Breast cancer is a scary diagnosis, but it’s something that many women must deal with at some point in their lives. While it can be overwhelming, there are steps you can take to make your breast cancer journey as easy and comfortable as possible. Dr Joy Trueblood By following these tips, you’ll be able to feel more in control of your life and better prepared for what lies ahead.
Be Informed
You have a right to know what’s going on with your body and how it can be treated.
• Know your diagnosis: A breast cancer diagnosis is scary enough without having to guess whether or not a particular treatment will work for you. Make sure that every doctor who treats you knows exactly what kind of cancer they’re dealing with so that they can select the best course of action–and if necessary, refer you to another specialist, says Dr Joy Trueblood.
• Understand the treatment options: Once again, nothing takes away from the fear associated with surgery better than knowing exactly what kind of surgery will be performed on you and why that option was chosen over others (e.g., lumpectomy vs mastectomy). Asking these questions may also help bring up other concerns beyond just cosmetic ones–such as being able to breastfeed after reconstruction surgery–that might otherwise go unaddressed until later down the road when it could cause more problems than originally anticipated!
Stay Active
You can stay active in a variety of ways. Exercising is the best way to keep your body strong and healthy, but there are many other activities that can help you stay active as well. Try walking with friends or family, taking up a hobby like knitting or gardening and spending time outdoors. You may also want to try new activities that challenge your mind, such as learning how to play chess or bridge with friends or joining an art class at the local community center.
For those who have had surgery on their breasts (such as lumpectomy), it’s important not only that they keep physically active but also mentally engaged in life outside of cancer treatment.