The Alternative Health Gazette

Lifestyle Changes for Cancer

A diagnosis of cancer is devastating and depression is common in cancer patients. However, one should understand that a diagnosis of cancer does not mean an imminent risk to life or complete hopelessness. There are means to cope with this heart-breaking diagnosis. To effectively cope, one should:

Learn as much as possible about your disease. Ask and read about the disorder.

Write down your daily feelings and what impact this has had on your life.

Avoid alcohol. Recent research indicates that there may be a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. The type of alcohol consumed wine, beer or mixed drinks seems to make no difference. To help protect you against breast cancer, limit alcohol to less than one drink a day or avoid alcohol altogether.

Continue your usual daily activities.

Maintain close family relationships.

Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity has been associated with numerous cancers- especially breast and uterine cancer. The link to obesity and these cancers is especially strong when the weight gain occurs after menopause. The excess fatty tissue is a source of circulating estrogen in your body. And breast cancer risk is linked to how much estrogen you are exposed to during your lifetime.

Use the help of local and national support groups. Today, there are numerous cancer foundations and agencies which can easily be found via the internet.

Avoid stressful situations.

Learn, and share your knowledge with other cancer patients.

Stay physically active. Regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight and, as a consequence, may aid in lowering your risk of breast cancer. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. If you haven’t been particularly active in the past, start your exercise program slowly and gradually work up to a greater intensity. Try to include weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging or aerobics. These have the added benefit of keeping your bones strong.

Today, modern medicine is accepting the fact that complementary medicine is an additional component in the fight against cancer. Currently, clinical trials are being done at the NIH to evaluate various mistletoe extracts, acupuncture, imaging and meditation to yoga which also aid in pain relief and improve mood and appetite.

Cancer is not a preventable disorder, but one can greatly decrease the chance of developing cancer by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, not smoking, praying and exercising.

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