Healthy choices can improve overall health and well-being, especially for individuals living with cancer and those who have completed cancer treatment. Cancer and its treatments can be stressful on the body, and optimal health is important to maintain strength and to boost the immune system. Once treatment is over, making healthy choices and living a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of recurrence and other diseases.
Maintaining Physical Activity
Doing some sort of physical activity during treatment and after treatment ends can be very beneficial. According to the National Cancer Institute, women who performed moderate levels of exercise after being diagnosed with breast cancer, such as walking three to five hours a week, had higher survival rates than women who did not exercise. The National Cancer Institute also cites a study among colon cancer survivors; those survivors who exercised more after the diagnosis were less likely to have a recurrence of the disease than those who did not exercise. Physical activity also helps to control weight gain, maintains healthy bones and joints, reduces the risk of hypertension and diabetes and promotes psychological health. Prior to starting an exercise routine, consult with a health-care professional to discuss any risks that may be present.
Limiting Alcohol Consumption
Drinking alcoholic drinks in small quantities or very rarely is a healthy choice for many cancer patients and survivors. Alcohol can increase the risk of developing a variety of cancers, including mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, liver and breast cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. It may also be associated with colon cancer. The American Cancer Society states that the type and stage of cancer, as well as the treatments being given, may be a factor in deciding whether to drink alcohol during treatment.
Dietary Choices
Changing or modifying the diet during and after cancer treatment can provide benefits and improve overall health. Obesity and being overweight are linked to high-fat diets, and these types of diets are also linked to higher risk of the development of certain cancers, including pancreatic, gallbladder, breast, uterine, colorectal and esophageal cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Obesity is also associated with a higher risk of cancer recurrence, and shorter survival time for some kinds of cancer, as well as diseases such as heart disease and hypertension. A low fat diet can help to reduce the risk of being overweight or obese. Eating a diet high in fiber can help to improve bowel functioning, which may alleviate constipation, a side effect of some chemotherapies. The American Cancer Society says that foods high in fiber are also typically rich in other nutrients, making these foods healthy choices to add to the diet.
Food Safety
Cancer and its treatment can lower the immune system and impair its functioning, making individuals more susceptible to germs that would otherwise not be a problem. While eating raw fruits and vegetables may seem like a healthy choice, it is important to use precautions to avoid any contamination that could lead to disease. The American Cancer Society suggests that individuals wash their hands before eating or making food, wash vegetables and fruit extremely well, avoid produce that has been pre-cut at the store, and avoiding raw vegetable sprouts.
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