Planning for Healthy Living
Good nutrition, exercise and other healthy behaviors may help your body heal. A good plan for healthy living may improve your quality of life. It might also lower your risk for future illnesses such as other cancers and heart disease. Ask your health care team about your particular risk factors so you know what things you should avoid.
Work with your health care team to develop a plan for a healthy lifestyle. Consider your entire medical history. Include any new goals you have set for yourself. A healthy lifestyle may be helpful in addressing concerns such as:
- Weakness
- Loss of balance
- Fatigue
- Stiff muscles and joints
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Problems sleeping
- Restlessness
Incorporate some of these healthy behaviors into your lifestyle.
Physical Activities
- Breathing exercises
- Walking, running or cycling
- Gardening and outdoor work
- Activities you enjoy such as swimming
- Dance or movement classes
- Yoga, tai chi or other types of stretching exercises
Diet and Nutritional Recommendations
- Eating five to nine servings daily of fruits and vegetables free of pesticides
- Including plenty of fiber in your diet
- Drinking eight to ten glasses of water per day
- Avoiding salted, pickled or smoked foods
- Not eating a lot of red meat or processed meats such as bacon, sausage and hot dogs
- Limited alcohol consumption
Ways to Reduce Stress
- Doing things you find fun and that make you laugh
- Doing things that make you feel relaxed such as hobbies or massages
- Taking classes such as music or painting
- Writing in a journal
- Listening to music
- Attending support groups or counseling
- Praying and meditating
Ongoing Medical Care
- Taking medications as directed.
- Having regular health care follow-up appointments.
- Having recommended screening tests.
- Knowing what symptoms to look for.
- Avoiding health risks such as tobacco.
- Contacting your health care team with questions and concerns.
A plan for healthy living can help you make healthy behaviors part of your life. Start by doing things you enjoy. Expand your efforts as you can over time. There can also be comfort in knowing you are doing what you can to reduce your risk for cancer and other health problems.
If physical problems continue to affect you after you have been following your healthy lifestyle for a while, there may be other treatment options that can be helpful. You and your health care team can make adjustments to your goals and plans for reaching them.
