The Most Important Health Tips For Breast Cancer Patients

If you are someone you know is going through breast cancer, you know what an emotionally and physically trying time it is. Many forms of cancer treatment only add to the discomfort that the breast cancer patient experiences. Radiation treatments, for example, can cause a great deal of fatigue and it can take up to two months for your normal levels of energy to return. Therefore, it is important to follow a few health tips in order to minimize these side effects, as well as to help you get better sooner.

One of the most important things you can do for yourself while fighting breast cancer is to get plenty of rest. Do your best to get a full nights' sleep. And, if you feel tired during the day, take the time to sleep or rest to allow your body time to recover.

Another thing you can do is eat a healthy diet. The healthier your body is, the better prepared it will be to fight the cancer and to recover from the treatment. Be sure to include plenty of protein in your diet because the amino acids found in protein are used by your body to help repair damage.

Sometimes, eating can be a difficult task if you are undergoing treatments for breast cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and medications can adversely affect your appetite and digestive system. You might experience nausea, vomiting, changes in taste and smell, difficulty swallowing and chewing, constipation, and pain. If you are experiencing these problems, you need to take steps to increase your appetite and to make eating easier.

Firstly, try to make mealtime enjoyable by eating with friends and family or making eating as comfortable as possible. To add variety for your taste buds and to make eating more enjoyable, try new foods or new recipes. If you engage in mild exercise ½ hour before you eat, it can also help increase your appetite. Of course, you should check with your doctor before starting any type of exercise routine. Anti-nausea medicine can also be helpful if you are vomiting or experiencing nausea.

It is also helpful if you prepare meals ahead of time while you are feeling better and freeze them. These meals can be easily reheated when you are not feeling well. You should also keep small snacks on hand to munch on when you are feeling good enough to eat. In fact, it is best to eat small meals or snacks frequently throughout the day than to eat large meals. All foods you purchase should be easy to prepare or should be ready to eat. You should also look for foods that are high in calories and protein in order to help keep your weight on. Even the fluids you consume should be high in calories and protein. If you are having a hard time chewing and swallowing, you should puree your foods or purchase foods that are easy to swallow, such as applesauce, soup, baby food, pudding, and yogurt.

Additionally, there are a number of, herbs and vitamins which promote breast health.