November 26, 2021 Word for Word Media
Compliance is an integral part of survivorship; this includes your follow-up schedule and medication. Follow-up schedule Your follow-up schedule is dependent on the type of cancer you have. It may be every three months, then every six months, then annually. Regular check-ups may include blood tests or radiological tests, such as scans or X-rays. These are essential to try and prevent progression or to detect a recurrence early. It’s important to let your doctor know about any of the following symptoms if you’re in between check-ups as they may be signs of recurrent cancer: • Unexplained or persistent pain • New unexplained weight…

November 26, 2021 Word for Word Media
Just because you have been diagnosed with cancer, doesn’t mean that you have to stop exercising. If you don’t exercise, there isn’t a better time to start. The word exercise is often feared by even the healthiest individuals, so it’s hard to imagine how you will be able to exercise when having cancer treatment. But you can. And you should. You just have to adapt things slightly, and prefer to call it physical activity. According to the American College of Sports Medicine Round Table 2018, exercise during cancer treatment is safe and inactivity should be avoided. There is also a…

November 25, 2021 Word for Word Media
A well-balanced diet provides you with all the nutrients needed to support your bodily functions which is why nutrition plays such an integral part in your cancer journey. Adopting a balanced diet, prioritising protein and plant-based foods during and beyond treatment can help keep you strong, energised and preserve muscle mass. In fact, some treatments work better in people who are well-nourished. Your body is truly capable of wonderful things when you give it the proper building blocks it needs to recover and heal. However, cancer and treatment may affect your sense of smell, appetite, and the ability to…

November 25, 2021 Word for Word Media
The diagnosis of cancer and the journey that follows has shared features and experiences yet at the same time is deeply personal and individualised. No two experiences are ever the same yet at the same time it’s also the collective experience of the journey that connects you to others in your time of pain, uncertainty and hope. Cancer and its treatment disrupts so many parts of your life, from physical to psychological, spiritual and existential, family and relationships, work life and sense of future. Mental health support for patient and family, such as reaching out to a social worker or…