Stage 4 breast most cancers didn’t cease this Singapore musician

Being identified with most cancers may be terrifying however these fears may be managed, mentioned Dr Peter Ang, senior advisor medical oncologist at OncoCare Cancer Centre.

“Understanding the risks, options and next steps help one manage those fears. These include regular follow‑ups, maintaining healthy lifestyle choices and having psychosocial support,” he mentioned.

Myth: Once you’ve gotten most cancers, life as you knew it involves a halt

Because many imagine that stress causes most cancers, some sufferers could drastically reduce on actions they view as stress-inducing. But Dr Ang mentioned stress has not been immediately confirmed to trigger most cancers though power stress can produce other oblique results on well being and remedy outcomes, which sufferers ought to focus on with their physician.

It helps to re-evaluate schedules, priorities and life targets to handle stress and guarantee sufficient relaxation but it surely’s not essential to drop work, caregiving and socialising.

In truth, for a lot of sufferers, persevering with with actions and being rooted in social roles could present an vital emotional anchor for his or her most cancers journey, he mentioned.

Myth: I ought to keep away from train

In most instances, mild train equivalent to brief walks or stationary biking assist to take care of health, help circulation, cut back fatigue, enhance temper and deal with the unintended effects of remedy, mentioned Dr Ang.

Patients ought to focus on with their oncologist how a lot and what train to do. For instance, these present process chemotherapy could undergo intervals of fatigue adopted by restoration throughout every cycle, so oncologists can suggest how one can enable sufficient restoration time earlier than exercising.

However, sufferers ought to cease exercising in the event that they expertise chest ache, dizziness or shortness of breath, Dr Ang added.

Myth: Sugar feeds most cancers, so I need to minimize it out fully

Like all cells, most cancers cells want power to develop and multiply, which they get from glucose and different sources.

Will slicing out dietary glucose cease its development? Dr Ang says that’s a fantasy. “No clinical trial has shown that this shrinks tumour cells or improves survival,” he mentioned.

“Moreover, it is impossible to eliminate glucose from the diet completely as it provides the primary energy source for cells, particularly the brain.

“So it is not possible to starve cancer cells without affecting normal cells. Ultimately, this weakens the patient without meaningfully slowing the cancer,” he defined.

However, post-menopausal ladies are suggested to keep away from extreme weight acquire as that is related to the next danger of breast most cancers. Studies present that weight acquire of greater than 5-10 kg, or 5-10 per cent of physique weight after menopause, sustained over years can enhance breast most cancers danger.