Coping with Breast Cancer Treatment

Pain Control

What do I need to know about pain control?

This information is written to help people with cancer learn about pain control. Reading this can help you:

• work with your doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to find the best ways to control your pain
• know about different types of pain and how each type is treated 
• learn about different types of pain medicines 
• know about other ways to help manage pain 
• take your medicines safely 
• talk with your doctors and nurses about your pain and how well your treatment is working

Having cancer does not always mean having pain. But for people who do have pain, there are many different kinds of medicines, different ways to take the medicines, and non-drug methods that can help relieve pain.

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Good Nutrition

Good nutrition is especially important if you have cancer because the illness itself, as well as its treatments, can affect your appetite. Cancer and cancer treatments can also affect your body's ability to tolerate certain foods and to use nutrients.

The nutrient needs of people with cancer vary from person to person. Your doctor, nurses, and a registered dietitian can help you identify your nutrition goals and plan ways to help you meet them. Eating well while you are being treated for cancer can help you:

• feel better
• keep up your strength and energy 
• keep up your weight and your body’s store of nutrients 
• tolerate treatment-related side effects 
• lower your risk of infection 
• heal and recover quickly

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Grooming & Appearance

Caring for your appearance can help you feel better about yourself. It is especially important when you are ill, because it can be harder to feel good about yourself when you are sick. In addition to routine hygiene, you may want to put extra time and energy into the way you look. Looking your best can help you feel more confident and in control.

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Ways to Manage Cancer-Related Fatigue

Just as every cancer patient's treatment is different, the fatigue felt will be different, too. While one person may feel very tired, another may not. And one person's fatigue may last longer than another person's. But there are things cancer patients can do to help combat fatigue. Here are 7 tips to manage cancer-related fatigue:

1. Rest, but not too much
2. Stay active
3. Save your energy
4. Get help
5. Get support
6. Eat well
7. Call your doctor

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Keeping Your Sex Life Alive

In the media, sex is all too often viewed as something only for the young and healthy. Sex appeal is judged by some as a skin-deep sort of beauty rather than based on love, kindness, maturity, or a sense of humor. Based on looks alone, most people may not feel all that attractive to start with. And after being treated for cancer, their self-esteem can often drop even further. 

Sometimes friends and lovers do withdraw emotionally from a cancer patient. This may not be due to how a person looks, but most likely is caused by some feelings or thoughts in the person who is withdrawing.

Don't give up on each other. It may take time and effort, but keep in mind that sexual touching between a man and his partner is always possible. It may be easy to forget this, especially if you are both feeling down or have not had sex for awhile.

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