Many cancer survivors experience symptoms that do not go away once treatment finishes. Commonly reported post-treatment symptoms include sleep disturbance, pain, lack of strength, neuropathy, changes in appetite, and menopause. They can affect cancer survivors’ quality of life and prevent regaining normal life.

Our cancer care nurses at the JCICC Survivorship Clinic can provide useful tips for symptom management and make referrals to programs at JCICC or our community partners.

Please refer to Symptom Management for more information.

Consuming a healthy diet is an important part of health maintenance. Although there are no special diet or food that can directly cause or cure cancer, a balanced diet and healthy weight can help lower the risk of cancer recurrence, as well as other chronic conditions:

• Maintain a healthy weight with diet and exercise. If you are overweight after completing treatments, any reduction in weight will benefit your health;
• Consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. One serving is one medium sized fruit or half a bowl of cooked vegetables.
• Choose whole grain products whenever possible.
• Do not eat too much red meat - eat pork, beef, and lamb for no more than 2-3 times per week. Choose fish, poultry or plant based protein, such as legumes and soy products like tofu; and
• Avoid processed food and sugary drinks.

At the JCICC Survivorship Clinic, our dietitians will evaluate your dietary record, give you personalized advice for long-term health maintenance and answer any questions you have.

Being physically active during and after treatment is important for both physical and emotional wellbeing. Research shows that it can improve symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety and help maintain health of the heart, immune system and decrease risks of cancer coming back.

Engaging in different types of exercise can help regain physical functioning after surgery and cancer treatments:

• Aerobic exercises can be split into 5-10 minutes interval. Aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (such as brisk walking and cycling) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (such as running, swimming, and aerobic dance) per week.
• Strength and balance training works on all major muscle groups. Aim to do these at least twice a week.
• Flexibility training (stretching) on a daily basis is recommended. It can help restore range of motions in joints after surgery. Stretch the target muscle to the point of tightness and hold for 10-30 seconds.

Simple tips

• Always warm up before exercise and end with a 3-5 minutes cool-down section to bring heart rate down.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
• Add variety to your exercise routine or increase resistance every few weeks to prevent boredom and ensure that you continue to progress.

At the JCICC Survivorship Clinic, our exercise physiologists will assess your physical fitness level, give you personal suggestions to improve your physical functioning and make referrals to classes if necessary.

JCICC regularly uploads exercise videos, in our Social Media channel. User can try out easily indoor.

Patients at the JCICC Survivorship Clinic may have the opportunity to have a consultation with a social worker or clinical psychologist regarding their psychosocial concerns in relation to the cancer experience. Common problems faced by cancer survivors include emotional difficulties, relationship problems, financial troubles, and job-related issues. The consultation aims to equip patients with the information, service or support, ensuring that best treatment outcomes could be achieved.