There are many priorities after a cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, one of the more overlooked is the all-encompassing concept of self-care. This can be a traumatic time, and self-care will be important as you deal with cancer’s effects on your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

The Impact

Cancer can be life-changing. It can bring forth a myriad of distressing emotions and stresses, and cause life to come to a shuddering halt. This can be painful to deal with, let alone process. Feelings of sorrow, fear, and perhaps grief can leave one despondent and in spiritual crisis. This can lead to restless nights, apathy, and indifference to interests and passions. Expectations can be turned on their head, with the resulting anger and frustration being profound. The ensuing psychological effects can cause anxiety, depression, and other conditions that will impact your day-to-day routine. This can be a tumultuous period. Be mindful of changes, and inform your care team so that you can receive additional, and crucial, support. Do not feel guilty, as it is normal, but support is critical to your well-being.

Surround Yourself with Love

This is a time when support is paramount to self-care. Priorities change post-diagnosis. This is not an easy time, but it can be an opportunity to connect with loved ones and make them a central part of your recovery. Some things may change post-diagnosis, but loved ones can offer comfort and stability. Ask for, and accept practical and emotional support. It may not be easy, but it’s important to reduce emotional and physical strain. Open up to loved ones about your feelings and needs. Delegate responsibilities by having others prepare some meals, do chores or take you to appointments. This is a perfect way to involve loved ones, and they will appreciate being able to help at a time when they may be feeling powerless. If you are religious or spiritual, consider attending services or participating in support groups, as the sense of community can be beneficial.

Keep Your Home Healthy

Cancer and the ensuing treatments can take a lot out of you, both physically and mentally. This is why it’s so important to ensure your home is a place that makes you feel safe, secure, and comfortable. To achieve this goal, it’s important to make sure your home provides you with a healthy environment. For example, you can hire someone to do some chores, whether that’s doing laundry or cleaning your house. Additionally, you should pay attention to your indoor air quality, as it’s often more polluted than you may realize. So, open the windows when you can (weather permitting), switch to natural cleaning products, and use top-quality air purifiers (New York Magazine has a great list) and top-notch air filters from companies such as Lennox to eliminate as many airborne particles from your home as possible.

Seek Out Positivity

Finding avenues to feel good and positive is easier said than done during treatment. There is plenty that has to be dealt with, things that divert attention, but taking steps back can be a valuable form of self-care. Look to pursue joy, moments where you can pause, disengage, and recenter. Reconnect with passions, explore interests and hobbies, surround yourself with positivity, and try to give yourself space from stresses. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. Go to your favorite stores, plan future travels, delve into nature, or have peaceful nights in. By making time for things that you can look forward to, whether to end a hard day or start afresh tomorrow, you can facilitate healing and reduce stress. Additionally, pursue revitalizing practices like meditation, and consider saying affirming mantras when needed. Addressing intangible needs may not seem like a priority, but it can help replenish and uplift one’s spirit.

Stay Active

The idea of staying physically active may be furthest from your mind, but its contribution to recovery and overall health is important. Not only can it strengthen you, but activity can also boost mental and spiritual well-being and be an effective de-stressor. Before you start, consult with your care team about what forms of exercise are acceptable and what should be avoided. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to be active without overexerting yourself. Yoga and walking are two types of physical activity that can be adapted to suit your health needs. Walking can happen anywhere and can be incorporated into your daily routine and be done in the company of loved ones. Yoga, meanwhile, might seem intimidating, but it can be practiced in the comfort of your own home and be a soothing and gentle way to nurture wellness.

The journey to remission will have hard days. Self-care may not make those days easier, but it will be central to your recovery and spirit. Involve loved ones through every step, accept their support, and immerse yourself in the things that give you happiness and joy.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

I would like to thank Scott Sanders from Cancerwell.org for this guest article.