Beyond Treatment: Lung Cancer Wellness and Support

A lung cancer diagnosis can feel like the start of a difficult and long journey that challenges your whole self—mind, body and spirit. While your Dignity Health care team focuses on treatment, we’re also here to help provide information to empower you to take charge of your everyday well-being. We go beyond treatment plans to explore practical strategies for emotional resilience, effective communication with loved ones and integrating key steps in nutrition and gentle movement into your daily life. Our commitment to humankindness means we walk with you every step of the way. By focusing on a few proactive steps, you can advocate for better control over symptoms and directly improve your overall health.

How Do I Talk to My Family and Friends About My Diagnosis?

A lung cancer diagnosis affects everyone around you. Effectively communicating with your friends and family is key to maintaining your relationships and ensuring you get the support you need, but it requires setting clear boundaries.

Coping through communication:

• Plan the conversation: Choose a calm, quiet time. Decide in advance how much detail you want to share and what you want to keep private. You do not owe anyone every medical detail.
• Set clear boundaries: People often mean well, but unwanted advice can be exhausting. It’s okay to say, "Thank you for the suggestion, but my care team and I have a plan we are following."
• Be specific with needs: Don't just say, "I need help." Give loved ones specific, actionable tasks, such as: "Could you take me to my Tuesday appointment?" or "We'd love a home-cooked meal next week." Giving them clear tasks helps them feel useful without overwhelming you.

How Can I Maintain a Good Quality of Life During Treatment?

Alongside medical treatment, small, everyday actions to manage symptoms and nurture your emotions can make life with lung cancer more manageable.

Prioritizing your well-being:

• Acknowledge and address symptoms: Treatment side effects—such as pain, nausea and fatigue—must be reported immediately to your care team. Managing these symptoms effectively is essential to improving your daily life.
• Prioritize rest: Fatigue is the most common side effect. Treat rest as part of your treatment plan. Don't push yourself through exhaustion; listen to your body's need for downtime.
• Seek emotional support: It’s normal to feel grief, anger or fear. Connect with an oncology social worker, therapist or support group. Sharing experiences with others who understand what you're going through can greatly reduce feelings of loneliness.
• Find your joy: Make time for small routines, hobbies or activities that bring you comfort and a sense of normalcy, even if you can only do them for five minutes. This helps shift your focus away from your illness.

What Dietary Changes and Exercise are Recommended?

Fueling your body with the right nutrition and engaging in gentle movement are two of the most powerful steps you can take to manage treatment side effects and build up your strength.

Empowering your body:

• Focus on nutrient-dense foods: Treatment requires high energy. Focus on a diet rich in protein and healthy fats (like avocados or nuts) to maintain weight and muscle mass. Eat small, frequent meals rather than three large ones, especially if appetite is low.
• Hydration is key: Drink plenty of water and clear liquids. This helps flush toxins, manage certain treatment side effects and maintain overall energy levels.
• Movement is medicine: Talk with your doctor or a physical therapist about getting into a gentle exercise routine. Moderate activity, such as walking or light stretching, can help combat treatment-related fatigue and improve mood. Consistency is more important than intensity.

Finding Strength and Wellness

Caring for all aspects of your personal well-being is an essential part of living well with lung cancer. Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Seek out the comprehensive support and resources available to you, such as counseling services, nurse navigators who can guide you, support groups where you can share experiences and trusted online communities like the American Lung Association or the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. Your health is our shared commitment, and your Dignity Health care team is here to partner with you on early detection and prevention with compassionate support.