Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle

Macmillan Cancer Support

There is a lot of research being done to find out how food may affect the risk of cancer developing. Some research has shown that being overweight and not eating enough fruit and vegetables could increase your risk of cancer.

Having a balanced diet is one of the best choices you can make for your overall health. Many people find making this positive choice helps give them back a sense of control. It can also help you feel that you’re doing the best for your health. Thinking about what and how much you drink is part of this too.

Eating well and keeping to a healthy weight will help you maintain or regain your strength, have more energy, and have an increased sense of well-being. It can also help reduce the risk of new cancers and other diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

After cancer treatment, some people have a higher risk of other health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease or osteoporosis (bone thinning). If you’ve been told that you may be at an increased risk of any of these conditions, it’s especially important to follow a healthy diet to help prevent them.

Keeping active

Benefits of being active

Physical activity can be an important part of your recovery after cancer treatment. During treatment, even just spending less time sitting down and taking short walks can help. Being active has many benefits and can help to:

  • reduce tiredness and some treatment side effects
  • reduce anxiety and depression
  • improve your mood and quality of life
  • strengthen your muscles, joints and bones
  • look after your heart and reduce the risk of other health problems.

Being active at recommended levels and keeping to a healthy weight may reduce the risk of certain cancers coming back. If you are not used to exercising you may worry you’re not going to be able to keep it going. Being active doesn’t mean you have to exercise intensely. To start with it can be as simple as going for short walks, doing things around the house or gardening.

As you gradually build up your strength, you can choose an activity you enjoy. You’ll find that you have more energy and you’ll feel better. Being active can also be helpful if you have advanced cancer. It can help to reduce symptoms, as well as giving you a confidence boost.

Giving up smoking

If you’re a smoker, choosing to stop is a decision that will benefit your health. Smoking increases the risk of several types of cancer. It can also lead to heart and lung diseases. If you are coping with a cancer diagnosis, you may find it stressful to give up smoking. However, research has shown that non-smokers have fewer side effects during cancer treatment. If you are ready to stop, giving up smoking will help you feel better and be healthier.

You’ll find that giving up smoking has many benefits:

  • Health benefits – your doctor can discuss this with you and explain how smoking affects your body.
  • Financial benefits – giving up smoking could allow you to save up to £2,000 a year.
  • Physical benefits – your skin will look better.
  • Benefits to your family – you’ll protect them against the damaging effects of passive smoking.

For further information go to https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/maintaining-a-healthy-lifestyle#161621

The Macmillan Support Line is staffed by trained experts and offers people with cancer and their loved ones practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. Call free on 0808 808 0000 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm).

Useful resources

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
The Cancer Focus NI Well Aware service is aimed at the over 60s and is offered in a range...
Macmillan nurses are specialist cancer nurses with experience and qualifications in...
Prostate Cancer UK have a team of trained volunteers throughout the UK who carry out...
Bowel Cancer UK Community — a place for anyone affected by bowel cancer to talk about...
After surgery and treatment for breast cancer, some women feel less confident about their...
Cancer Focus NI is the only local cancer charity to provide a free cancer information and...
LearnZone provides free and easy access to a wide variety of learning resources , online...
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s Email Forum – or E Forum – helps us keep up to date with...
Going through cancer can be an isolating experience at any time, and especially when...
A healthy diet and regular physical activity may help you manage the effects of prostate...
We rely on our incredible volunteers to help us spread the word about prostate cancer,...
We know that money is a big and often difficult thing to talk about when you’re living...
There are a number of health campaigns throughout the year to raise awareness of...
Cancer Focus NI’s Art therapy service is for anyone affected by cancer. Art therapy helps...
Bupa is working in partnership with Macmillan to offer up to 6 free one-to-one...
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s Email Forum – or E Forum – helps us keep up to date with...
Fatigue support is a telephone programme which includes 4 appointments with a Specialist...
The Sexual support service is a chance for you, or your partner, to talk to one of our...
Welcome to the Caregiver Help & Support group. We're a supportive and safe place for...
‘Engage’ training is a comprehensive one day programme which seeks to address the current...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
When an adult in the family is diagnosed with cancer it affects the entire family. It can...
There are so many ways to get involved, from cheering on a marathon runner to...
Cancer Focus NI, Keeping Well vans are mobile drop-in units which bring health checks,...
Our nurses are here to help. They can provide you with information, and signpost you to...
Zest for Life is a free 6-week programme led by a Cancer Focus NI facilitator. The course...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
The Macmillan Online Community is a free online place for people who are living with or...
We're always looking for enthusiastic people to help with our work. We have a range of...
Whether you need help defining sparse brows and lashes, caring for nails that are...
Each month we run an online support group for men on active surveillance - a form of...
There are hundreds of prostate cancer support groups in the UK. We have details of many...
Call us for free, unbiased, confidential support and information. There's no such thing...
Someone is diagnosed every 15 minutes. What do you know about bowel cancer? Book a free...
Treatment for cancer may mean you have to make many visits to hospital to see your...
Macmillan Grants are a one-off payment of £350 to help with the extra costs that living...
We have a team of trained volunteers throughout the UK who carry out talks to groups both...
Living with prostate cancer can be hard to deal with emotionally, as well as physically...
We’re a community of people in the UK receiving immunotherapy treatment for bowel cancer...
Cancer Focus NI can provide a wide range of presentations to meet the needs of your...
Writing is well-known to have therapeutic benefits – it gives you a voice and a way of...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
As part of this community, you can talk about whatever you want, from diagnosis to...
The important thing to remember when you’re affected by prostate disease is that you’re...
We’re a supportive and safe place for people with stage 4 bowel cancer living in the UK,...
The Quick Fit programme offers positive steps to improve your health through diet and...
Affected by breast cancer? Join this group to share experiences and ask questions to...
Thrive is a community and safe space for younger women to connect with and support each...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
Support for breast cancer
Track your treatment and wellbeing
Prostate Cancer UK launched a campaign to encourage men at higher risk of prostate cancer...

Articles & Videos

Helplines & Web Chats

Marie Curie - Helpline
Cancer Research UK - Helpline
Bowel Cancer UK - Forum
Bowel Cancer UK - Ask a Nurse
Macmillan Helpline
Cancer Focus - Nurse Line
Macmillan - Forum
Prostate Cancer UK - Forum
Macmillan - Ask an expert
Prostate Cancer UK - Specialist Nurse
Macmillan - Bereavement Forum