Eating well and keeping active with or after Cancer
After a cancer diagnosis, many people find that following a healthy, balanced diet and staying active helps give them back a sense of control.
After a cancer diagnosis, many people find making the decision to follow a healthy, balanced diet helps give them back a sense of control. It can also help you feel that you are doing the best for your health.
Eating well and keeping to a healthy weight will help you keep up your strength, increase your energy levels and improve your sense of well-being.
After cancer treatment, some people have a higher risk of other health problems, including diabetes, heart disease or osteoporosis (bone thinning). If you have been told that you may be at an increased risk of any of these conditions, it is especially important to follow a healthy diet to help prevent them.
Before making changes to your diet, it can help to talk to a dietitian, your GP or a specialist nurse. This may be especially useful if you have any special dietary requirements or medical needs.
We have more information about healthy eating and cancer.
When you are living with or after cancer, becoming more physically active during and after cancer treatment can be a positive change in your life.
Being active before, during and after treatment is safe. It can:
- reduce tiredness (fatigue)
- help look after your heart
- reduce anxiety and depression
- help you keep to a healthy weight
- strengthen your muscles
- improve bone health
- improve your flexibility and ability to stretch
- improve balance
- increase your confidence.
There is also a small amount of evidence to suggest physical activity may help improve memory.
You might be nervous about starting a physical activity plan, especially if you were not very active before your cancer treatment.
You may worry that you are too tired or that you might injure yourself. But research shows that even a little activity is better than no activity at all. As you start to feel more confident, you can slowly build up the amount of physical activity you do.
Visit Macmillan's website for the full details and more information.