Living with Lung Cancer

When living with lung cancer, you need to do all you can to stay strong. If you have not done so already, the most important thing you can do is to stop smoking. Try to maintain your weight by eating plenty of healthy food. And try to keep active. Being active helps improve both your physical and mental health. Taking these steps can also help limit certain side effects of your treatment.

Eating enough food

Try to maintain your weight. If you’re having trouble keeping weight on, eat foods that are high in protein and calories and talk with a dietitian to determine what foods would be most helpful. And talk with your health care provider if you’ve lost your appetite. In some cases, your health care provider may prescribe medicine that can help you feel like eating again.

Staying active

Physical activity is good for both your body and mind. It can help you sleep better, boost your energy, and enjoy a sense of well-being. Staying active also reduces side effects such as extreme tiredness. Try to be active by doing at least light activity every day and moderate activity 3 days a week. It is OK to push yourself some but be careful not to overdo it. Choose light or moderate activities. These include stretching, walking, swimming, or bicycling.