Exercise / Healthy Diet after BC

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

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

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.......  ;) 

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

@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.

@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

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!!

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.