According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than one million Americans are currently living with melanoma. While a melanoma diagnosis can turn your life upside down, there are some lifestyle changes to manage melanoma.

Eat a healthy diet
Eating a healthy diet is good if you have melanoma, but it also helps make your immunity stronger. Eating healthily can help your body absorb nutrients so it can heal fast from whatever treatment you are receiving. You can consult a dietician to make a diet plan so you consume all the necessary foods that can help manage melanoma.

Exercise daily
Exercise is another lifestyle change you should prioritize. You want to make exercise a routine part of your life as it has numerous benefits. Your treatment can affect your stamina, so keep that in mind before you begin to exercise. You should always consult your doctor before you begin a new exercise regime.

Protect your skin
One of the lifestyle changes to manage melanoma is to protect your skin because you are at a higher risk. You want to avoid spending time out between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You should always apply sunscreen before you go outside. You want to cover your body as much as possible and wear sunglasses when you go outside. Getting regular checkups are key.

Keep infection at bay
When you are diagnosed with melanoma and are getting treatment for the same, your immune system isn’t as strong as it once used to be. This means it becomes easy for you to catch infections. You can take precautions to stay safe from infections such as by washing hands often, disinfecting your house regularly, and getting vaccinated.

Speak to your doctor openly
A melanoma diagnosis and treatment can be intimidating, and so you should speak to your doctor if you are experiencing problems of any type. For example, you might receive treatments that affect your sex life. In such cases, speaking to your doctor about specific problems you are experiencing and finding solutions to these problems can help.

Manage stress
One of the lifestyle changes to manage melanoma is stress management. Your diagnosis will affect you mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you feel you have symptoms of anxiety, depression, or stress, then you should try stress management techniques. Some techniques such as listening to calming music, speaking to a counselor, keeping a journal, and reading a book can help.

Control how you react
While speaking to other people such as your family and friends can help you feel better, you will likely be on the receiving end of comments and questions that are inappropriate. You don’t want that to take a toll on your mental health. It would help if you changed the subject or ask them to read more about it to educate themselves.

Quit smoking
Smoking slows down the healing process, and it can cause additional problems when you are getting treated for melanoma. If you smoke regularly, then it is best to reduce and then quit smoking slowly. When you do so, your immune system will improve, and you will respond better to melanoma treatment. You can talk to your doctor about quitting.

Quit alcohol
Quitting alcohol is one of the lifestyle changes to manage melanoma. Alcohol can slow down the rate at which harmful chemicals are broken down by your body, and this can increase the risk of other types of cancers too. When you drink alcohol and smoke, the risk of cancer increases manifolds, and so it is best to avoid drinking altogether.