Life After Breast Cancer: Restore your physical and emotional well-being
(October 3, 2013) Beating breast cancer can feel like an all-consuming effort. After triumphing, it’s time for patients to reclaim their quality of life. While post-recovery is an exciting time to restore balance and to focus on feeling good again, it’s also a time when patients may feel overwhelmed by the physical and emotional challenges that lie ahead, experts say.
A breast care navigator from the Inova Breast Care Institute at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital is there to guide the patient through the recovery process and to connect her with resources that can help her feel energized, rejuvenated and confident about her body.
“Often, the most challenging time can be post-treatment when a patient no longer is seeing caregivers on a regular basis,” says breast care navigator Gale Towery, RN , BSN, OCN . “The breast care navigator has the privilege of helping patients direct their future healthcare and regain their overall health and well-being.”
Taking Small Steps
Exercise is an important aspect of your recovery, says Towery. Whether you prefer walking, biking, swimming or practicing yoga, a little bit of fitness boosts your energy level, improves your mood and helps you keep your weight under control. To make lasting changes, Towery recommends starting slowly and then gradually adding to your routine.
“Studies have shown that even taking a 15- to 20-minute walk three times a week can help with fatigue,” says Towery. As you regain your strength, she adds, try to increase your exercise regimen to five days per week.
Design a Diet
During your treatment, you may have gained or lost weight. To help you achieve your optimal weight, nutrition educators at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital are available for outpatient appointments to design a diet plan tailored to your tastes and needs.
“Nutrition is very important in getting your strength and energy back,” says Karen Via, MS, RD , nutrition educator with Weight Loss Services at Fair Oaks Hospital. “We assess each patient’s current eating patterns and talk about portion sizes and consuming plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. If a patient has a lack of appetite, we talk about ways they can sneak calories in.”
Help Along the Way
There are many resources who can provide assistance upon a diagnosis of breast cancer. A breast care navigator and genetic counselor can be valuable parts of your treatment and survivorship journey. Gale Towery, RN, BSN, OCN, breast care navigator with Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, provides education and support to patients navigating their healing journey.
“Since my background is direct patient care in administering chemotherapy and working in radiation oncology, I have the unique perspective of side effects and what patients may experience,” say Towery, a nurse for more than three decades.
Cassidi Kalejta, who recently joined Inova Fair Oaks Hospital as a genetic counselor, consults with people who are deciding if they should get tested for genetic mutations that may predispose them to cancer. Nearly all of the cases involve people who are tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes.
“They need to be armed with information upfront,” she says. “The information could affect the entire family. Once they have the information, they can make the autonomous decision of whether to take the test — for themselves. Some people ultimately elect not to do the testing.”
The issue of genetic testing has been in the spotlight recently after actress Angelina Jolie disclosed that she opted for a double mastectomy upon learning that she tested positive for a BRCA mutation.
“Everybody should be aware of his or her family history,” she advises. “Sharing information is really good to do. It’s better to know than not to know. If you know you can do something.”
To find our more about breast cancer and breast care services at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, visit inovabreastcare.org or call 703.391.4673.
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