There are more than 15 million cancer survivors in the United States so chances are you probably know someone that has faced this terrible disease.
Cancer survivors gather each year in June to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day, which is sponsored by the National Cancer Survivors Foundation. The celebrations are in the form of a country-wide event where thousands of gatherings take place to celebrate life.
These events are welcomed for everyone who wants to express joy at battling and surviving cancer, or simply to be there in honor of lost family members and friends. But these gatherings are excellent for those who want whole lifestyle changes in the battle with cancer.
Luckily for you, we have written down some of the best lifestyle tips by cancer survivors and are going to present them to you in our article.
1. Maintain a Healthy Weight
It’s considered a general rule of thumb to avoid weight gain during cancer treatment, and if you fall into the category of obese or overweight, then you should talk to your doctor about ways to safely lose weight after your recovery treatments.
2. Eat Lots of Fruits, Veggies, and Whole Grains
The best cancer diets are those that include lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and poultry. On the opposite side of the table, make sure to avoid red meat, refined grains, processed meat, dairy products high in fat, and of course, fried foods.
Vitamins, herbs, and other nutrition have proven to help cancer patients live longer, and some of the best sources of vitamins are the foods we’ve mentioned above. More specifically, the best fruits and vegetables for cancer patients are dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, mustard greens, etc), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts), citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes), and superfoods (black goji berries, red goji berries, chia seeds, chokeberry), according to Dr Won Sam Yi.
3. Stay Physically Active
We understand that it can be hard to get out of bed if you’re diagnosed with cancer. The thought of having to live through such a terrible life-threatening disease can be demoralizing for anyone. But the best way to manage it is to stay physically active.
Studies have shown that physical activity is very safe during cancer treatments, and it even improves some aspects of your health such as muscle strength, balance, fatigue, and depression.
Physical activity for cancer patients is strongly linked to longevity and decreased the risk of cancer recurrence.
4. Take Care of Your Emotional Health
Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health when battling cancer. It is even said that you must never give up hope for a better tomorrow. Spend time with your family and friends as much as you can.
Avoid negative stress and focus on your spiritual side. This could mean turning towards religion, connecting with nature, meditation and yoga, focusing on your artistic side, or whatever the thing that speaks to you the most. It can be anything, as long as it keeps you in a good mood. Your emotional health is a tough barrier to pass, but once you move past it, things will start looking better.
