5 Ways To Institute Self-Care If You Have Cancer

Article by Scott Sanders for The Pearl Day Spa

Cancer can lead to socioeconomic problems, depression and social isolation, but  a self-care program can help boost self-esteem and self-efficacy while increasing spiritual awareness. Incorporating a combination of techniques within your treatment plan is proven to be more effective than traditional treatment alone, so take time every day to put yourself first.  

1. Do Activities You Enjoy

Going through cancer treatment doesn’t mean you need to completely put your life on hold. Participating in regular activities and hobbies can give you a semblance of normalcy in your life while distracting you from the side effects of treatment. Consider trying a new activity to help boost self-esteem in the process. If you’re feeling up to it, try to maintain rituals like Sunday morning coffee with friends or date night with a spouse so you don’t become disconnected from your life before cancer. 

2. Stay Active To Some Degree

While you want to check with your doctor so you don’t overdo it, there are several benefits that stem from regular exerciseduring treatment. The type, stage and treatment program as well as your current stamina, strength, and fitness level will determine how often you can get physical activity, but positive side effects include:

●     Prevention of loss of muscle mass due to inactivity

●     Maintained or improved physical ability

●      Improved balance (lower risk of falls and broken bones)

●      A boost in mood and self-esteem

●      Lower risk of heart disease, osteoporosis

●      Stress reduction

●      Improved quality of life

●      Less fatigue and nausea

●      Less dependency on others

3. Eat Nutritious Foods

It can be difficult to eat through cancer treatment due to severe nausea, but it’s important to try to eat a nutritious dietwhenever you can. Experts suggest lean protein (think fish, chicken, eggs, beans, dairy), healthy fats such as avocados, olive oil and fruits and vegetables of all colors. If you’re feeling nauseous, opt for plain pasta, rice, or noodles; saltine crackers; oatmeal; and ginger and peppermint teas and chews. If you have no appetite, experiment with more frequent, smaller meals and/or high-protein shakes, soups, or smoothies. When food starts to smell good again, you know you’re on the road to recovery. 

4. Embrace Spiritual Awareness

Spiritual awareness is an important part of treatment as studies showthat it can improve cancer patients’ health. This type of soul-searching can be experienced through music, the arts, nature, or a specific experience that inspires gratitude. Practices such as mindfulness, meditation and prayer can also help one achieve a spiritual connection. 

Benefits of spiritual wellness include: 

●     Increased feelings of inner peace and optimism

●     A reduction in anger, depression, anxiety and stress

●     Enhanced quality of life

●     Coping techniques to help you handle the trauma of diagnosis and treatment

5. Use Opioids Wisely

Studies indicate that cancer patients are at a higher risk for opioid dependency — 1 in 10 individuals become chronic opioid users after treatment despite not having a need for the drug. It all comes down to education. Make sure your doctor is thoroughly explaining how to use opioids for pain managementto include how much and how often. The drug should only be taken as a last resort if medication like Tylenol and Motrin doesn’t work. 

Cancer can feel like an unpredictable roller-coaster ride. Feelings of fear, uncertainty, and stress are coupled with moments of happiness, joy, and gratitude. Self-care can be extremely helpful in managing stress and your overall constitution. When both are under control, you’ll feel better physically and mentally, which can help you cope with treatment — and life afterwards. 

For more information like this visit www.cancerwell.org

Photo Credit:Pixabay

Featured
Holiday Gift Guide 2024
Holiday Gift Guide 2024

Is it me or is that time just ticking away? How’d it turn into Friday? I swear I was just shaking my fist at the Monday morning sky whispering, “Not you again!” Do you ever feel like you have just enough time in a week to do what the company wants, what the kids want, what the community wants? Then your to-do list becomes a to-doom scroll? If it’s rolling under the car, it’s probably too long. What if we could help you think about one less thing and help you make some feel-good choices this season?

Easy Habits to Improve Your Immune System
Easy Habits to Improve Your Immune System

As those hot summer days transition into beautiful fall days, we all know that there is the potential to come in contact with seasonal colds and the flu. Add a global pandemic on top and it because apparent that health and wellness are of utmost importance this time of year. As I lean into my own season of wisdom and deeper self care, I have found there are ways to better support my body and immune system with the shift in weather and potential contact with unwell coworkers, kids, and community.

When the Pollen Comes 'A Callin'!
When the Pollen Comes 'A Callin'!

Managing allergy difficulties is especially rough during the spring and summer months in the Pacific Northwest. I love the magnificent majesty that is Oregon. As the season changes, so do the allergens in the air, triggering symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and congestion for many of us; sometimes I have to go inside to breathe better or stop clawing at my face, despite wanting to enjoy a picnic or walk about on a sunny afternoon.

The Power of Traditions: Uniting Past & Present
The Power of Traditions: Uniting Past & Present

Introduction

Traditions are the timeless threads that weave through the fabric of our lives, connecting us to our roots and shaping our sense of identity. While many of us associate traditions with holiday rituals and celebrations, their significance extends far beyond these festive occasions.

In this blog post, we will embark on a journey through the rich history of traditions, exploring their evolution and why they continue to play a pivotal role in our lives, both during the holidays and year-round.

The Art Of Healthy Boundaries
The Art Of Healthy Boundaries

During these shorter days and cold, long nights, many of us are spending our evenings getting cozied up in our sweaters or blankets and possibly thinking about the upcoming holidays. While some of that might give you the warm fuzzies, thinking about the holidays can also stir feelings of stress and anxiety. Whether dinner parties, company events, or family dinners with not-often-seen family members, these opportunities can be a great time to connect and feel the holiday spirit. Annddd they can also open us up to difficult people and difficult situations that can cause us to feel overwhelmed or even lead to emotional shutdown at a time of year we might like to otherwise enjoy.

Relaxation Delivered, A New Model for Care
Relaxation Delivered, A New Model for Care

Self-Care Check-In: Not Feeling So Hot?

How does your self-care look these days?

Do you have all the time you need to fit in exercise, eating well, and taking care of your mental health? Does your work day stay within its tidy bounds? Or does your to-do list affect your interactions with your family, your children, your partner? Does everything just go totally smooth and as expected every day? If you’re a busy professional (or just a living human), I’m guessing you’re balancing a lot and can probably answer NO to most or at least some of those questions

Prioritizing You—Self-care Through Spa Membership
Prioritizing You—Self-care Through Spa Membership

You're not alone. Life can get hectic, and it's easy to put ourselves last on the list of priorities. If you’re like me you think, “Oh yeah, I’ll schedule that massage when I get home. “ Nope! No I will not. I will get caught up making dinner, helping the kiddo with homework, answering texts from three days ago, and trying to remember to sit down. I often say, “I need an adult!” Cause let’s be real—we could all use the help of another adult from time to time. And even this adult struggles to prioritize self-care, despite being surrounded by a team of people at The Pearl believe that self-care is essential for overall well-being and happiness.

Do I Really Need You?
Do I Really Need You?

HUMAN CONNECTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR WELL-BEING.

Do you ever find yourself caught in between feeling both lonely and overwhelmed by social interactions? In a world where we are constantly surrounded by people, yet feel disconnected and isolated, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing our lives to others through social media—feeling left out, questioning why we aren't receiving invitations or participating in the same activities as our peers. This critical voice inside our heads fuels self-doubt, pushing us to measure our worth based on what others are doing. The more we delve into this cycle, the more overwhelmed we become, until human connection itself feels like just another burden on our never-ending to-do list. And these hard feelings can be detrimental to our health…increased cortisol (stress hormones), lack of sleep, and can negatively affect our mental health. While we may jokingly throw around the phrase “compare and despair,” there’s a lot of truth to it. Never before in human history have the highlight reels of nearly everyone we know been constantly visible to us 24 hours a day.

The Power of Positive Touch: Nurturing the Queer Community
The Power of Positive Touch: Nurturing the Queer Community

As a queer person who has worked in a touch-centric industry for decades at this point, I can assuredly say that my relationship with touch was not always a simple or positive one.

The challenges faced by the queer community, which often go unnoticed by a heteronormative society, deserve attention and understanding. The narratives presented in stories, movies, advertisements, religious teachings, friendships, literature, and societal norms perpetuate the notion that there is a singular correct and acceptable storyline for people's lives, dismissing any other experiences as deviations to be concealed or left unspoken. Without counterbalancing messages to combat these pervasive feelings of exclusion, many of us have grown up with an inherent sense that our very essence as individuals is fundamentally flawed.

The Mental Weight of Motherhood - And 10 Ways You Can Help
The Mental Weight of Motherhood - And 10 Ways You Can Help

Being a mom is fucking hard. No matter how amazing a person is, this is an inescapable truth. And when you can tell it’s hard from a distance, you know it’s exponentially harder firsthand. Stereotypes aside and progress included, there is still an undeniable societal expectation that mothers bear the brunt of the mental load when it comes to caring for the family. From planning meals to organizing schedules to managing budgets, to maintaining a career, the to-do list for moms appears never-ending. Add to that the mental labor of keeping the family together, managing everyone’s emotions, and often being expected to be the primary caregiver for children, and it’s no wonder that so many mothers feel overwhelmed and exhausted.

Self-care, Healthy LivingSean Vierracancer, health, wellnes, nutrition, medication, whole foods, spirituality, pain, chronic pain, oncologyComment