Personal Care
Women with cancer need to take care of themselves in every way possible.
During this difficult time, you may feel overwhelmed or too tired to take
care of yourself properly. With extra support, you can help yourself adapt
to the changes in your life.
Nutrition and Exercise
Good nutrition helps supply the energy you will need to handle both the
emotional and physical duress of cancer treatment. For many women, therapy
may deplete them of energy or the desire to eat. Inform yourself about
the options and obtain assistance and nutritional counseling from one
of our certified nutritionists, who are available throughout the Continuum
system. A nutritionist can discuss with you which types of foods you will
need to eat at every stage of treatment and recovery. Also, talk to other
survivors and ask them what foods helped them get through this period
of adjustment. It is important that you keep hydrated and eat foods with
protein, such as beans and meats, when you can. In some cases, foods may
need to be in a softer or liquefied form. After treatment, release your
stress and anxiety by cooking colorful, energizing meals with friends,
family or by yourself. The process of creating foods that are good for
you may create a sense of healing and control in your daily life.
Exercising during your treatment period may seem like a contradiction.
You may think that exercise will drain you of energy or cause injury.
In reality, with some guidance from your physician and other health care
professionals, exercise can revitalize your body and help provide the
feeling of control and peace. Different kinds of yoga and meditation techniques
help to strengthen both the body and mind, and with a little instruction,
can be done in the comfortable surroundings of your own home. Learning
yoga can also be a supportive activity if done with a friend or family
member and accompanied by your favorite music.
Eating and exercise, if carried out with the approval and guidance of
your physician, can help boost your immune system and provide more energy
to deal with side effects from therapy. After treatment, you will need
to continue a healthful dietary plan coupled with simple exercise. Discussing
your options with a health care provider and a nutritionist can help you
regain a sense of balance as you slowly work your way back to normal living
patterns.
Support and Education
From diagnosis to treatment, you will most likely face concerns, questions
and emotions that you may not have faced before. Many women have gone
and are going through similar feelings and experiences as you are at this
moment. Use the world as a valuable resource for both support and information.
Learn about organizations and support groups where you can obtain information,
volunteer and/or develop relationships that are both helpful and supportive.
Exchange ideas and information about new treatments and therapy trials,
find out what foods are healing, and develop a skill such as painting,
writing poetry or photography to assist you in relieving stress and communicating
your feelings with others.
Access the Internet if you have not already done so. On the Internet,
extensive information about cancer and cancer treatment can be found.
There are also chat rooms and message boards where you can ask questions
and get responses from people who know firsthand what you are going through.
You may even develop friendships with other survivors and women who are
currently in the same situation.
Members of your health care team will have information about groups, clubs
and other organizations that can provide information, advice, support
and resources for you. At the end of this guide, there is a resource list
of national numbers as well as numbers for different programs within Continuum
Health Partners to assist you in your search for information.