In honor of Breast Cancer awareness month I have extended an invite to Liz Davies, a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness, to write an article for Room For Improvement. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April.

Liz Writes:

Healthy Ways for Coping with Cancer
Facing a cancer diagnosis can be the most difficult challenge a person may ever face in his or her life. This person may question how he or she will cope with treatments and the daily mental task of remaining optimistic through this battle for recovery. In fact, doctors recommend a number of healthy ways for coping with cancer. Patients are urged to remain active and to build a strong support network of friends and family members as they progress through their cancer treatments.

Getting daily exercise proves vital in a person's fight against cancer. Scientific studies have shown that people who exercise while undergoing cancer treatments have greater survival chances than patients who do not exercise. This goes for all types of cancers including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and even rare forms like peritoneal

mesothelioma. Physical exercise encourages the body to heal itself and to fight the disease within it. It keeps a person's heart, lungs, and other vital organs healthy. It also helps the person's blood move better throughout the body. This improved circulation helps cancer medicines travel better to the areas affected by the cancer.

Many cancer patients do not have it in them to join a gym or take on a rigorous workout schedule. This is
understandable; however, it does not have to prevent them from exercising in small amounts at home. In fact, a person's home provides an ideal environment to exercise and get some physical activity. If a patient has stairs in the home, he or she can work out by climbing up two or three stairs, and then back down. This action can be repeated several times throughout the day to provide the patient with a good cardiovascular exercise. People can also walk around their living room or up and down a corridor to get exercise. Lifting objects like canned vegetablesor books provides weight lifting that can be beneficial to the person's muscles and tendons. Improvising in this manner helps people discover ways to remain fit and healthy, even if they are not able to leave their home.

While leaving one's home can be difficult during cancer treatments, it is vital that the person tries to go out into the community. Going to church, the library, or other local events helps cancer patients remember that they are part of their community and that their presence matters to others around them. This reminder helps them maintain their confidence and will to fight this disease. Support groups are also a great way for cancer patients to interact with people going through the same things.

Visiting with family members and friends also helps patients in their battle. Venting fears, frustrations, and
concerns to these individuals allows patients to vocalize their thoughts. Doctors note that penting up these
emotions only further complicates a patient's determination to fight cancer. Talking with others also provides
patients with ideas of how to remain healthy and recover from cancer.