🌱Wednesday Wellness - 08Apr26 - Self-care tips when living with breast cancer🌱
Breast cancer can affect your body, emotions, routines, relationships and sense of self. Self‑care is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about finding small, caring ways to support yourself through a challenging time. 🌸 Be kind to your body Rest when you need to. Fatigue is common during treatment and recovery. Eat what feels manageable. Gentle nourishment is enough. Move your body in ways that feel okay, such as stretching or short walks. Tell your healthcare team about pain, side effects or discomfort. Support is part of your care. 🧠 Look after your emotional wellbeing Allow yourself to feel whatever comes up. There is no right or wrong way to feel. Take breaks from cancer talk, news or social media when it feels overwhelming. Use grounding activities like breathing, music, journalling or time in nature. Reach out for emotional support through counselling, peer groups or helplines. 🤍 Stay connected in ways that work for you Lean on trusted people when you can. Accept offers of help with meals, transport or errands. Set boundaries and say no when your energy is low. 🌿 Honour culture, spirituality and what gives you strength Connect with culture, country, spirituality or faith in ways that feel meaningful. Creative activities such as yarning, art, music or storytelling can be comforting. Keep routines or rituals that remind you of who you are beyond cancer. 🛠 Create a simple self‑care plan Notice what helps on both good days and hard days. Keep a short list of comforts or supports you can return to. Gently replace unhelpful coping habits with supportive ones, one step at a time. Review your plan as your needs change during treatment or recovery. 🩺 Ask for help when you need it Talk with your GP, nurse, oncologist or care team about physical and emotional concerns. Seeking support is a strength and an important part of caring for yourself. The Black Dog Institute has created this handy self-care workbook - while it's not tailored for people with cancer, it forms a great basis to create your own self-care plan tailored to your circumstances. 👉 You can access the workbook here 💗 Small acts of self‑care, repeated over time, can make a meaningful difference during breast cancer.🌱Wednesday Wellness - 08July26 - The Healing Power of Music 🎵
A breast cancer diagnosis can bring with it so many emotions. Fear, uncertainty, sadness, hope, determination and everything in between. 💜 Music has a unique way of supporting us through life's challenges. A favourite song can provide comfort on difficult days, while an uplifting track can boost our mood and help us find the motivation to keep going. Music can also help us process emotions that are hard to put into words, create moments of calm during treatment and recovery, and reconnect us with happy memories and the parts of ourselves that exist beyond a breast cancer diagnosis. During treatment and recovery, many people find that music becomes more than just something to listen to. Music has a unique way of meeting us where we are. Some days that might mean listening to calming piano music while resting. Other days it might mean turning up your favourite songs and having a dance around the kitchen. 💃🕺 Ways music can support your breast cancer journey 🎧 Create a "power playlist" filled with songs that make you feel strong and empowered. 🧘 Listen to relaxing music when you're feeling anxious or having trouble sleeping. 🚶 Take a gentle walk with your favourite music or podcast. 🎤 Sing along to your favourite tunes. It's hard not to feel a little lighter after belting out a song you love! 💜 Let's share some musical inspiration Is there a song, artist or album that has helped you through your breast cancer experience? Maybe it's a song that gave you strength during treatment, brought you comfort after diagnosis, or simply made you smile when you needed it most. Share your favourites below. You never know when a song that helped you might help another member too. 🎵✨🌷 Personally, my go to power song is "So What" by Pink......it reminds me to always keep a little spice in my life, and believe in myself! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ🌱Wednesday Wellness - 01July26 - Writing it out.....📝
This Wednesday, we wanted to touch on a simple, accessible, and budget friendly self-care technique that many forget is 'write' at their fingertips... literally! ✍🏻 When you are living with breast cancer, emotions can feel layered, unexpected, and at times overwhelming. There can be moments of fear, sadness, gratitude, anger, hope, and everything in between, sometimes all in the same day. Finding a safe way to process these complicated feelings is important, and one way to do this is to write it out ✨ Journaling is not about perfect words or neat sentences. It is about giving yourself space to be honest. Putting thoughts onto paper can help untangle emotions that feel too big or too confusing to hold inside. Many people find that writing helps bring a sense of clarity, calm, and even relief. Writing can also create a sense of control when so much feels uncertain. It allows you to slow down and acknowledge what is happening internally, without judgement or pressure. Over time, it can become a way to track how you are feeling, notice patterns, and recognise your own strength and resilience. 💪💞 If you would like to try writing today, here are a few gentle prompts to support you: 📝 What feelings have been sitting with me lately? 📝 What has felt heavy, and what has felt lighter? 📝 What is something I wish others understood about how I am feeling? 📝 What has helped me cope, even in a small way? 📝 If I spoke to myself with kindness, what would I say? There is no right or wrong way to do this. You might write a few words, a paragraph, or simply jot down dot points. Every bit of expression matters. If it feels right for you, you are welcome to share a reflection or even just one word below. Your voice might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today. 🌸
