Being diagnosed with breast cancer can make a person feel powerless, but there are some things women can do to potentially improve how they feel throughout the process. Here are some strategies recommended by experts—and others that are still being explored—which may help improve the effectiveness and symptoms of treatment.
Physical activity
Exercising during treatment won’t be easy for everyone, but it can be worthwhile when women feel up to it. “Exercise is one of the best things women can do for themselves,” says Dr. Ann Partridge, director of the Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “Walking three to five times a week can make a huge difference in how you feel during treatment.” It’s good for the brain too. A study of 87 breast-cancer survivors found that those who did 12 weeks of exercise scored better on some cognitive tests than women who didn’t exercise.
Healthy eating
A healthy diet filled with lots of fruits and vegetables, which contain fiber and antioxidants, is good preventive medicine. When researchers in a 2016 study asked women what they had eaten as teenagers, those who reported eating about three servings of fruit a day as teens had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer later on than those who ate less. Eating well throughout treatment is also helpful, says Partridge. “Take care of your temple,” she says. You don’t necessarily have to start juicing, but “don’t overdo it with carbs or comfort foods.”
Read more > Surprising things that may improve breast cancer treatment
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