Tina’s Personal Journey: Nutrition and Exercise During and After Cancer Treatment
During my cancer treatment, the medical staff focused mainly on preventing weight loss. When I asked about foods to avoid, they said I could eat anything I craved, even joking that French fries were fine. Their main concern was that I ate, not what I ate.
Chemotherapy can make eating difficult, let alone eating healthily. My treatment ward didn’t emphasize nutrition. I had to research on my own using leaflets and personal searches.
After treatment, I delved deeper into nutrition, examining:
- What I ate
- When I ate
- How food made me feel
During treatment, I lacked the energy for thorough nutritional research. Once cured, I asked myself: How can I prevent cancer from returning?
Nutrition plays a big role in this, as well as in regaining energy. After visiting Plantation Villa in Sri Lanka, I adopted Ayurvedic eating habits. The difference was remarkable. I had more energy, didn’t need naps, could concentrate longer, many chemo side effects disappeared, and I felt great overall.
Diet and emotional health are linked, and we can do much to live healthily. Some people slow cancer growth with diet and supplements; others find healing. Post-cancer, when treatment stress eases, a healthy diet can boost energy and positivity, improving life quality.
During my cancer journey, I walked 6 km daily but couldn’t manage other exercises. I focused on a reasonably healthy diet, fish oil, collagen, and vitamins. Looking back, I feel I did my best with the knowledge I had.
After recovery, I joined a personal training group with other breast cancer survivors. Later, I started yoga strength training, and joined a running club for beginners. It felt great to run again.
References:
Book – Jane McLelland: How to Starve Cancer without starving yourself.
https://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatmentshttps://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatments