Your Guide to Self-Care During Breast Cancer Treatment

Despite ongoing advances in breast cancer therapeutics, one thing for certain is that beating it is a battle — a winnable one, but a battle nonetheless.

“Research equates the ‘go-go-go’ treatments to a war experience with similar PTSD trauma, anxiety and sleep loss,” says Dr. Bora Lim, associate professor and researcher at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is crafting innovative therapeutic strategies to conquer aggressive breast cancers.

“Women make up 97 percent of breast cancer cases. A majority are moms, daughters, sisters and often a caregiver or active in the community. On top of that baseline of life stress, a breast cancer diagnosis brings a curveball of anxiety that causes a lot of interruption.”

Oncologist Dr. Erica Mayer, a nationally recognized medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, and director of clinical research in its Breast Oncology Program, agrees.

“Treatments and medications today can be extremely effective, but they can impact daily life in small and not-so-small ways," she says. "We want patients to feel as good as possible during treatment and have it impact daily life as little as possible, and we have strategies to ameliorate the impact.”

But both Dr. Mayer and Dr. Lim say prioritizing self-care is vital to have the most successful treatment and recovery experience.

Put bluntly, you are as important a weapon in the battle with breast cancer as your treatments.

Beyond staying active, eating healthy and getting sleep, here are three critical self-care tips Mayer and Lim recommend:

Get help and get organized at home and work: “It’s important to acknowledge you’re in a tough situation and okay to ask for help and delegate,” says Dr. Lim. She recommends making two schedules: one listing family and friends’ responsibilities, down to who’s driving and carrying your bags to appointments, and a treatment schedule for yourself, so you don’t forget if you’re fatigued and feeling foggy.

She says many breast cancer patients are at the peak of their career and don’t realize how treatments can impact effectiveness and functionality at work. “On your best day you might be only 80 percent of baseline, so you have to do the best you can to protect yourself and not be disappointed if you perform at a lower level.” If you’re comfortable, bring your boss or colleagues in the know, so they can reallocate resources to help.

Go gentle on yourself: “Each person’s breast cancer treatment is unique. You need to do your best and if you bounce back fast, that’s wonderful. But if it’s more challenging, be gentle on yourself,” Dr. Mayer says. “It can be a hard road.”

Be your own best advocate: Both Dr. Mayer and Dr. Lim say the most important thing is having a great relationship with your treatment team. “They can make things easier by adjusting medication doses and schedules and with many other strategies,” Dr. Mayer says. “Don’t be afraid to call them. There’s so much they can do, but they need to know in real-time.”

Adds Dr. Lim, “Being honest with yourself as well as your doctors is an important part of self-care.”

Real Women Share How Positive Thinking Helped Them

Susan Anderson, of Scripps Ranch, Calif., knows cancer. Last December, just two years after her husband died of brain cancer, the 60-year-old’s annual mammogram revealed a 2-centimeter invasive ductal carcinoma in the milk duct in her right breast. Two months later in February, she had surgery.

“It was quick due to me making quick decisions and pushing my medical team. I didn’t want another bad mammogram again, have reconstruction or deal with prosthetics. I had good self-esteem and thought my other breast would say “Okay, bye, I’m fine with that!” Anderson says, laughing..

She also had a strong community supporting her, and the power of their prayers behind her.

“One in four women at my church had gone through breast cancer and gave me lots of self-care tips," she said. “I do yoga, meditate, and know how to calm my breath. But I thought ‘let’s go after it!’ and got on the prayer list."

“Yes, you have to have a good support team in place, be confident with your doctors, and accept help graciously. But I believe it’s important to turn it over to a higher power — Buddha, God, whoever it is for you — and let go,” she says.

MD Anderson Cancer Center oncologist Dr. Bora Lim says having strong faith can be helpful for many going through very hard treatments, because a belief in a higher power can provide not only a sense of support but spiritual hope.

Some of Dr. Lim’s patients at MD Anderson are participating there in a study focused on the feasibility, effects and safety of psychotherapy assisted by psilocybin to treat depression and anxiety in those with advanced cancer. Psilocybin is derived from psychedelic mushrooms. Dr. Lim says the study is the first-ever clinical trial intervention of the type to include breast cancer patients.

“By whatever means, if we can reset the brain to move from anxious to positive thinking, that’s a positive step,” she says.

Breast cancer survivor Kelly O’Connor, 48, may be proof positive.

O’Connor, who lives in San Diego, Calif., also believes strongly in the power of positive thinking, making mantras, and digging deep into your spirituality. A turning point in her self-care came when she began creating optimistic storylines.

“During chemo, I’d watch my treatment flow down the line into my port. Rather than wonder what was in this ‘poison,’ I’d make believe I was receiving magic that not only would cure my cancer but actually gave me special superpowers like longevity. If I could believe that, it helped me more,” she says.

O’Connor also used manifestation during radiation.

“I said a mantra every time the machine went around. ‘Dear radiation laser, I believe I am cancer free. But if not and there’s a cell there, thank you so much for blowing it up.’

O’Connor, a former tech executive, started What Next Wellness, a coaching and mentoring company, to help others through their patient journey. She says her mindset served her better than the unspoken alternative.

“When you go through breast cancer or any trauma, it helps to have something to believe in that’s bigger than you. You just have to allow that higher power in to help give you the gift of self-love, strength and courage.”

Medical Review

Medically Reviewed by: Sohaib Imtiaz, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Verywell Health

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