Post-Cancer Surgery Recovery: Supporting Physical and Emotional Healing

Cancer surgery can often be incredibly taxing on your emotional and physical well-being. Surgery is used to remove as much of your cancer as possible, turning you from a patient to a survivor. After your operation, you’ll likely be eager to get back to normal life as quickly as possible.

To aid recovery and get back on your feet quickly, it is essential to look after both your physical and emotional well-being. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and neglecting one may set your recovery back.

Today, we’ll explore how to recover effectively and quickly after cancer surgery, including practical tips and how Country Cousins can help manage some of the burden.

Understanding Post-Cancer Treatment Care

Post-cancer treatment care is a holistic approach that can be used after surgery to help survivors regain strength, health, and overall wellness. A structured care plan fosters resilience and boosts confidence moving forward, letting you embrace a fulfilling life beyond cancer.

Recovering correctly post-operation is essential for cancer patients. It can take time, especially if you’ve had other treatments alongside surgery, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Your care plan should enhance quality of life while addressing potential complications, boosting energy levels and supporting emotional stability.

Post-cancer treatment care helps you regain a sense of normalcy after your surgery, with every day feeling closer to the end goal of complete recovery. It can also minimise risk to prevent recurrence. At Country Cousins, our Cancer Care service supports patients before, during and after treatment to ensure your physical and emotional well-being is cared for throughout the entire process.

Supporting Physical Recovery Post Cancer Surgery

The recovery period will depend on your individual surgery and your physical health prior to the operation. Your healthcare provider will have provided you with instructions on how to care for your wound, drains, and medication after surgery. However, physical recovery often extends beyond this and can be aided by adopting correct daily living practices.

Here are some practical tips to support your recovery physically post-surgery:

Focus On Nutrition

What you eat after surgery plays a big role in recovery. Post-op nutrition has the power to aid the regeneration of cells, strengthen muscles and the immune system, and boost energy levels to make you feel better in a shorter period of time.

Foods to focus on during recovery include:

• Antioxidants: Help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and support tissue repair, which is crucial for healing after cancer surgery. Focus on leafy greens and brightly coloured fruits.
• Vitamins and minerals: Foods with essential nutrients strengthen the immune system, promote wound healing and aid in energy production. Add a variety of fruits and vegetables to your diet to get the most vitamins and minerals.

• Lean protein: Supports muscle repair and tissue regeneration, and keeps your muscles strong throughout recovery by providing amino acids needed for healing. Chicken, turkey, fish, tofu and eggs are excellent sources of lean protein.

• Whole grains: Whole grains boost long-lasting energy stores and supply important nutrients like fibre, B vitamins, and iron to help support digestion and strength. Think brown rice, quinoa and whole wheat bread.

• Probiotic-rich foods: Probiotics are important for a healthy gut microbiome, which improves digestion, boosts immunity and makes it easier for the body to absorb important nutrients. Good sources of probiotics include yogurt with live cultures, kefir and sauerkraut.

Foods to avoid include highly processed foods, excessive red meat, sugary foods and drinks, and alcohol. These can cause inflammation in the body and slow down the healing process, making you feel worse in the long run.

Exercise and Physical Activity

While physical activity may be the last thing on your mind after surgery, it’s an essential part of the process to help you rebuild strength and improve your mental health. Ask your healthcare provider when you’re able to start adding movement back into your routine, and start slowly as soon as possible.

Light exercise, such as walking or yoga, boosts circulation, encourages improved energy levels and aids muscle recovery. Getting out and about, even slowly at first, is beneficial for both mental and emotional regulation. Always listen to your body and don’t overdo it too soon, as pushing your body before it’s ready can negatively affect your recovery.

Manage Your Side Effects

Even when cancer surgery is effective, it may still leave persistent side effects to manage throughout your recovery. These can leave you feeling sluggish and unmotivated, negatively impacting your emotional well-being. Keeping track of your side effects can make overall recovery easier and more manageable, especially if the road ahead is long.

Here are some of the most common side effects of cancer surgery and how to alleviate them:

• Fatigue 

Extreme tiredness is a common issue after surgery, but it can be mitigated with a consistent sleep schedule, staying hydrated, and resting enough throughout the day. Nutrient-rich foods and gentle exercise can also help improve your energy levels. Some fatigue lasts for a few days as the drugs used in your operation work their way out of your body.

• Pain
  

Most types of surgery come with a degree of pain and discomfort, but this should get better each day post-surgery. To manage this side effect, ensure you stay on top of your prescribed medication and gradually increase movement to improve circulation and promote healing. Relaxation techniques are also effective for pain management, especially deep breathing and gentle stretching. 

• Nausea and lack of appetite

Nausea is a common side effect of anaesthesia and pain medications used during most types of surgery. The stress you’ve likely been feeling leading up to your surgery may also have had a negative impact on your digestive system, reducing your appetite. To counter this, eat small meals frequently, drink herbal teas to calm nausea and avoid strong smells or greasy foods.

• Fluid retention

Inflammation from your surgery may cause fluid retention, especially if your surgeon had to use a large amount of fluids during the procedure. The lymphatic system may have been disrupted during the surgery, temporarily lessening its effectiveness. Elevate the area to reduce swelling, gently massage the edema and avoid salty foods.

Supporting Emotional Recovery Post Cancer Surgery

Throughout recovery, emotional recovery is just as important as physical health. Mental and physical effects have a direct correlation with each other, so neglecting one impacts the other. However, emotional recovery often isn’t as focused on, which can leave you confused as to why you’re feeling worse for longer.

To aid your emotional recovery after post-cancer surgery, consider the following:

Coping with Emotional Changes

Contrary to popular belief, the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis doesn’t end with surgery. Many people experience anxiety and depression as they adjust to life without cancer due to the fear of relapse or feelings of isolation and uncertainty. After prolonged cancer treatment, it’s common to experience a ‘void-like’ feeling, like something is missing. This can impact your sense of identity and self-perception.

It’s important to remember that this is a normal and common experience. Therapy can be incredibly beneficial when navigating emotional changes after surgery. If you’d prefer to navigate the changes alone at home, journaling or engaging in creative activities, such as painting and music, can be healthy coping mechanisms for expressing your feelings.

Practicing Mindfulness

Stress management is crucial for long-term wellness and can be particularly beneficial after cancer surgery. There are several mindfulness techniques to try, such as:

• Deep breathing 

Deep breathing techniques are an incredibly effective method of mindfulness, helping to calm the nervous system, reduce feelings of anxiety and promote relaxation. There are plenty of guided deep breathing routine videos online, or you could create your own routine by breathing in through your nose for 4 seconds, holding for 2 seconds, and exhaling gently through your mouth for 6 seconds. Repeat as often as necessary.

• Gratitude practice

Many cancer patients find gratitude practice an effective way of managing the emotional toll their treatment has had on them. The practice shifts focus from pain and fear to appreciation. This can improve your mood and reshape the way you feel towards your cancer completely, giving yourself a sense of freedom and closure. Every day, take three things you’re grateful for and write them down, such as supportive loved ones, favourite meals and moments of calm.

• Guided imagery

Guided imagery is a great way of reducing stress and pain by engaging the imagination with healing visuals. For best results, stick with guided imagery and practice it a few times a day to ensure you’re getting the full experience. Listen to a recorded script or visualise calming scenes, such as a beach or light surrounding your surgical site.

• Mindful walking

Walking is an incredibly beneficial way to clear your mind and ease stress. It can also boost energy levels and support physical recovery. Simply walk slowly, focusing on your breath, the movement of your feet and the sensations in and around your body. Choosing a beautiful spot to walk can also improve mindfulness, such as a duck pond, a local park, or even a woodland trail.

Support Groups and Loved Ones

The importance of support from loved ones can’t be overstated, so connecting with friends and family is incredibly important post-surgery. If you don’t have a strong support system, support groups are another way to connect with like-minded people who have been through similar challenges to you. Support groups are available either online or in person, depending on your preference.

Group therapy sessions allow you to share experiences, gain fresh perspectives and insights. You can meet people with inspirational stories to encourage you to keep fighting, and even encourage others with your resilience.

Adequate support from friends and family members plays a pivotal role in emotional healing by offering a safe space to navigate post-surgical challenges and feelings surrounding your cancer. Creating reliable plans with loved ones can act as healthy coping mechanisms, improving emotional well-being long after your surgical recovery is finished.

How Country Cousins Can Help

Country Cousins prides itself on offering tailored, bespoke care to those who need it most. Our reablement care at home service not only provides assistance with daily living activities, such as dressing, bathing and cooking, but also support during your recovery.

We’ll match you with a fully trained, compassionate carer who has experience in your specific situation, ensuring your care plan is as accurate as possible to meet your needs. We’ll focus on both physical and emotional recovery, offering companionship and emotional support as needed.

Ways we can support your recovery include:

• Mobility assistance to lower your risk of falling and hospital readmission
• Light housekeeping, giving you more time to relax and recover
• Cooking nutritious meals to aid recovery
• Encouragement of social activities, hobbies and gentle exercise
• Emotional support for you and your loved ones

Talk to Our Team Today

As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.