Finding Balance after Breast Cancer
23.07.14 / Uncategorized / Author: admin
I haven’t written for a while. Life has been very hectic. But I was lying in bed the other morning and I thought to myself “I’ve had Breast Cancer. I’ve beaten Cancer!” And it made me have a look at what I’ve been doing for the past 9 months, what has changed and how I keep myself as stress-free as possible.
While I’m employed at the same company, I’m working with a different company and with an end client I’ve not worked with before. Pretty much like starting in a new job – where you know very little. Stress-City! But in the 2 months or so that I’ve been there, I’m quite proud to say that I haven’t let myself get too stressed. It’s hard work to do that! There was one day when I ended up with a revolting migraine and then had to take stock. What had changed?
I had stopped doing my 10 minutes of meditation each morning.
I had stopped walking/jogging with the dogs daily.
I had stopped doing my affirmations.
I had stopped eating as well as I had previously.
I was not being as diligent in writing my daily gratitude list.
Basically I had fallen back into pre-Cancer old habits, and add to that a stressful work environment, and here comes the Migraine. My head was still physically sore for the next 2 days!
I’m doing everything I can to keep myself as stress-free as possible, as I fully believe stress is what gave me my Breast Cancer. And I sure don’t want it again.
Everyone finds balance differently. What I’m finding is working for me is the following, and I don’t always do each of these every day:
- Write 5 things each morning that I am grateful for
- Do 10 minutes of meditation (I have a number of apps on my phone that I use)
- 30 minutes of exercise (some upper body weights to keep my arm and scar in good shape and some additional exercises for my neck)
- 20-30 minutes of walking the dogs (sometimes I jog this, depends on how cold it is outside!)
- I have my affirmations laminated and hanging on the outside of the shower screen, so that I can say them every morning. Unless I don’t shower (!), this ALWAYS gets done.
- Spend the first 15-30 minutes on a Monday at work planning my week and then 10 minutes each day. I find this really focuses me.
- Bring my own lunch to work. That way I’m not tempted away from my healthy eating. I also have lots of good snacks for during the day, and my teabags.
- Try to drink 3 litres of water a day. This is REALLY difficult. I’ve worked out that I have to have 4 of the 750ml drink bottle, but it is still quite a challenge to drink that much water.
- Do a set of my Tai Chi (www.taoist.org.au). This only takes 15 minutes and 100% resets me after a long, hard, trying day. I simply cannot think about anything else when I’m doing my Tai Chi.
- Say my additional affirmations each night just before bed.
Wow, when I write that all out it seems like a lot, but like anything, it’s just a matter of making it a habit. Check out this book ‘Why People Fail’ by Siimon Reynolds, as it was something I had started using prior to my diagnosis, but really helps keep you focused on what is important. His website is www.siimonreynolds.com
Since my diagnosis and treatment, I have had 3 women I know, all with dense breast tissue, go through their own journeys. Luckily they were all clear, but it just goes to show: having Dense breasts is really prevalent. Two of these friends had MRIs to confirm no cancer, and one also had a core biopsy.
The third had a core biopsy, and while the pathology suggested it was ‘a-typical’, she opted for a lumpectomy to remove those cells. No further treatment required other than ongoing vigilance.
After your diagnosis, do whatever will work for you to find balance and as stress-free environment as possible. If any of my balance items help you, then that is great!
Keep Positive. Keep Balanced.
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