Prevention in Survivorship - "What can I do to prevent a cancer recurrence?"

@SoldierCrab even with what Kate said....what % are you talking about that is 'going to be in the recurrence' the whole thing doesnt even make sense. You say for some there are genes that make them more prone to recurrence?? so it has nothing to do with the rest...what do you say to the MILLIONS of people who have had multiple recurrences and are metastatic that DID and continue to live a healthy lifestyle, exercise etc?? this is the point?

Lets be very clear here, I have ALWAYS BEEN PRO exercise and diet, I've always lived that way and I still do...does that mean we all were in the % you both speak of?? The world knows to do these things..the point everyone keeps making over and over if you do get a recurrence its NOT because you didnt have a good diet or exercise enough. My Oncologist made it perfectly clear as did my Surgeon along with many specialists at Epworth that it will not. YES EXERCISE and have a GREAT DIET...you all have completely missed what I or anyone has ever said about this. I've been attacked for putting people off exercise etc..yes really, again missed the point...my message for years has been clear for anyone who really read every post I wrote. 

For any illness having a good lifestyle is paramount nobody has ever said differently not even here...people don't listen to what is being said. They all just think we are saying dont bother exercising or looking after yourself. So I really wish the pack mentality as @Aggie put it would understand what people are trying to say. This is coming from people in the position who know, not those who think they do or specialists that havent been through it.

Im done. 

So @Rosie_BCNA
 on a positive note are you ok if I post this into the facebook groups so those that do want the information can benefit from the information. 
Yes there is some sense of nothing will stop you from getting recurrence if you are going to be in % who will succumb to a recurrence.  Life in General is about Balance  be in stress/food/alcohol/drugs etc etc. Learning to glean good information out of sessions like the above is what I have been trying to achieve in this life after my diagnosis Will I be successful in continuing to be Cancer free who knows ... it is like a lottery for most of us we dont know which straw we have in our hands.  For some there is genes that make them more prone to recurrence.   

Rosie thank you for notifying us of this webinar. 

Go for it @pammiesyd !
Look forward to reading all about your trip in due course.
You go girl @BlackWidow.  Agree wholeheartedly.
Being ''good'' does not always achieve what it is supposed to.
Quality of life, I say, not necessarily the quantity.

 :/
“A healthy lifestyle includes things such as eating a healthy diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy body weight, improving your psychological wellbeing, protecting yourself from the sun, stopping smoking or cutting down on alcohol”

I’m the only one in my family who has never smoked, is in the healthy weight range, drinks the least alcohol, has the best fitness, avoids the sun - even has low vitamin D levels, yet, the only one to get Breast cancer, at 42. 

I’m concerned this topic is too narrow. It implies you can cause your own cancer. Or, not do enough to avoid it. Even though it is aimed at people already diagnosed with cancer, and reducing reoccurrence, there is nothing different from what is recommended for everyone. Healthy lifestyle as described isn’t the golden ticket to a cancer free life :'(

I agree the wording is unfortunate.

You can engage in risk reduction behaviours but still get a recurrence. You can reduce risk but still go on to have metastatic cancer. The problem lies in the fact that you can't quantify the people who avoid a recurrence with reducing the risk factors. The numbers only exist on a big scale. There are so many who do everything 'right' and still get sick, and so many who do everything 'wrong' and never get sick. There's just no way to tell if, for example, I could have avoided BC if I hadn't drunk alcohol. Maybe I could have, maybe I couldn't. Statistically a small number do, but there's no way of knowing who those individuals are. And that's my initial diagnosis, not a recurrence.

"What can I do to reduce the risk of a cancer recurrence" would have been a better title. But as @Sister said, not a BCNA event.

@Rosie_BCNA I think when members have talked recently of 'survivorship' it's been how to live with the side effects of treatment moving forward.

I often find the responses to be very rigid, scripted and impersonal.

I've been down this road a few times here on this Forum and have been badgered over it and put down, this is why I'm calling it quits with BCNA. Very disappointing!

Glad to see MAJORITY of people think and feel the same way, sorry you and your specialists are going to have to focus on something else in order to maintain support. 

My medical oncologist said this is nonsense?? hmmm please stop promoting this as it is offensive, but only someone been in the position would possibly know.

Regards all xx Ciao M

So pleased to see these vigorous responses, I agree and honestly it's time Cancer Council and similar bodies worked out their approach to survivorship so- called so it isn't patronising and just plain wrong. This terminology needs to be clarified too. Do they mean mets when they say recurrence? If so no amount of "healthy" behavior is going to prevent it and it's more blame the victim thinking, similar to the chorus of onlookers and commentators who like to make you feel guilty for your BC in the first place.

It's not BCNA's title to change.

There is no sure way of preventing a cancer recurrence.  This title WILL be upsetting to some, who chose the title?  

Can you change the title? 

Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate the title of the session could be upsetting especially for those members living with metastatic breast cancer and Im sorry this has caused some of you distress. As you know, we often notify members of events held by other organisations about relevant topics. There has been significant interest in the online community about survivorship, and there may be people who would like to know about the latest research in the field from a reputable source. Please disregard the post if it is not relevant to you. Of course, you are most welcome to call the Helpline on 1800 500 258 if you would like any information or support.