Greetings!
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can leave anyone with low energy, high stress and even emotional. Decorating a Christmas tree, purchasing and wrapping Christmas gifts, and baking all of those scrumptious holiday treats can be tiring for anyone, particularly those with cancer. Please continue reading to learn how to take care of you this Christmas: |
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Taking Care of You this Christmas |
Just as cancer treatment effects your physical health, it can affect the way you feel, think, and do the things you like to do. And, it's normal to have many different feelings. Just as you need to take care of your body during treatment, you will also need to take care of your emotions.
When you received your diagnosis, you had all types of concerns such as family, work and finances running through your mind. Many cancer survivors worry that stress may affect their cancer. No research has shown that stress causes cancer, but we do know that stress can cause other health problems. Finding ways to reduce or control the stress in your life may help you feel better. Devoting time to any activities that make you feel calm or relaxed may help. - Exercise: Exercise is a known way to reduce stress and to feel less tense - whether you've had cancer or not. You need to work with your Oncology rehab specialist in making an exercise plan, and be careful not to overdo it.
- Mind-body methods: Meditation or relaxation may help you lower stress by quieting your mind. Massage therapy and Yoga are great methods to work on focusing on your breathing and relaxing.
- Creative outlets: Art, music, or dance gives people the chance to express themselves in different ways. Even people who have never danced, painted or drawn before have found these activities to be helpful. This Christmas, consider making your holiday "chores" like wrapping gifts more of a treat than a chore by indulging in a mug of hot chocolate, listening to Christmas music, or putting on a holiday movie.
- Join a support group: Sometimes telling and hearing stories about living with cancer and their survivorship plan can help people solve problems and find meaning in what they have gone through.
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Message of Hope
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"Every day is a brand new day, an opportunity to share a smile and a hug. Keep smoving (smiling and moving)! Share a smile. Share a hug. Laugh every day. Live every moment."
Michelle Houle Breast Cancer Survivor |
