It will take some time to recover from the physical and emotional changes caused by your treatment. Side effects can vary. Some people will experience just a few side effects, while others will have more.
Learn more about:
- Looking after yourself
- Lymphoedema
- Cording
- Nerve pain
- Hair loss
- Thinking and memory changes
- Breast prostheses
- Changes to body image and sexuality
- Menopause and infertility
Looking after yourself
Cancer can cause physical and emotional strain, so it’s important to look after your wellbeing. Cancer Council has free booklets and programs to help you during and after treatment. Call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 to find out more
Learn more about: Managing cancer side effects, Exercise for people living with cancer, Complementary therapies, Emotions and cancer, Nutrition and cancer, Sex, intimacy and cancer, Fertility and cancer, Cancer, work you and Living well after cancer.
How staying active can help
You may think it’s important to rest during treatment and recovery, but research shows that exercise benefits most people at this time. There is also strong evidence that exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer returning.
Being active can also help manage side effects such as tiredness, improve circulation, boost mood, and speed up recovery. Exercise reduces the risk of weight gain, which is associated with some treatments. An accredited exercise physiologist or physiotherapist can develop a program to suit you.
Learn more about exercise for people living with cancer
Alternative therapies are therapies used instead of conventional medical treatments. They are unlikely to be scientifically tested, may prevent successful treatment of the cancer and can be harmful. Cancer Council does not recommend the use of alternative therapies as a cancer treatment.
More resources
A/Prof Cindy Mak, Breast Surgeon and Director of Breast Services, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Nick Murray, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Adelaide Hospital and GenesisCare Adelaide, SA; Caroline Bennett, Consumer; Tamara Casey, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Assessment Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; A/Prof Joe Dusseldorp, Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Lauren Lores, Consumer; Dr Linda Madigan, Breast Physician, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Catherine Meredith, Consumer; Ash Mondolo, Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mater Private Hospital, QLD; Chris Rivett, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Catrina Ross, McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW; Prof Christobel Saunders AO, James Stewart Chair of Surgery and Director of Research, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; A/Prof Yvonne Zissiadis, Radiation Oncologist, Medical Director, GenesisCare WA and Adjunct A/Prof, Curtin University, WA.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
