Prioritizing Personal Wellness is Crucial During Metastatic Breast Cancer With a HER2-Negative Status
Surviving with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer can often feel overwhelming, leaving individuals unsure of what to expect. Given the numerous medical appointments, vast amounts of information to process, and the aggressive nature of the disease, it's crucial to focus on self-care for improved quality of life.
Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center, underlines the importance of self-care in managing HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. This form of cancer exhibits low levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) proteins, making it challenging to treat due to its resistance to specific therapies that target HER2 receptors. As the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, treatment aims to slow its progression and reduce symptoms' severity.
According to palliative medicine specialist Dr. Nivia Ruiz, self-care is integral to the treatment process. Despite focusing on prolonging life, many patients overlook the importance of self-care, neglecting aspects that bring joy or happiness during treatment.
When considering self-care for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, Dr. Ruiz recommends addressing it in three primary areas: symptom management, lifestyle adjustments, and meaningful moments.
Incorporating self-care into symptom management involves utilizing all available supportive resources. This includes connecting with support groups, seeking help when needed, applying for financial assistance, and exploring alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and counseling, which can provide relief for symptoms like nausea and pain.
Modifying one's lifestyle becomes necessary when dealing with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. This may involve scaling back on physical activities like exercise and work, making accommodations to one's schedule to accommodate medical appointments, or reducing the frequency of certain habits, such as dining out. Adapting to these changes can be difficult, but maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on a light at the end of the tunnel can help facilitate the process.
Meaningful moments play a significant role in self-care, as they provide joy and satisfaction. These moments can be achieved through funneling self-care into passion projects, art or music therapy, painting, or pursuing hobbies that bring happiness. As the cancer progresses, self-care may evolve to incorporate different goals, such as simpler activities or assistance from one's support system.
Dr. Ruiz encourages individuals living with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer to focus on living rather than just existing and to actively engage in self-care strategies to enhance their quality of life. By prioritizing symptom management, making lifestyle adjustments, and creating meaningful moments, individuals can better cope with the challenges of their diagnosis and find joy in their lives.
- Recognizing the importance of self-care in managing HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, Cleveland Clinic emphasizes the need for individuals to focus on activities that bring joy and happiness during treatment.
- Palliative medicine specialist Dr. Nivia Ruiz advocates for addressing self-care in three primary areas: symptom management, lifestyle adjustments, and meaningful moments.
- Incorporating self-care into symptom management could mean exploring alternative therapies like acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and counseling for relief from symptoms like nausea and pain.
- Modifying one's lifestyle becomes essential when dealing with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, which may involve scaling back on physical activities, adapting schedules to accommodate medical appointments, or reducing the frequency of certain habits.
- Dr. Ruiz advises that meaningful moments, such as engaging in passion projects, art or music therapy, or pursuing hobbies, can provide joy and satisfaction for individuals living with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, helping them find a light at the end of the tunnel and improve their quality of life.
