Living With Breast Cancer: What You Should Know

Medically reviewed by Dr Johann Tang, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist

Getting diagnosed with and receiving treatment for breast cancer is a life-changing experience. It has a profound impact on you physically, emotionally, and practically. You may find yourself being more tired than you used to be. Daily tasks that were easy might now seem harder to accomplish. Nausea and soreness are also common symptoms that are often experienced.

Some patients struggle mentally as well. A cancer diagnosis can bring up a mix of overwhelming emotions and thoughts that can be difficult to manage. You could be fearful, worried, upset, confused, resentful, or guilty. These emotions add a further toll and the end result can affect your career, finances, and relationship with friends and family. To help patients on their cancer journey, we have a few tips that can help them adapt to these new changes and hopefully ease some of the burden on their mind and body.

1. Get More Exercise

Being more active may feel counterintuitive for breast cancer patients. Fatigue is a side effect of breast cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, and patients might instinctively avoid physically taxing activities. However light exercises like yoga, cycling, walking, or swimming might actually help to energise you, ease the side effects of treatment, and improve your mood.

Before starting any exercise or activity, talk to your breast cancer doctor in Singapore first about whether it is appropriate for you. If you are recovering from surgery there might be restrictions on what activities you can participate in. 

2. Consider Snacking To Combat Nausea

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can both cause nausea in cancer patients. This can lead to loss of appetite and some patients may start eating less overall. To combat this and to ensure that you are receiving the nutrients your body needs, you can consider having smaller meals throughout the day. Portioned meals can help patients who have difficulty finishing large meals due to nausea. 

Even if you don’t feel hungry, consider having easy to digest food like toast, porridge, or soup. However some patients find that they handle their breast cancer treatment better on an empty stomach so feel free to adapt to your needs accordingly. 

Learn More: How Radiotherapy Helps To Effectively Treat Cancer in Women

3. Talk To Friends And Family

You might feel the urge to bottle up and not burden your family and friends with the issues you struggle with. Instead, try and find support within these close connections. Share with them the problems you’re facing and let them know how they can help. You might find it easier to cope with them by your side.

4. Connect With Other Cancer Patients

While family and friends will pitch in to help, they may not be able to fully understand what you are going through. It can be useful to reach out to other breast cancer patients. They may have similar experiences and it can be cathartic to speak to a group of people who uniquely understand your situation. Connecting with them may also reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety, and fear.

You can find many such groups with cancer patients either via the internet or through community organisations that may have meet-up sessions with members.

Living with breast cancer isn’t easy. It significantly alters your daily routine and has long-lasting effects on your life. Small changes that help combat the side effects of breast cancer treatment in Singapore, leaning on your family and friends for support, and sharing with other cancer patients can all make the process a little easier.

As a Radiation Oncologist for over 20 years, Dr Johann Tang fully understands the needs of cancer patients and has the expertise and training to provide high quality medical treatment. To learn more about breast cancer treatment options or to send in your questions, visit our contact page and drop us a message.