Alternative medicine (2)
- Alternative cancer treatments: 11 alternative treatments to consider
- Hypnosis
Coping and support (8)
- When cancer returns: How to cope with cancer recurrence
- Cancer survivors: Care for your body after treatment
- Cancer survivors: Managing your emotions after cancer treatment
- see all in Coping and support
Prevention (1)
- Cancer prevention: 7 steps to reduce your risk
Risk factors (2)
- Cancer risk: What the numbers mean
- Secondhand smoke: Avoid dangers in the air you breathe
Tests and diagnosis (8)
- Cancer blood tests: Lab tests used in cancer diagnosis
- Cancer survival rate: What it means for your prognosis
- Biopsy: Types of biopsy procedures used to diagnose cancer
- see all in Tests and diagnosis
Treatments and drugs (23)
- Cancer treatment decisions: 5 steps to help you decide
- Chemotherapy nausea and vomiting: Prevention is best defense
- Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
- see all in Treatments and drugs
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Cancer survivors: Care for your body after treatment
Stop using tobacco
Kick the habit once and for all. Smoking or using chewing tobacco puts you at risk of several types of cancer. Stopping now could reduce your risk of cancer recurrence and also lower your risk of developing a second type of cancer (second primary cancer).
If you've tried quitting in the past but haven't had much success, seek help. Talk to your doctor about resources to help you quit.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
If you choose to drink alcohol, keep it to a minimum. Women and anyone over 65 should drink no more than one drink a day, and men should drink no more than two drinks a day.
Alcohol does have health benefits in some people — for instance, consuming a drink a day can reduce your risk of heart disease. But it also increases the risk of certain cancers, including those of the mouth and throat. While it isn't clear whether drinking alcohol can cause cancer recurrence, it can increase your risk of a second primary cancer.
Weigh the risks and benefits of drinking alcohol and talk it over with your doctor.
Do what you can
While you may worry that it will take an entire overhaul of your lifestyle to achieve all these goals, do what you can and make changes slowly. Easing into a healthy diet or regular exercise will make it more likely that you'll stick with these changes for the rest of your life.
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- Jones LW, et al. Diet, exercise and complementary therapies after primary treatment for cancer. Lancet Oncology. 2006;7:1017.
- Doyle C, et al. Nutrition and physical activity during and after cancer treatment: An American Cancer Society guide for informed choices. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2006;56:323.
- Demark-Wahnefried W, et al. Lifestyle interventions to reduce cancer risk and improve outcomes. American Family Physician. 2008;77:1573.
- Toles M, et al. Nutrition and the cancer survivor: Evidence to guide oncology nursing practice. Seminars in Oncology Nursing. 2008;24:171.
- Holmes MD, et al. Physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis. JAMA. 2005;293:2479.
- Moynihan TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 11, 2009.
