Over the years, we’ve had major advancements in the way we manage and treat cancer. All of these advancements are working toward one goal – finding a cure for cancer and increasing survival rates. According to the National Cancer Institute, the number of people living beyond a cancer diagnosis reached nearly 14.5 million in 2014 and is expected to rise to almost 19 million by 2024.
On June 4, we celebrated National Cancer Survivors Day, which honors all of those who battled and beat cancer. It’s also a day to encourage existing patients to keep fighting.
While we celebrate those who beat cancer, we also want to remind them of the importance of staying healthy to reduce their risk for recurrence.
What Is Cancer Remission?
Any person who lives with cancer and fights every day is considered a survivor. When you fight the battle, live each day to the fullest and not let cancer win, you’re a survivor in our book. However, many people use the term “survivor” for people who are no longer showing signs of cancer. This is called being in remission.
There are two types of cancer remission:
- Partial Remission: When a patient is in partial remission, the cancer still exists in their body, but the tumor has shrunk or is no longer growing. In other cases, a patient can be in partial remission if there is less cancer throughout their body. In these cases, a doctor may pause treatment as long as the cancer doesn’t start to grow again.
- Complete Remission: A patient is in complete remission if their tests, exams, and scans show no more signs of cancer. Many of our doctors prefer to use the term “no evidence of disease” instead of remission. It does not mean you are cured, but it does mean the disease can no longer be found in your body.
Cancer may return in either of these situations, but if it does, it most often returns in the five years after a patient’s initial diagnosis and treatment. Many cancer survivors may be concerned about recurrence, or the cancer coming back. Fortunately, there are many lifestyle changes you can make to stay healthy even after cancer treatment has stopped.
Cancer-Fighting Habits to Maintain Wellness
Reduce your risk of cancer recurrence by practicing these wellness tips during your survivorship.
Stay active
Exercise is great at helping cancer survivors stay healthy and well. Same rules apply for patients going through treatment. In fact, research shows that exercise is not only safe during cancer treatment, but it can also help maintain your quality of life and physical strength throughout the course of the disease. If your doctor does not recommend intense exercise right away, there are many small things you can do to make your life more active. For instance, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, park your car further away from the door, and walk the rest of the way.
Doctors recommend about 30 minutes of exercise a day for about five days a week. Take it slow to begin with—start by taking a walk around your block, and then add more activity to your routine as you can manage it and as your doctor approves it.
Research indicates that physical activity may have beneficial effects for several aspects of cancer survivorship–specifically, weight gain, quality of life and cancer recurrence. Most of the evidence for the potential benefits of physical activity in cancer survivors comes from people diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer, but most likely has benefits for all other cancer types.
Regular exercise provides many other health benefits including:
- Making you feel stronger and increasing your endurance
- Reducing your symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Improving your mood and self-esteem
- Reducing pain and improving your sleep
Eat a healthy diet
In addition to practicing a more active lifestyle, eating healthy is also a way to maintain wellness during treatment and cancer survivorship. Improve your diet by eating two and a half cups of fruits and vegetables every day. Also, incorporate healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. As for protein, chose those that are low in saturated fats, like fish, lean meats, eggs, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Incorporate healthier sources of carbs like whole grains.
Keeping up with this balance of good foods can help you get the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay healthy and reduce the risk of cancer or cancer recurrence. Talk to your doctor to develop a more specific diet plan for your needs.
Maintain a healthy body weight
To determine your ideal body weight, talk to doctor about what to work for, specific to your age and height. If you need to gain weight to reach a healthy place, meet with a dietician to create a healthy plan to gain and keep weight. They can also help make food look more appealing and increase your appetite. Your doctor can also help you control any pain or nausea after cancer treatments.
If you need to lose weight, however, take things slowly. Watch your calorie intake and start an exercise plan slowly. Work with your doctor to develop a plan that is reasonable and healthy for you.
Quit smoking and limit alcohol
Smoking cigarettes and using chewing tobacco increase your risk for several cancers. When you stop smoking, you can reduce your risk of cancer recurrence or even developing a second cancer.
If you want to drink alcohol, doctors recommend your drink in moderation. Talk to your doctor about whether or not you should be limiting your alcohol intake and how much you should reduce it.
Stay in contact with your cancer care team
Just because cancer treatments are over does not mean you should lose contact with your cancer care team. Schedule follow-up appointments where your doctors and cancer care team can evaluate any possible signs of recurrence. They can also help you manage any long-term side effects of your cancer treatment and develop a cancer survivorship care plan.
Learn More about Cancer Prevention
Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada is a team of medical oncologists, hematologists, radiation oncologists, breast surgeons and pulmonologists who are here to support your throughout your cancer journey. Call us at 702-952-3350 to schedule an appointment, or visit us online to learn more about the latest in cancer care.
