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Living Well With MBC > Looking After Yourself

Looking After Yourself

Living with metastatic breast cancer can take a real toll on all aspects of your life.1 That’s why looking after yourself is especially important. But what does looking after yourself mean? And how can you do it when you’re facing so many other challenges? There are simple things you can do each day that can help you feel better and live better with MBC. After all, small things can make a big difference.

Relax

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Relax

Get physical

Get physical
Get physical

Sleep well

Sleep well
Sleep well

Be comfortable with your body

Be comfortable with your body

Sex & intimacy

 

Sex & intimacy

Eating well

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Where to next? Learn how to talk with others >

REFERENCES

  1. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Melanoma: coping with treatment. Types of Cancer. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/melanoma/coping-with-treatment. Accessed November 13, 2019.
  2. National Cancer Institute. Facing forward: life after cancer treatment. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/life-after-treatment.pdf. Accessed November 4, 2019.
  3. HelpGuide.org. Benefits of mindfulness. A Harvard Health Article. https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/benefits-of-mindfulness.htm. Accessed September 23, 2019.
  4. Mentalhelp.net. Visualization and guided imagery techniques for stress reduction. Stress. https://www.mentalhelp.net/stress/visualization-and-guided-imagery-techniques-for-stress- reduction/. Accessed September 23, 2019.
  5. Springboard Beyond Cancer. Sleep problems. Symptoms. https://survivorship.cancer.gov/springboard/symptoms/sleep-problems. Accessed October 15, 2019.
  6. American Cancer Society. Sleep problems. Treatment & Support. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/sleep- problems.html. Accessed October 15, 2019.
  7. Snyder C. 8 steps to a restful night’s sleep. American Society of Clinical Oncology [blog]. https://www.cancer.net/blog/2016-05/8-steps-restful-nights-sleep. October 15, 2019.
  8. National Sleep Foundation. What to do when you can’t sleep. Insomnia. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/treatment/what-do-when-you-cant-sleep. Accessed September 23, 2019.
  9. CancerCare. Breast cancer: coping with your changing feelings. https://www.cancercare.org/publications/88-breast_cancer_coping _with_your_changing_feelings. Accessed September 18, 2019.
  10. Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Guide to understanding HER2-positive breast cancer. https://www.lbbc.org/sites/default/files/HER2%20Final%202016.pdf. Accessed November 4, 2019.
  11. MD Anderson Cooper Center. Coping with appearance changes. https://www.cooperhealth.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/Coping%20with%20Appearance%20Chang es.pdf. Accessed November 4, 2019.
  12. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Advice from other patients on preparing for chemotherapy. https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/cancerwise/advice-from-patients-on-preparing-for-chemotherapy.h00-158906178.html. Accessed September 18,2019.
  13. Breastcancer.org. Program can help ease body image concerns and improve quality of life. https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/easing-body-image-concerns-and-improving-qol. Accessed December 11, 2019.
  14. Susan G. Komen. Sexuality and intimacy. Survivorship Topics. https://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/SexandSexuality.html. Accessed July 13, 2018.
  15. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/cancer-and-sleep