After breast cancer treatment, a healthy lifestyle is essential. You can improve your health by eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. Many studies have shown that being overweight can raise your risk for breast cancer recurrence and reduce the effectiveness of hormone therapy.

At Sylvester, our registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, and physical therapists can help you live a healthier lifestyle. We offer personalized treatment, education, support, and encouragement to let you feel your best.

Healthy eating after breast cancer

As a breast cancer survivor, you don’t need to stop eating any particular foods. Instead, focus on a healthy diet that’s:

• High in lean protein, including chicken, fish, beans, or nuts
• High in fiber from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
• Low in simple carbohydrates like sugar, white bread, or white rice
• Low in trans fats and saturated fats from animal products

Our nutrition specialists can develop a personalized, nutritious diet that includes foods you enjoy.

Exercise for breast cancer survivors

After you finish treatment, you should ease into exercise gradually. Talk to your doctor first to make sure you’re ready to begin exercising. Ultimately, you should build up to 30 to 45 minutes of exercise at least three days a week. This helps you maintain a healthy weight and lowers your risk for breast cancer recurrence.

Choose activities you enjoy, whether that’s walking, doing yoga, taking classes at the gym, or lifting weights. Start with short walks or other non-impact exercises. You can adjust your routine to your level of fitness as you heal. If you need help getting started, our exercise oncology programs can help.

If you have joint pain – either as a side effect of hormone therapy or age-related – do low-impact activities that don’t stress your joints. Choose exercises like yoga, swimming, water aerobics, or biking.