cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors, so it is not recommended. You should discuss alternative treatments with your doctor to ease the symptoms of menopause, which can include eating soy products, other medications, or acupuncture.
RELATED: So You Beat Breast Cancer, Now What?
How to reduce stress as a cancer survivor
Experiencing and surviving cancer can cause significant stress. Even after your treatment is over, you may experience residual stress or stress in relation to your new life as a survivor.
Either way, there are many proactive ways in which you can deal with this stress. These ways include seeking out a support group, mindfulness meditation, exercise, and psychotherapy.
There are many support groups that exist, both in-person and online, or via telephone.
By interacting with those who may have had the same experiences as you, you may be able to reduce your stress or anxiety or learn ways in which to cope with your stress.
Mindfulness meditation can help you learn to relax and control your thought process, which may help with anxiety.
Also, exercise is a great outlet in which to focus your energy, and it may make you feel better and in more control of your body. Counseling, or psychotherapy, provides you with the opportunity to speak with someone, as well as the ability to gain a few helpful techniques to manage your stress.
After your cancer treatment is over, you still need to schedule your follow-up care. As mentioned before, the best approach is to speak with your doctor to develop what is called a “survivorship plan.” This can be a schedule of doctor’s visits or scheduled tests. Your doctor may suggest a specific exercise regimen or a diet. This will help put you on the right track to proactively manage your own care and to know what to expect as a survivor.
Tune in to our biweekly Facebook Live Tuesdays at 7 pm.
For tips on health literacy and questions to ask your healthcare provider, download Tigerlily Foundation’s Eliminating Medical Barriers For Patients: Health Literacy toolkit.
Follow the Tigerlily Foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram