Taking care of yourself
Everyone is different, and so it is best to deal with the
physical and emotional impact of pancreatic cancer and treatment in
whatever way you feel works for you.
Take time to rest
You will feel tired. Make sure that you rest and if you feel
increasingly tired think about restricting your usual activities.
See if family and friends can help and if you have a job you may
wish to consider reducing your workload and the amount of time you
work.
Feeling sick
It is very common to feel sick or nauseous either because of the
effect of the cancer itself or from chemotherapy drugs. It can be
very unpleasant and you do not need to suffer unnecessarily. There
are ways to control sickness, see our FAQ on treatments
for nausea for more information. You should also talk to your
doctor who will be able to discuss the best approach which might
include taking anti-sickness medication.
There are other remedies that might help alongside the
anti-sickness medication:
- Ginger - any way that suits you, in fizzy
ginger ale, freshly grated in hot water, or crystallised stem
ginger
- Peppermint - again taken anyway - mints, fresh
mint, or tea
- Anti-sickness bracelets -
also known as acupressure or seabands work because they have a hard
plastic stud on the inside which is positioned on the middle of the
inside of your wrist. The aim is to apply pressure to a specific
acupressure point that helps control or calm the vomiting centre of
your brain.
Diet
The pancreas is part of the digestive system and has an
important role in the digestion of food and regulation of
nutrients. Cancer of the pancreas will have an impact on your diet
and the way you eat and drink. For more information see our
information on diet and pancreatic
cancer.
Exercise
There is no doubt that a little exercise is good for everyone.
The benefits of light gentle exercise include:
- Helps to reduce feeling of fatigue and tiredness
- Helps speed up recovery
- Improves mood and boosts self-confidence
- Helps improve your overall health and may reduce the risk of
cancer recurring
It is okay to start exercise as soon as you comfortable, however
you should check with your doctor first.
The following types of exercise can help:
- Stretching - if you are not ready for more vigorous forms of
exercise, 10 - 15 minutes of stretching exercises a day is a very
good place to start
- Aerobic exercise - brisk walking or swimming will help build up
your cardiovascular fitness
- Resistance (weights) exercise - many cancer patients lose
muscle after treatment but gain fat. This type of exercise helps to
restore muscle
If you were already active before your cancer then keep it up.
If you haven't been active start gently and slowly but do
something. Try to find something that you enjoy and see if you can
get a friend or family member to keep you company. Read Trace Allen's story to
see the benefits of exercise.
Relaxation techniques
Being diagnosed with cancer and then having to undergo long and
unpleasant treatment can be both a stressful and painful
experience. Learning techniques that help you to relax will allow
you to cope with the stress, pain and any anxiety. Relaxing reduces
muscle tension, decreases heart rate, lowers blood pressure and
reduces the rate of breathing. This in turn will allow you to feel
calm, still and in control.
Simple techniques at home such as having a warm bath,
visualising a place that has made you happy and content, listening
to soothing music or deep breathing will all help.
Join our discussion boards
You are not alone. There are many other people who are going
through similar experiences. Cancer can be overwhelming and often
you don't want to bother your doctor with what seems like trivial
questions. Or you forget to ask the right questions because just
being with a doctor makes you dry up!
Pancreatic Cancer UK runs a website discussion forum for people affected
by pancreatic cancer. This is a place where patients, carers and
others can find or exchange information, share experiences and
provide mutual support.
Counselling
Being diagnosed with cancer or caring for someone with cancer
can have a huge emotional impact and be difficult to cope with. You
may find it helpful to seek some counselling support where you can
have a place to talk about your feelings and develop some coping
strategies. To find a local counsellor you can visit the
Counselling Directory website