You can improve your quality of life if you’re living with MBC. There are ways to manage your pain, support groups to join, and hobbies to enjoy. Read on for more tips.

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) can affect your overall quality of life and make day-to-day living challenging.

Quality of life encompasses more than just physical health. It includes emotional well-being, ability to function in daily roles, sexual function, levels of pain and fatigue, and even financial security.

Though managing your diagnosis may require more effort at times, here are a few changes you can make to improve your quality of life.

You may experience pain from MBC itself or your treatments. But you don’t have to live in constant pain.

Before the pain gets severe, schedule an appointment with a palliative care and pain specialist. Your oncologist can refer you.

Be prepared to explain your pain thoroughly, including how it feels and its location. A pain specialist will ask questions about your symptoms to determine what’s causing it.

Depending on your answers, a pain specialist may recommend:

  • surgery, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy to shrink a tumor that may be pressing against nerves or other organs
  • medications for neuropathic pain
  • an anesthetic or steroid injected into or around a nerve to block pain
  • over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve)
  • opioid pain medications like morphine or oxycodone (OxyContin)
  • bone-strengthening treatments like bisphosphonates or denosumab (Xgeva, Prolia) to reduce the pain from bone metastases
  • antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or duloxetine (Cymbalta) to help with neuropathic pain
  • local anesthetics like a lidocaine patch
  • physical therapy
  • massage therapy

Getting a good night’s sleep can seem impossible when you’re faced with the stress of a cancer diagnosis.

A few changes can help with insomnia and get you the rest you need.

Sleeping well can also help reduce daily fatigue and stress. Practicing good “sleep hygiene” and creating a bedtime routine can help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

A few tips for a better sleep routine are:

  • go to bed and get up at the same time each day
  • keep your bedroom cool and dark
  • turn off all screens at least an hour before bedtime
  • keep electronics out of the bedroom completely
  • avoid eating a large meal before bedtime
  • take a warm bath before bed
  • avoid alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, especially at night

It’s important to take care of your mental health in addition to your physical health.

Up to 1 in 4Trusted Source people with cancer receive a diagnosis of clinical depression, according to the American Cancer Society.

Allow yourself the necessary time to focus on your mental health.

Consider scheduling an appointment to speak with a counselor or mental health professional, especially if you’re feeling sadness or hopelessness that doesn’t go away.

Living with cancer can cause a great deal of stress. Stress can make your fatigue worse and lead to anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.

Examples of ways to reduce stress include:

It can be comforting to interact with others experiencing some of the same things you are. Being social can lift your mood and improve your emotional health and quality of life.

Support groups can also give you important information and advice that you might not get from your doctor.

Support groups can be in person, online, or by telephone.

Check out:

Smartphone applications, if you have a smartphone, are available to help track your medications and appointments.

The CareZone app is an excellent way to stay on top of your medications. The app can:

  • scan a drug label directly and automatically know the name, dose, and other details
  • send reminders for taking medication
  • let you know when it’s time to refill a prescription

You can also download Healthline’s free app Bezzy, which has many communities, including a breast cancer community.

Some applications, like the My Cancer Coach Mobile app, even allow you to record audio and take notes. You’ll be prepared for your next doctor’s appointment.

Apps can help manage finances, too. The NCCN Reimbursement Resource app can help you access payment assistance and reimbursement programs.

Hobbies keep you active, social, and engaged. They can also momentarily distract you from your diagnosis and any pain you’re experiencing.

Find a hobby you enjoy. Examples include:

  • painting
  • hiking
  • swimming
  • pottery
  • reading
  • knitting
  • yoga

Speak with your doctor if any medications are causing side effects affecting your daily life.

Some side effects will go away over time. Others, like nausea, headaches, hot flashes, or fatigue, can persist throughout your treatment.

Your doctor can give you tips on how to reduce these side effects with additional, complementary medications.

Reach out for help when it comes to chores. Recruit family members or hire a cleaning service.

You can take advantage of organizations like Cleaning for a Reason, which offers free cleaning services to people with cancer.

Life with MBC can be challenging and hard on your quality of life. But you can take charge of your life with MBC to improve your day-to-day living.

If you find yourself feeling extra tired, depressed, or weighed down by appointments and finances, consider some of these tips.

Despite your diagnosis, you can take steps to improve your quality of life and make managing MBC easier.