Self-Care
Whether you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer recently, long ago, are in treatment, out of treatment, or a caregiver, self-care can play an important role in your well-being.
What self-care activities have helped you the most? Do you have any self-care ideas you would like to share? Please post in the comments below!
Taking anti-anxiety meds helps. I have a good medical support team, including psychiatrist, and great surgeon and urology team. But living alone is tough. Always have been extremely independent. Learning new tools to meet this challenge—not always working. Best advice I can share is one day at a time. I try to focus on now, not past or future. Even an 81 year old can change. I text and email positive messages (something new for this previous often pessimistic person). Positive messages to grown children and friends really helps. I want to share my strength.
Hi vistadelmar!
Thanks for sharing such great advice! Taking it one day at a time can really help. I'm glad you have a supportive medical team and family, and they are so lucky to have someone like you who is willing to share their strength. I think that your story would really inspire others in the community. If you're interesting in sharing more, we would be honored to feature your story on our site here: https://bladdercancer.net/stories/. We would love to hear more about your experiences and how you cope with bladder cancer. Thanks for letting us know which self-care activities have helped you! We're so glad you're part of our community.
Take care,
Alina, BladderCancer.net Team Member
Hi vistadelmar,
I just love that your attitude is about the possibility of change at any age. We can all learn a lot from that. I am glad that you have found specific tools that help you cope. And that you have a great medical team, children, and friends. Even so, I can understand how living alone is tough. The beauty of this online community is that you come here at any hour and post a message or respond to others and find folks experiencing some of the same stuff you are. Thanks for posting and I hope you will come and share more of your story as Alina suggested😀 Either way, best wishes for good health in 2020! Best, Renata (bladdercancer.net moderator)
This is such a great discussion topic because everyone often finds their own small tools....and those can be so helpful to others. As a bladder cancer caregiver, some of my go-tos for self care included (in no particular order): naps, homemade smoothies, walks outdoors, long bath with good book, binge watching an upbeat show, yoga, cardio exercise (when frustration or anger ran high), and time with pets or other people's pets.
