What You Need at Home
Practical Tips for TLC
When you have stage III or stage IV breast cancer, there’s more to taking care of yourself than your treatments and doctor visits. Little things that you can do at home can help you feel your best. Try these ways to make your everyday life more comfortable and simpler.
Chill Out Your Bedroom
Some women get hot flashes as a side effect of breast cancer treatments that lower their estrogen levels. If this happens to you, you’ll want to have a fan in your bedroom and layers on your bed, so you can remove them as needed. You might also want to keep a towel near your bed, if you sweat a lot.
Switch Up Your Mouthwash
Does it have alcohol in it? If so, you might want to switch to an alcohol-free version. Chemo and radiation can sometimes cause mouth sores, and the alcohol would irritate those spots. Hard candy (not too tart) and ice chips made from plain water or frozen juice are good to have on hand to soothe such sores.
Prepare Chemo Comforts
If you go to a hospital or clinic for chemo, you’ll be there for at least a couple of hours each time. It will probably be cold there, so bring a blanket you love, socks, snacks, lip balm (in case the chemo dries out your lips), and water. Load up on books and music to help you pass the time.
Claim Your Favorite Spot
When you need to take a break, make a beeline for a chair where you can bask in the sun, or to a central room of your house so you feel close to your family. Look for a strategic place that’s close to a bathroom and doesn’t have a lot of stairs, if moving around isn’t so easy. To feel settled, keep favorite photos nearby and have a chair ready for people who visit.
Stock Your Fridge
Your diet can help you keep up your strength and curb any side effects from treatment. Choose foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. Keep items like nuts, raisins, and string cheese handy for snacking. When you feel well enough, cook extra portions of healthy meals and freeze them. These will be easy to defrost and eat on days when you don’t have time or energy to cook.
Refresh Your Tunes
Music can help you feel calm or boost your energy. You can listen to an album you like, play an instrument you have at home, sing along to the radio, or watch an online concert. Even talking with friends about your favorite song lyrics and what they mean to you may help you feel better.
Find Your People
Want a place where you can talk about your feelings, share your concerns, and get advice from others who are going through the same experience as you? You might want to find a support group. Some meet in medical centers or churches. Others meet online, so you can join in from the comfort of your own home.
Set Reminders to Say Yes
Friends and family will probably ask, “Can I help?” Not used to letting them? It’s time to change that. Put a reminder in your smartphone, or leave yourself notes where you’ll see them, that say, “Yes, thank you.” Accepting help could make life easier and give you more time. Think of tasks or errands that friends and neighbors could do: make a meal, mow the lawn, watch your kids while you’re at the doctor, or listen to how you’re doing.
Move When You Can
Your energy probably is down from what you’re used to. But being active as much as you can actually gives you more energy. Plus, it burns off stress and feels good! Check with your doctor about the types of activities that are OK for you to do. You might also want to find a certified personal trainer who works with people who have breast cancer.
Binge-Watch for Laughs
Give yourself an evening on your couch to watch a favorite comedy, pick up a funny book, or play board games. Laughter coaxes your body to relax, helps you deal better with stress, and may also ease pain, soothe stomachaches, and loosen tight muscles.
Prize Your Rest
Sleep gives your body a chance to heal and recharge. If it’s hard to fall or stay asleep, try going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Avoid heavy meals late at night, and turn off all screens 30 minutes before bed. Try to spend some time in natural light, whether you go outside during the day or sit in a sunny room. It primes your body clock to rest later on. If sleep stays a problem, let your doctor know.
Hand Off Some Chores
Could you order your groceries online and have them sent to your home? Or send out your laundry? Might you be able to let some things go? Some cancer groups also deliver home-cooked meals or help with housecleaning for free.
At-Home TLC
Taking care with how you look can boost your mood. It’s a small treat for yourself, not a standard you have to live up to. Some women choose to wear a wig, turban, scarf, or hat. Or you might decide to embrace being temporarily bald. If you lose your eyebrows and eyelashes, and like to wear makeup, eye shadow and liner can enhance your features. You can also use false eyelashes. If you usually go to a nail salon, try an at-home mani-pedi.
Open Up
You’ve probably heard you should “be positive” as you deal with cancer. But no one expects you to be cheerful all the time. It’s healthy to feel all your emotions, including anger or fear -- and to have a safe place to talk about them with family, friends, your support group, and possibly a counselor. Doing so may help you let go of these feelings. If you get depressed or anxious, tell your doctor or counselor so you can get relief.
Take a Break
With doctor visits, treatments, and tests, you have a lot going on. How do you relax when you get home? You could meditate, pray, do yoga, enjoy a favorite hobby, or write in a journal. You might also want to take some time for yourself: Turn off your cellphone and all other screens in your house for even a few minutes each day for some peace and quiet.
Connect With Your Mate
Sex may be the last thing on your mind right now -- and that’s OK. Talk with your partner about what feels good to you, as well as when you feel too tired or want time to yourself. Remember that there are plenty of ways to be intimate without having sex. Kissing, touching each other, and massage can all help you and your partner stay close.
Take Stock of Your Friendships
Friends will respond to your cancer in different ways. Some will offer strength, fun, and support. Spend as much time as you can with them. Others may feel scared or unsure of what to do, and vanish when you need them most. If their absence hurts your feelings, tell them and talk about what would feel better.
Start Some Files
Every cancer diagnosis comes with a pile of paperwork. This includes test results, treatment details, medical bills, and a list of medicines you’re taking. It’s a good idea to keep all these papers in one place. You may need them in the future. Put them into your filing cabinet or a binder, scan them into your computer, or put these papers into a box. Your partner or caregiver should know where these records are, too.
Sources Medically Reviewed on 10/23/2020 Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on October 23, 2020
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SOURCES:
University of California San Francisco Medical Center: “Breast Cancer Self-care and Recovery: Lifestyle Changes.”
OncoLink/Penn Medicine: “Women’s Guide to Sexuality During & After Cancer Treatment.”
Living Beyond Breast Cancer: “Methods of Self-Care to Deal With Stress and Anxiety,” “Metastatic Breast Cancer: Guide for the Newly Diagnosed.”
Cancer Treatment Centers of America: “Laughter therapy,” “Addressing sleep problems in cancer patients,” “Nine ways to relax.”
National Cancer Institute: “NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Laughter Therapy.”
Sleep.org/National Sleep Foundation: “Scary Ways Technology Affects Your Sleep.”
Northwestern University: “Natural Light in the Office Boosts Health.”
Cancer Today magazine/American Association for Cancer Research: “Your Cancer Guide: Asking for Help,” “Your Cancer Guide: Friendships Lost and Found.”
Mayo Clinic: “Breast Cancer: Self Management: Coping and Support.”
Breastcancer.org: “Exercise During and After Treatment,” “Scarves, Turbans, Hats and Makeup,” “Music Therapy,” “Healthy Eating During Treatment,” “Planning Meals While You’re Having Treatment,” “Designing a Healthy Eating Plan.”
Cancer Prevention & Treatment Fund: “The benefits of exercise after getting diagnosed with cancer.”
Susan J. Komen Breast Cancer: “Support for People with Metastatic Breast Cancer,” “Music Therapy.”
CancerCare.org: News release.
Ford Warriors in Pink: “2016 Ford Warriors in Pink Survey Highlights,” “A good day starts with a clean house.”
Cancer Research UK: “Everyday life during chemotherapy.”
Macmillan Cancer Support: “Getting prepared when caring for someone with advanced cancer.”
NHS Choices: “Personal hygiene for cared-for people.”
American Cancer Society: “Caring for Your Appearance During Cancer Treatment,” “Managing Cancer as a Chronic Illness.”
Cancer Support Community: “Caregivers.”
Cancer.net/American Society of Clinical Oncology: “Clearing the Clutter: Tips for Organizing Medical Information.”
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on October 23, 2020
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
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