Whatever your exercise regiment before diagnosis, keep it up. This is asking a lot, especially with the cascade of doctor’s appointments and new information. But do it. Exercise will rejuvenate your spirits and prepare your body to endure the next six months (the average length of cancer treatment). If you have never exercised, it’s not too late to start. Actually, it’s crucial that you start. Don’t over do it. Simply walk with friends after work or appointments. You need to get lots of things off your chest, so you might as well be swinging your arms and quickening your pace as you rant against the world.
Stop smoking
Any surgeon will tell you smokers have the worst skin. Thin and brittle, it shreds like paper. This means it’s difficult to sew you up after surgery. So help yourself by helping the surgeon – stop smoking. Skin heals relatively fast. Start now and you’ll improve the layers of epidermis and dermis before surgery.
Drink lots of water
It keeps your organs (particularly skin) hydrated, thus easing the shock of surgery. Also, your system will heal more quickly and easily.
Read
Read everything you can about your particular type of cancer. The more informed you are, the more questions you can ask your doctors. Don’t be intimated by doctors. They are here to help you. Also, contact the experts:
The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6236)
The American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345).
Sleep
Of course you’re stressed. But missing sleep will weaken the body you’re trying so hard to upkeep. If you’re getting less than six hours a night, consider asking your doctor for a sleeping medication like Ativan. Of course, if you’re exercising, this will help you sleep.