Living well with secondary breast cancer

Getting into a routine

Being organised can help you stay on top of your treatment and care while you manage your home and work responsibilities. Here are tips to help you get and stay organised.

Link taking medicine to something you do every day, such as eating breakfast or brushing your teeth.
Think about what might get in the way of taking your medicine, such as being away from home or having some type of change to your daily routine. That way, you can prepare for them ahead of time.
Think about your goals—the things you’re working towards. Perhaps you are:
- Looking forward to enjoying time with family and friends
- Planning to attend a special event, like a loved one’s wedding or graduation
- Wanting to be your best self so you can be there for your family
- Working towards your goals may help you to stick with your treatment routine.

Here are some other things you can try:

Set reminders on your phone or other devices
Put your medicine in a safe place where you will see it when you need to take it
Ask a family member to remind you to take your medicine

Tips for maintaining
a healthy lifestyle

In this section, we detail some tips that could help you maintain your normal routine or work towards a healthier lifestyle. Generally, getting up and walking regularly, eating well and exercising can be beneficial to your mental and physical health.

Make sure you are getting enough rest

Experiencing symptoms or side effects of treatments can be physically draining and can leave you feeling exhausted. In those circumstances, getting enough rest is as important as it’s ever been.

Try your best to:

Get enough sleep on a nightly basis
Ask friends or family to help you with tasks around the house and shopping
Pace yourself and conserve some energy for things you want to do¹

Get physical

Getting out and taking regular short walks can be extremely beneficial because:

Walking can give you more energy and gets the blood flowing
It can help to reduce stress
Can help you sleep better¹

Healthy eating is key

At times, you might find you don’t have much of an appetite while other days you might feel very hungry. On days when you are finding it more difficult to eat, supplement drinks and snacks can be used as temporary replacements to provide you with enough calories and nutrients to get you through the day.

If you require more help your healthcare professional can recommend you to a dietician who can help put you on the right track.¹

Managing your emotions

Living with secondary breast cancer can be emotionally challenging. You may feel anxious one day, sad the next, and angry another day.

It is important that you learn how to care for your whole self - including looking out for your emotional and mental well-being. Every person is unique, and every person will feel different things at different times. But identifying your emotions can help you manage them better.

Click here to find out more.

References

Macmillan Cancer Support. Living with Secondary Breast Cancer. Available online at: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/breast-cancer/living-with-secondary-breast-cancer [Last accessed: September 2021]

UK | SEPTEMBER 2021 | 124201