If you’re fighting cancer, a healthy lifestyle can help you stay healthy during and after treatment. Research shows that good nutrition, exercise, and other healthy behaviors can improve your quality of life during treatment. Healthy living can improve your quality of life during and after lung cancer treatment. For some people, finding out they have lung cancer motivates them to focus on their health. For others, adopting new, healthy habits is difficult. Lean on your support system, including your cancer care team, to help you develop a healthy lifestyle.
Here are the top five healthy habits that can aid your health during and after treatment:
1. Stop smoking
Even if you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, quitting smoking has immediate benefits. These include normal blood pressure and heart rate levels. The risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and high blood pressure will reduce, and the functioning of your lungs and respiratory system will improve.
2. Eat well
Good nutrition is important for lung cancer patients. Eating the right kind of food can help you feel better, stay stronger, and fight infections.
3. Be active
Physical activity can help reduce fatigue, improve mood, and maintain a healthy weight. Even small activities like light walking or light stretching will benefit you.
4. Enlist Support
Beyond your physical health, it’s important to pay attention to your mental health and emotional needs. You may want to talk to a counselor or other cancer patients who understand what you are going through. Read more about support for lung cancer treatment.
5. Manage your care
Whether it’s you or a caregiver who is advocating for your cancer care, it’s important to have someone who is advocating for your needs. This includes communicating with your cancer care team, coordinating appointments, and tracking symptoms and side effects.
The author is MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), Consultant Physician and Diabetologist, Connect & Heal.
(Please consult your doctor or health care professional before making any changes to your diet, medication, exercise, lifestyle or health protocols.
