Breast Cancer RX
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We are a breast cancer prevention site. We post information about breast cancer facts, mammograms, chemotherapy, breast cancer clinics and much more. REMEMBER: This is an information only site, not medical advice!
Breast Cancer Patient Recovery - Your health comes first!
There comes a time in life when a person must change priorities and focus on what is most important. The most important thing now is you! Keeping on top of your health is your first priority. With the right diet, the right exercise, and plenty of support from family and friends, you should find the strength within yourself to recover from this long hard road traveled.
The Diet Plan
The American Cancer Society suggests the following dietary tips for patients who have experienced cancer treatment:
- Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
- Include whole grain breads, cereals, grain products, beans, lentils, rice and pastas in your daily diet.
- Try to cut down on using extra fats, oils, and salad dressings with meals and snacks. Eat smaller portions of lean meats and trim the fat. Cooking spray is always a good way to cut back on the oils when you cook or bake.
- Know what you're eating - read the food labels. When eating out ask questions about how food is prepared so you can make a good choice.
- Limit the amount of alcoholic beverages you drink. One to compliment your meal may be okay, just be careful because more is not better.
- Take an active role in exercising. Start slowly and choose activities that are right for you and then make exercise part of your lifestyle.
Stay in touch with your doctor should you experience any odd changes to your body after recovery or have any questions. Do NOT smoke! Avoid chances of weight gain in your diet by lowering your cholesterol and high sugar intake. Sweets are ok but doing it in excess is never a good thing, that can lead to other dangers. Keep your bones strong to avoid early chances of osteoprosis and if you do have osteoperosis, talk to your doctor for more information about how to keep it from getting worse.
It is highly suggested you ask your doctor before taking any vitamin supplements because they have been known to intensify or counteract with prescribed medication. Speaking with a dietician about your new diet plan is a fantastic idea. Your doctor can also provide you with some suggestive ideas for positive eating habits as well!
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The Exercise Plan
As children we were full of energy and even though we may have not known it at the time the running and playing with our friends was actually exercise. Now that we're older the running and playing may be a little different but our friends are still there to join us when we get exercise. That's what makes it fun! Exercising in groups can actually be fun rather than boring and dull. Call up a friend and go outside for a walk, or call a few friends and take a trip to the gym together! It's those little get togethers with friends that mean so much to all of us. The American College of Sports Medicine suggests these tips to start exercising:
- Remember that any exercise helps. People who have been inactive for a long time may want to start with 10 minutes of walking a day, for example.
- Combine exercise with other activities, such as watching television.
- Find an exercise partner or group. Exercising with other people not only keeps a person motivated, it also provides some friendly support.
- For those suffering from fatigue, try to exercise when fatigue is lowest.
- Combine exercise with everyday activities, such as walking to the store, taking the stairs, or by parking farther away from the entrance.
Most important is to manage your stress. If you get that feeling of frustration, take a walk outside to relax. If you start feeling that stress muscle starting to pound, you know that one in the center of your back? Fear not, just take a warm bubble bath or a warm relaxing shower to ease the tension and let your cares wash away with the water. Notice that I said warm; hot water is no longer good for you because of your sensative skin - something very important to remember. Music can be very soothing as well. There are some wonderful pieces you can get at your local music store or download from the Internet. Ambient music or new wave music has been used to meditate by. Yoga is another type of stress relief that accompanies ambient music. With both meditation and ambient music working together, your life can be filled with more calmness and less stress.
If you have any questions please feel free to send us an email with your concerns.
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