When finishing treatment for breast cancer, most people feel different than they did before diagnosis. Oftentimes, it is difficult to adjust to the “new normal.” Fred Hutch's Breast Cancer Program created this educational resource guide to help you through this transition. This guide covers a variety of topics and includes outside resources. We invite you to explore the resources at your own pace, in a place that works for you.
Nutrition | Physical Activity | Genetics | Integrative Medicine | Lymphedema | Cognitive Changes | Fatigue | Neuropathy
Certain choices can have an impact on your health post-treatment. The following resources can help guide you to hopefully reducing your risk of getting cancer again. Nutrition and physical activity are strategies that should be relatively easy to adopt but other things you can pursue may be beneficial. You may have had genetic testing in the past but as our knowledge and technology improve you may find further testing provides helpful new information. Integrative medicine can help you cope with treatment side effects and enhance your wellness and quality of life.
Nutritional overview provided by Raymond Palko, MS, RD, CSO, CD.
Evidence-based studies have shown that by increasing physical activity, choosing healthy foods, and maintaining a healthy weight, you can reduce your or risk of getting cancer again. While there is no one-size-fits-all strategy, following these general guidelines will help:
Physical activity overview provided by Lexi Harlow PT, DPT, CLT.
Genetics overview provided by Cynthia Handford, MSc, CGC, CCGC
Integrative medicine overview provided by Lexi Harlow PT, DPT, CLT.
This section covers late and long-term side effects like lymphedema, cognitive changes, fatigue, and neuropathy and provides resources to help understand how you might approach managing these difficulties.
Lymphedema overview provided by Lexi Harlow PT, DPT, CLT.
Fatigue overview provided by Jenica Holt-Melnick, PT, DPT, CLT.
Neuropathy overview provided by Tresa M. McGranahan, MD, PhD.