Stress comes in all forms when you’re facing cancer. From uncertainties about how you’ll respond to treatment, to managing day-to-day responsibilities when you’re not feeling your best, the mental and emotional toll is heavy. While it’s impossible to put worry aside completely, there are ways to make stress easier to manage.
Schedule strategically
Fitting treatments and recovery time into an already demanding schedule can leave you feeling overwhelmed. But during this time, your health is of utmost importance. Arrange your social, family, and job schedules around your treatment schedule to the best of your abilities. Communicate clearly with your boss, co-workers, and family members about your needs, and don’t be afraid to decline invitations right now.
Stay connected to loved ones
Social support helps people with cancer in profound ways. It allows you to express your thoughts and feelings around the challenging aspects of cancer, treatment, and symptoms, as well as receive love, encouragement, and essential help. Support from loved ones has been associated with better clinical outcomes in certain types of cancer, so lean on those close relationships you’ve cultivated.
Eat well
Maintaining your overall health during cancer treatments is important for promoting the best possible outcomes, but it could also help you manage stress. For instance, certain dietary choices could intensify anxiety, such as caffeine and alcohol. Other nutrient-rich foods, including a variety of mushrooms, might actually help to control stress.
Find a relaxing activity
A hobby can act as a distraction by keeping your mind and body busy. Try an activity that won’t demand too much of your energy, like drawing, reading or listening to audiobooks, or baking.
Take a break from the news
Being an informed citizen is important, but consuming too much troubling news can add stress when you’re fighting your own battle. Likewise, scrolling through social media — where most people only share the highlights of their lives — can lead to negative feelings. Consider taking a break from news and social media, or at least putting limits on how and when you consume them.
Be active — if you feel up to it
Exercise improves your ability to manage stress, and it’s been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression in people with cancer. However, it can be challenging to find the energy for physical activity when you’re going through treatments. Don’t push yourself to meet any new exercise goals during this time, but feel free to work in some low-impact daily activity, such as walking, yoga, or swimming, if and when you feel like it.
Take time to rest
The stress/sleep relationship can become a vicious cycle for cancer patients. While stress may keep you up at night, the less sleep you get, the more stressed out you’re likely to become. Try to develop a soothing bedtime routine, including staying away from screens and avoiding any caffeine or heavy meals late in the evening. Rest when you can, even if it means taking a midday nap when you’re feeling especially tired.
Get help managing symptoms
Symptoms and side effects can leave you feeling drained during cancer treatment. Finding oncologists and primary care providers who work together can help to ensure you’re receiving the best level of care not only to fight cancer, but also to manage symptoms and side effects so you can go on living your life while receiving treatment.
Cancer of any kind is stress-inducing, but having the best care providers can help. Here at UCBC, our oncologists use advanced, patient-centric approaches to treat cancer. Find out more about how we can help by calling 706-548-0500.
