Should I keep my normal routine during cancer treatment?

If you feel well enough, yes. The National Cancer Institute encourages people to keep up their daily routine during cancer treatment. That includes going to work, spending time with family and friends, taking part in activities, and even going on trips. Routine can offer a sense of normal life during treatment.

How much of your routine you can keep depends on your energy, your treatment schedule, and how you're feeling in body and mind. What works can shift from week to week. A routine that felt manageable early in treatment may need adjusting later, and that is normal rather than a setback. NCI also points to doing something for fun, looking for what makes you laugh, and setting goals to look forward to.

Physical activity is part of this too. Walking, swimming, yoga, or biking may give many people more energy and help control stress. Get your doctor's okay first, since what is right depends on your treatment.

Talk with your care team about which parts of your routine make sense to keep, and which might need to flex during treatment.