Among the common malignancies, breast cancer has a relatively high 5-year survival rate.
year survival rate is relatively high. After achieving long-term survival, patients need not only long-term medical care and rehabilitation services, but also guidance on daily living to develop and adhere to a healthy lifestyle that will improve treatment outcomes and enhance quality of life.
The role of physicians is crucial in guiding breast cancer patients to improve their lifestyles. So what should all patients be informed about?
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
1. Assess weight every 3 months to determine whether the weight range is normal, underweight, overweight or obese.
Breast cancer patients should try to achieve a normal weight range (i.e., a body mass index of 18.5 to 23.9 kg/m2) after treatment is completed.
3.For breast cancer patients who are already overweight and obese, it is recommended to reduce dietary energy intake and receive individualized exercise weight reduction guidance.
4. For patients who are in malnutrition or underweight status after aggressive anti-cancer treatment, they must be evaluated by a specialist physician and dietitian to develop and implement a nutritional improvement plan. It is recommended that such patients perform certain physical activities to help improve physical function and gain weight, but high-intensity strenuous exercise should be avoided.
Regular participation in physical activities
1. After the completion of the phase of anti-tumor treatment, consult your specialist for advice on physical activity and physical exercise, including when to start, the intensity of exercise, and the type of exercise. Every 3 to 6 months
Every 3-6 months, consult a specialist or a professional sports instructor to evaluate the current physical activity and sports status and obtain suggestions for improvement.
Breast cancer patients should avoid a sedentary lifestyle after diagnosis and return to their daily physical activities as soon as possible before diagnosis.
Adults aged 18-64 years with breast cancer should be physically active for at least 150 min of moderate intensity exercise (roughly 30 min five times a week) or 75 min of vigorous aerobic exercise.
Strength training (resistance exercises for large muscle groups) at least 2 times a week. Exercise in sets of 10 min, preferably every day.
4. Age >65
Elderly breast cancer patients >65 years old should follow the above recommendations as much as possible. If they have a chronic disease that limits their mobility, adjust the exercise time and intensity according to the physician’s instruction, but avoid prolonged inactivity.
Proper nutrition and diet
1.Diverse food, cereal-based
(1) The daily diet should include cereals and potatoes, vegetables and fruits, livestock, poultry, meat, eggs and milk, soybeans and nuts. The average daily intake of at least 12 kinds of food, at least 25 kinds per week.
(2) Daily intake of cereals and potatoes 5 to 8 servings (250 to 400 g), including 1 to 3 servings of whole grains and legumes (50 to 150 g), 1 to 2 servings of potatoes (50 to 100 g).
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2, eat more fruits and vegetables, dairy, soy
(1) meals have vegetables, to ensure daily intake of 300 ~ 500 g of vegetables, dark vegetables should account for 1/2.
(2) Eat fruit every day, to ensure daily intake of 200 ~ 350 g of fresh fruit, fruit juice can not replace fresh fruit.
(3) Eat a variety of dairy products, equivalent to 300 g of liquid milk per day.
(4) often eat soy products, eat nuts in moderation.
3, eat fish, poultry, eggs, lean meat in moderation
(1) Eat 280-525 g of fish, 280-525 g of livestock and poultry meat and 280-350 g of eggs per week, with an average daily intake of 120-200 g in total.
(2) Give priority to fish and poultry.
(3) Eat eggs without abandoning the yolk.
(4) Eat less fatty meat, smoked and cured meat foods.
4, less salt and less sugar, drink enough water
(1) Develop a light diet, and eat less salt and fried foods. Adults do not exceed 6 g of salt per day, 25-30 g of cooking oil per day.
(2) Control the intake of added sugar, not more than 50 g per day, preferably below 25 g.
(3) Drink enough water, 7 to 8 cups (1500 to 1700 ml) per day for adults, promote drinking plain water and tea, and do not drink or drink less sugary drinks.
Use health care products carefully
Patients with breast cancer should try to get the necessary nutrients from the diet; consider taking nutrient supplements only when clinical manifestations or biochemical indicators suggest nutrient deficiency; when patients cannot get enough nutrients from food and the intake is only 2/3 of the recommended amount, consider taking supplements.
Nutrient supplements can be considered when the patient is unable to consume enough nutrients from food and the intake is only 2/3 of the recommended amount; such diagnosis should be made by a dietitian.
Smoking and alcohol cessation
Patients with breast cancer are advised to avoid smoking, passive smoking, and ethanol intake as much as possible.