- How To Prepare In Case Of An Emergency Or Natural Disaster
- Toward The End Of Treatment: Steps To Take
In Treatment For Breast Cancer: Managing Your Medical Care
Lifestyle While Undergoing Treatment
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Taking the following steps will help you feel in control. They also help maximize your body's ability to get through treatment. (NOTE: Also see the section of this document about the specific treatment you are undergoing).
Do what you can to:
- Eat nutritiously
- Stay hydrated.
- Only drink safe water
- Reduce risk of infection in all aspects of your daily life.
- Infections slow recovery.
- If your immune system is low (say, from chemotherapy) infections can pose a major risk to your health.
- Exercise (yes, even during treatment - though you may have to take it easier.)
- Practice good mouth care.
- If your dentist advised additional precautions to take during treatment, take them. For instance, your dentist may recommend a fluoride mouth rinse or a fluoride gel in addition to daily brushing.
- An infection in your mouth can lower your body's ability to fight your health condition. Keep your mouth clean. Brush at least twice a day. Floss at least once a day. (If you haven't had one lately, schedule a dental check up).
- Check your mouth every day. Call your dentist immediately if you notice any changes or problems. Any of the following symptoms may indicate an infection.
- Bleeding or a sticky, white film in your mouth
- Lumps
- Soreness
- Swelling
- Ulcerations.
- NOTE: Some cancer doctors recommend doing the following while chemotherapy is being administered to act as an anesthetic and to also provide hydration:
- Sucking on a sugar-free popsicle
- Eat ice cubes or ice chips.
Minimize alcohol consumption. For example, to one drink a day for women. (Men are limited to two a day).
- Check with your doctor to find out if there is a negative interaction between alcohol and your treatment or any drugs you are taking.
- Avoid recreational drugs.
- Minimize stress
- Rest
- Get appropriate sleep
- Deal with emotions that surface.
- If you smoke consider stopping.
- Smoking may interfere with the effectiveness of cancer therapy. Cancer patients who smoke have a lower survival rate than nonsmokers. By quitting, a patient can improve the body’s response to treatments, lessen complications and side effects, decrease the risk of recurrence and enhance survival.
- Quitting during treatment may be very uncomfortable. It may include a variety of symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety and irritability. On the other hand, it may help keep your mind off of the treatment.
For more information, see:
- How To Avoid Infection
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Exercises After Breast Surgery
- Sleep
- Drinking Water Safety
- Stress
- Tips To Help Feel In Control Of Your Emotions
NOTE:
- Do not attempt weight loss during treatment. Wait until the post treatment recovery phase.
- Do not take herbs, vitamins or nutritional supplements or use recreational drugs during treatment unless you get your doctor's consent.
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