Physical Well-being
Easing the Pain of Cancer
by Carrie Aigner, PhD, and Diane Novy, PhD
Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling sad or anxious you attend more to aches and pains in your body? When pain flares, you are more prone to experience negative emotions, such as fear, frustration, anger, and anxiety. Furthermore, when you are in pain, you may feel less like being active and socializing, making you even more susceptible to negative emotions.
Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle after Cancer
by Deborah K. Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN
I have been an oncology nurse for over 30 years but only joined the “club no one wants to be a member of” in 2007. So I have a view from both sides of being care provider and recipient. Much of my career has focused on people newly diagnosed with cancer who are facing treatment. I soon began to realize that was just the beginning of life as a cancer survivor.
How Should I Care for Myself During Radiation Therapy?
Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy during their illness. How should you care for yourself during treatment?
Getting the Sleep You Need When Cancer Keeps You Awake
by Philip Gehrman, PhD, and Holly Barilla
Many people with cancer have trouble sleeping. Pain, illness, medication, cancer treatments, side effects, and the psychological distress of diagnosis can disrupt sleep in people with cancer. And for many cancer survivors, insomnia continues to be a problem even after active treatment is finished.
Face the World with Confidence
by Ramy Gafni
Maintaining a positive attitude during cancer treatment is imperative in order to get through treatment as smoothly as possible. Simply taking the action of seeking out a wig (or shaving your head and embracing it!), going for a makeup lesson, or even reading this article is a positive and empowering step. By taking steps to address the physical side effects of treatment, you are taking control in a situation where so much is beyond your control.
Making the Most of Your Cancer Care
by Lorenzo Cohen, PhD, and Richard Lee, MD
While going through treatment, people with cancer often ask, “What can I do to help?” The answer is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. We encourage all people with cancer to do all they can to strengthen their body’s natural defenses to improve health, well-being, and clinical outcomes.
Air Travel During Cancer Treatment
by Donald J. Melancon
When you are undergoing cancer treatment, traveling probably presents a special challenge because your energy levels and immune system are likely diminished by chemotherapy or radiation. The following ideas may help you limit exposure to infections and save your limited strength during times of travel.
Does Exercise Really Help?
by Lora Packel, MS, PT, CCS
Coping with the physical and emotional effects of cancer treatment is a full-time job. Unfortunately for most people, this new full-time job is layered upon other responsibilities that continue despite cancer treatments. Competing tasks, such as childcare, employment, and attending to one’s marriage, leave little time to take care of your own needs.
