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To Whom It May Concern:
My fifth episode in my F*** Cancer F*** Fear Series is called, “Control What You Can.”
When it comes to cancer, we cannot control our past and future, but we can control our present.
Everyone is different, and I am by no means an expert, but here are a few things I do to live a healthy lifestyle and control what I can:
Diet:
My diet is mainly but not entirely plant-based, and I try to be more selective of what I eat and where I buy my food. I avoid alcohol for the most part and consume a limited amount on special occasions only.
Water:
I invested in a clean water dispenser because your girl drinks a lot of water.
Exercise:
Studies have shown that exercise helps prevent recurrence, so it’s really important to stay active and stick to a balanced exercise routine.
Clean Beauty and Skincare:
I enjoy using clean skincare and beauty products. I study the labels and avoid certain ingredients.
Cleaning Products:
I use non-toxic cleaning products around the house. When I deep clean the house, I make sure to wear a surgical mask and gloves.
Kitchen:
In the kitchen, I use non-toxic cookware and store everything in glass or bpa-free containers.
House Appliances:
I make sure to replace the filters in my house appliances in a timely fashion (air purifiers, fridge, humidifier, shower purifier, water dispenser, etc.)
Sleep:
This one’s hard for me, but I try to sleep 7-8 hours every night. Sleep truly is the best medicine!
Mental Health:
I schedule alone time to journal, meet with my therapist quarterly, and follow a self-care routine #treatyoself.
Happiness and Stress Relief:
I spend quality time with my loved ones and do things that bring me joy.
Health Management:
Last but not least, managing your health is key. It’s important to follow my doctor’s orders, take my medicine at the right time, stay on top of my appointments, track symptoms, complete my monthly self exams, and so on. I stay organized by using my calendar, notes, and trackers!
Please remember that the aforementioned list entails some things I choose to do in order to control what I can and live a healthy lifestyle after cancer. I am not an expert and cannot confirm correlation to recurrence prevention.
I truly enjoy geeking out and learning more about this topic — I would love to know what you do to control what you can. Please feel free to contact me so we can start a discussion!
Breast regards,
Michelle
P.S. The 8 episodes in my F*** Cancer F*** Fear series are linked below:
Episode 3: We Have Different DNA
Episode 4: Your Doctor and the Red Devil
