After completing chemotherapy, you might be eager to return to your previous lifestyle. However, as a cancer survivor, you must take care of your body to improve your long-term health and maintain a better quality of life. Here’s how you can take control of your well-being post-treatment.

5 Tips to Stay Healthy After Chemotherapy

1. Remain Physically Active

While more research is necessary to determine whether exercise reduces the risk of cancer recurrence, regular physical activity can improve mental health by reducing depression, anxiety, and negative mood, as well as improving self-esteem and cognitive function. You might not feel like exercising at times, but remember that fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Start small and work your way up—park further away from your destination, go on walks around the neighborhood, and take the stairs more often.

2. Avoid Tobacco

Don’t smoke or chew tobacco, and try to stay away from second-hand smoke. Avoiding tobacco will help decrease your risk of developing several types of cancer. It can be challenging to quit, so if you’re struggling, ask your doctor for resources. This will ensure you do not impair your immune system, reducing your risk of experiencing an illness or infection.

3. Eat a Balanced Diet

Post-treatment, your body needs extra nutrients and energy to recover. To do this, fill your meals with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while avoiding red meats, sugary beverages, and highly processed foods. While you can enjoy these items occasionally, you should have them in moderation. In combination with regular exercise, this will help you maintain a healthy body weight.

4. Get Enough Rest

Sleep disorders are common in cancer patients because of stress, side effects of treatment, and physical changes from surgery. Insomnia and abnormal sleep patterns can continue even after you complete chemotherapy. However, sleep is essential to rejuvenating the body and mind.

5. Protect Yourself From the Sun

Take precautions whenever you go outside to protect your skin from sun damage. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher daily, and SPF 30 or higher if you are spending considerable time outdoors. Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before you go outside to allow your skin to absorb it, and reapply every 2 hours. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to reduce the sun’s impact further.

When you receive a cancer diagnosis, you deserve compassionate support before, during, and after treatment. Tennessee Plateau Oncology - Dirk Davidson M.D. offers cutting-edge cancer treatments and comprehensive care for the Cumberland Plateau and surrounding counties. Their team of experienced oncologists will make your fight against cancer as comfortable as possible. For more information about their services, visit them online. Contact the cancer treatment center at (931) 484-7596 to schedule an appointment.