Exercise / Healthy Diet after BC

HIT

Hello all, I have been on the site more lately, you all help when things get you down.  Just read Stop the Bullshit and it made me put this in writing.  We all have been told (a lot) that studies show exercise and healthy diet after diog can lessen chance of reoccurrence...  I say  If we got the cancer in the first place while we were exercising and leading a healthy lifestyle WHY??   And what about all of us who struggle with living healthily as a result of the treatment undergone.. are we courting a reoccurrence??    
I was shocked while I was having treatment, I talked to many of the ladies in the chemo ward over the 16months , many of them led very healthy lifestyles,  far too many of them were way too young (Iexpected a lot of older ladies) and when you added up how busy that ward was, it really hit home the sheer numbers of people with cancers of all sorts.

Afraser

As my breast surgeon says, what causes cancer is still a mystery but we are getting a lot better at treating it. With some cancers we can say that the evidence is in, that some activity adds greatly to our risk, like smoking. But recent reports have indicated that possibly a majority of cancers are just bad luck - cells did the wrong thing. We don't fully know, but every month we seem to learn more.

Not much consolation for those who have been diagnosed. But may make a big difference for our kids. In the meantime sticking with our healthy eating, exercise, looking after ourselves regimen is unlikely to do any harm and may do us a lot of good. It's not fair, but cancer isn't a personal attack, on our minds or our bodies. Something went wrong, for whatever reason and we have to do the best we can while we find out more. 

Zoffiel

I think that this advice stems from research that shows some lifestyle choices increase the chances of getting cancer. Personally, I think some of that research is a bit wobbly, but that's the current stance. Stories that came out last week suggest it just bad luck.

I agree that when you already have the disease and have tried to look after yourself, suggestions that looking after yourself will reduce your chances of recurrence are not helpful. Trying to boil it down to something you may or may not have done in the past will do your head in.

HIT

Thankyou, you have such a sensible way of looking at things.  I suppose I was just saying I wish they would censor some of there findings, till they find more.   It can be more damaging and stressful than need be.   
On a happier note my son solved that age old question recently - what came first the chicken or the egg??  The frigging rooster that's what.  In other words Mum stop trying to find and answer for the unknown!!

melclarity

@HIT THANK YOU!!! This is something I have been saying the entire time I have been on this Forum. Nobody fits the criteria according to the experts on contributors to getting Breast Cancer. Most women were healthy and exercised but still got it. THATS WHY I say everything in moderation, if exercising makes you happy do it, if changing up your diet a little does, do that too...thats it nothing more. You always hear another food pop up that you shouldnt eat HAHA! because that causes it too. Specialists at Rehab said all of it is minority studies that its just commonsense, like everything eat a well balanced diet and exercise. It has nothing to do with Cancer or whether you'll get it again. Ive had it twice!!!! I did all the right things???!!!! ummmm haha! sorry but I agree with you. There is NO RHYME OR REASON AND IT DOESNT DISCRIMINATE Healthy fit or not... Hugs Melinda xo

fairydust

@HIT I wish there was an answer to the question why does anybody get cancer. There are so many theories. So you get to the point when you get the all clear. What next? Plenty of things to explore and do healthwise but there are no guarantees.I will probably explore a few.
I suppose live life to the fullest is not a bad idea.  So join me in a glass of wine ,cheese and crackers maybe strawberries ,grapes chocolate too. Lets toast that at this moment we are here and life is good  tomorrow is tomorrow.

primek

Yes I agree. Based on the data I shouldn't have breast cancer. In fact there isn't any lifestyle changes I even need to make....so that's no comfort. 

I personally think as data shows the average...well most women over 50 is where this is faulty.

Think about most women you know over 50...
How many of them exercise?
How many are obese (not just a few kgs)?
How many have a diet with perhaps too many refined sugars?
How many drink a few too many wines?  

So got that picture? ...yep it's a lot of women over 50.

I was 51 ...and fitted none of that ...but I was unusual amongst my peers.

So...did it cause the cancer for the others? Probably not. It's just data not actual controlled research. 

Cancer doesn't discriminate. If you have breasts you can get it...male and female.

You could say becoming grey causes breast cancer based on that really...lol

So I say...do what you can to be the healthiest you can for you.
Eat well mostly.
Exercise regularly if you are able but choose things you enjoy, even if it is just trying to move more in your day.
Enjoy indulgent foods occasionally.

But mostly,  take time for you and don't scold yourself for not being perfect. 

Will it stop breast cancer? Who knows? ...But it will ensure good general health as we age.

Kath x

Nadi

While I was going through chemo a 'friend' of mine actually said to me that I was the perfect example of what women shouldn't do and it was no wonder I got breast cancer at aged 47. After being a sports mad super fit teen and young adult, I became obese. I had an atrocious diet and there was a definite period of time in my life when  I probably had too many wines a week. It wasn't something particularly helpful for a friend to say, but not for one minute did I really believe that it was the absolute reason for my diagnosis.

My husband's step mother was 43 when she was diagnosed with the same type HER2+ grade 3 breast cancer as I had. She was a triathlete, was super healthy and she still got it. Unfortunately she died at 48, which is the same age as I am now. Even though she had bumped her healthy eating and exercise into overdrive after her initial diagnosis she still got a recurrence which spread. 

I have now lost 30 kgs since treatment ended. To be honest I didn't do that to prevent recurrence, I did it because my arthritis and joint pain were affecting my quality of life. I am no longer worrying all that much about recurrence because secretly deep down I think I will get it again. This is not pessimistic thinking, rather a view based on the overall risk relevant to my particular circumstances. Obviously I am hoping that if it does recur it will be in 15 years rather than 2 years, but my new normal is certainly leaning towards living life today rather than waiting for tomorrow. I must admit it wasn't easy to get to this headspace, my husband and I had lots of discussions about priorities, but at the moment, that's where I am at and it's kind of liberating.

Although, now that I think about it, maybe @primek  Kath is on to something. After all I did get my first white hair at 42.......   

iserbrown

TonyaM

Since my first breast cancer in 2003,I've researched,read and talked to hundreds of women. The only common denominator was high levels of stress approximately 18 mths before the bc diagnosis. I'm not saying that stress causes cancer but maybe it helps it along? Breast cancer is really a lot of breast diseases so  I guess that makes it hard to find a single cause They now know about the genetic ones. Obviously some us have a genetic disposition to get a cancer of some sort. There's no bc in my family but there is a lot of other cancers. Just like some families seem to have heart issues.I have a healthy lifestyle,not fat,don't smoke or drink and yet I got it again in 2010. I've only met about 2 obese women with bc in the past 14years so I doubt that risk factor.Author Patrea King says 'peace of mind' is the most important thing,followed by a healthy diet and lifestyle.Being proactive about our health makes us feel like we have some sort of control again after being out of control with cancer and its treatments.It's no guarantee but it's all we've got till they crack the code so to speak.Somehow a cell makes a mistake and somehow our immune system misses it. So I'm going with the 'stress' theory for now and practise mindfulness and whatever else relaxes me.xx

iserbrown

I put mind down to stress as I've had more than my fair share 

Hopes_and_Dreams

Hi, like many others I am slim, don't smoke, minimal alcohol and have a healthy lifestyle. I haven't had a lot of stress either. But I did do 3 years of IVF which results in enormous hormonal ups and downs. I suspect my unsuccessful quest for a baby played a big part in my getting breast cancer. My IDC was 100% Er/Pr positive.
Jane xx

Annedipa

Thank you! The so called links with obesity that keep getting talked about are realy not helpful to those who have been diagnosed. I was/am obese. Well morbidly obese if I'm honest. But that was the only health issue i had. Cholesterol levels fine. Blood pressure normal. Blood sugar levels normal. So all the speculation about obesity and cancer does my head in at times. Did i cause it. Its my own fault im in this situation. Embarrassed to have to tell anyone that i had breast cancer because i assumed they would just think it was my own fault anyway for allowing myself to get so fat. Then i stop and remember i have 4 relatives with who had this before me. An aunt 2 cousins (mums side of the family) and my sister. Most of whom weren't overweight. What i did have though was an enourmous amount of stress in the years prior to my diagnosis. I dont know if being morbidly obese was the cause of my tnbc at 47. I dont know if the stress was a factor. I have never smoked. Only drink occasionally. Obesity is the only factor on the list that qualifies me other than my family history (brca-) but feeling guilty isnt helpful. I have tried to lead a healthier lifestyle since. In the year after my surgery i lost 25kg. I walked until my joints gave out. Then i swam. I still swim a few days a week and try to eat healthy. Some of the stresses of a few years back are resurfacing and the weight i lost is slowly creeping back on again. I really need to get back on a weight loss track but finding it really difficult.

Deanne

I, like most of us without a known genetic cause, will never know what caused my breast cancer. Nothing will change the fact that I had it and now live with a risk of recurrence.

I love that saying, 'don't look back, you're not going that way!' Since finishing treatment I have slowly, step by step, done what I can to improve my general health. I feel better for this (but not completely symptom or pain free). I believe it has helped to reduce the impact of treatment and hormonal issues (my cancer was hormone positive). I know it reduces my risk of other diseases. It has helped me enormously on a mental health basis. It reduces my stress levels and has opened up a new way of living for me.

Will diet and exercise make any difference to my chance of recurrence? I don't know. But I do know it is givng me a better quality of life right now and that makes it worth it for me. I think doing whatever helps you to have the best life possible right now is worthwhile. Feeling guilty or trying to work out why I got cancer in the first place is not helpful at all.

I'm looking forward and enjoying what I have right now. The walk up hill is challenging but the view makes it all worthwhile. This was my start to the day today. I am grateful to be able to do it. I know that in a heartbeat it can all change, but that just helps me to appreciate being here now. 

Afraser

One day we will all know why cancer occurs but until then we have to live with what we know. And that is that healthy eating, an active body and brain, a reasonable level of happiness and periods of content combine for a better quality of life. I'm no doctor but I'd be prepared to lay bets that something as complex as cancer is the result of multiple trigger points. No life is entirely free of stress - accidents happen, kids get sick, relationships flounder, bosses go weird, parents die. A stress free life may not be possible - it's how we cope with it that may be more important. Sharing loads, delegating, getting time out, prioritising pleasure sometimes, breathing in life rather than just air. Most of us have learned to be better at this - living in and for the moment - since we were diagnosed. That's what we need to encourage in others. Without the over the top wake up call!

TonyaM

I agree,it's how we handle the stress because no life is stress free. I also agree that it's probably a chain of mishaps that lead to cancer. I liken it to air crash investigations where it's often a series of mistakes- if only the pilot stopped xyz...And how hard is it to budge some weight!! I'm supposed to lose 6k and its just not happening. Hats off to you Annedipa for losing 25k and don't feel guilty anymore about the cancer weight thing-it's rubbish. 
I've met so many women who went through IVF and now have bc- is this just co incidence? I often wonder if it would be helpful to ask us questions at the time of our bc diagnosis. No doctor asked me anything eg. do you smoke? Drink?Had IVF? ever had mastitis?  ??
Anyway, nice to chat about this topic and maybe one day it will be us women networking who put 2 and 2 together.We might have chemo brain but together we are one big collective genius!!