How to Decrease Breast Cancer RECURRENCE Risk
Once a breast cancer patient has completed breast surgery or surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, etc., it’s time for them to move on from their diagnosis and get back to living life. The risk of recurrence is not zero but there are several ways to make that risk as close to zero as possible as he/she lives their best cancer free life.
It is important to figure out what your risks actually are. Some risks are in your control and others are not. Risks in your control include eating fast food and drinking too much soda. Risks with minimal control include your genetic make-up and long-term effects from surgery.
Let’s find ways to reduce our risk and live really great lives!
Genetic testing. If you have a cancer gene (and there are many) then you may have a higher than typical chance of getting breast cancer again. Having one of these genes might convince you to have preventative surgery such as full mastectomy or removal of the ovaries. You would also be eligible for more frequent and more types of cancer screening, as well as some long term therapies that we are giving patients for years and years to keep any potential cancers from becoming cancers. I have no stake in any genetic testing company, but the ones I’ve used in practice have wonderful genetic counselors and advisors. They won’t charge you and can run some simple algorithms to determine if you qualify for genetic testing or not.
Surgical Wellness principles extend to the surgical patient for years after surgery. Here’s how-
Immune health: your immune system is keeping abnormal cells from becoming cancer cells every day, including recurrent cancers. Let’s focus big time on keeping this part of us healthy and that will decrease risk significantly.
Sleep- quality sleep with good quantity allows your body to fix and heal and rebuild.
Diet- an anti-inflammatory diet is always great, but we can make simple adjustments that will make the immune system happy. Limit sugar intake, don’t drink soda (there just isn’t any good reason to have one except maybe once in a long while), limit alcohol, eat more whole unprocessed foods when possible, and find friends and family who will help you with this.
Nutrition- get yourself a multivitamin that you will take. Personally I take the sugary kids vitamins because I remember to take them.
Probiotics- good for your overall immune system health
Improving stress- yoga, self-compassion, exercise, meditation, talk therapy, etc. When you decrease the stress in your body, it uses that energy to keep you healthy and fight precancerous cells wanting to become cancer.
Physical activity: Yoga is well known for helping breast cancer patients improve their mobility AND stress. Simply walking several times a week will help combat the risk of cancer coming back.
Mobility can be chronically compromised with breast and underarm cancer surgery, so don’t hesitate to ask for some physical therapy or work with massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture specialists.
Self-compassion: being kind to yourself will literally help you live longer. Ways to do this include guided or self-led journaling, guided or self-led meditation, or high-fiving yourself in the mirror every day like Mel Robbins!
To help you with this, check out other blogs on my website and email me about hour-long coaching sessions so you aren’t alone on this journey!
