Diet, exercise, lifestyle to decrease the risk of BC recurrence

Now this is what the Forum in all the time I've been here is about, @tonyaM @Deanne @Romla @Molly001 @Afraser @primek @Zoffiel @iserbrown and everyone else who have added in a very loving way here. 

I couldnt have said it better the way Marg @Zoffiel just posted and I completely reiterate this...for me I hate seeing people killing themselves believing IF they had just exercised more, ate differently or did things differently they wouldnt be on this bus. The truth is none of that is true...I also get for many it is a sense of control so doing all those things that THEY say to prevent makes them feel much more in control. Experience and not just my own has taught me that its just not true. My point was and still is just do the things that matter to you. All studies are just that minority, thats why there are sooo many things we can't have? or contribute lol. Hmmm Green Tea whoa!!!! I have drank that all my life, so I shouldnt have gotten it once let alone twice??

I do share the thoughts of @zoffiel very much, I eat so well and on the days when my compromised body from chemo and meds allows me I will ride my exercise bike or go for a walk. I walk 10,000 everyday in my job. So for a treat last night I had icecream and chocolate woo hoo hahaha!!! because I deserved it and enjoyed it and its about living. 

Exercise is mandatory in this life for well being period...nothing to do with BC and Professionals will tell you that. Ladies I love a good recipe and have done a heap of things spent with my exercise physiologist for over a year. Ive done it all and Im in a great place....am I naive to think I wont fall 3rd time...hell no...

Live the good life, it comes back to self....nurturing and loving who you are however that looks to you. Anyone who knows me here knows my comments come from a heartfelt and honest place. Ive spent many nights offering a kind word to help others through what is an extremely difficult journey...all because I know what those moments feel like. 

Much love everyone! Melinda xo

@Molly001 I just wanted to say, you are an absolute love!! biggest of hugs to you sweet..I hope you are doing OK!

Its a curly dilemma. Thankfully, most people with first hand experience of BC realise that there is no way of keeping yourself safe. That even those who lead the most exemplary lives can fall foul of this disease.

I'm far from a paragon but learned a long time ago that if I make some effort to look after myself I feel better. Which hasn't stopped me oscillating from health nut to drug wrecked and back again in a pretty much perpetual cycle. In the last thirty years my weight has yoyoed with variants of up to 30kg. None of this is good, but it's also not easy to maintain any constant. Many, many things come into play, and not all of them are obvious to even the closest observer.

What isn't helpful is anything that creeps into the victim blaming space. 'If only you'd taken better care of yourself.' Gee. Thanks. When, precisely? And when, precisely, did those who have done everything ''right' fuck up so badly they got the booby prize too?

Having had a recurrence after ten years, I'm pretty much resolved to the idea this shit will never go away. That it will get me eventually, unless one of my other high risk activities gets me first. I try hard to manage the damage that treatment has done, not in the hope of putting the brakes on the cancer, but more with the idea I'd rather be functional for as long as possible.

Over the years I have seen people soooo bitterly disappointed when they have pulled out all the stops and tried really, really hard to diet, exercise, pray and supplement their way to cancer free status. It is heartbreaking. One of the advantages of being a pessimist is you are rarely disappointed.

Just do your best, try as hard as your will permits and understand there is no magic bullet. Common sense should prevail. Mxxx

@Wildplaces 

Good Morning!  I hope you are a little more settled into this forum and that your comment about withdrawing from this discussion and or here, not sure which, was an over-reaction!  We are all different in where we are at in our journey, treatment et cetera and how it affects us.  

How about you start a new post to tell us a little about yourself.  

Within here you have given a precis however, I am sure a fresh post you will find lots of support and care.  If you hit the BCNA website button up the top you will find a plethora of information that maybe relevant to you.  Here's a link to one of those information sheets that maybe or was relevant to you and or your own friends
https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/talking-to-family-and-friends/telling-your-children/

Don't know your age group but there are groups on here that maybe relevant, for example
http://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/10-young-women

As to quoting from differing studies, quite often they are minority studies.  BCNA have moderators who will clarify any links that we put up within posts.  The topic that you chose here is relevant to us all

Take care, we are all here to help each other 

Thanks@Deanne, I too think that when we get to fully understand cancer (and we will) it is likely to be combinations of certain factors that trigger the disease. Which is why it's hard to fathom now and why everyone has examples of people who did all the "right" things and still got cancer. Fresh food, small portions, exercise, mental wellbeing are all good for anyone. Overall lack of care of our body and brain is good for no-one. But those recovering and fatigued have to take it slowly to build their capacity, rather than overdo it, fail and give up - whether that's exercise, calming the mind, getting back to work, or building a new normal. 

Exactly @Deanne. Well said.Deanne said:

It gives me HOPE to think that maybe, for me, there are things I can do to give myself a slightly better chance of staying cancer free. At the very least, making some healthy changes has given me a better quality of life in the last 5 years. Eating a healthier diet and excerising more consistently and at a higher level than before bc helps me to mentally and emotionally cope with the risk of recurrence.

You are an inspiration @deanne you should be very proud of your achievements and keep sharing to inspire others. Some of us move forward by controlling the things we can and others by accepting we cannot control everything. Great post.

My intention with this comment is not to offend anyone or add any fuel to the fire. I too find it upsetting when words cause hurt to others.

I think it is fair to say that breast cancer is not a single disease with a single cause. I dare say that if it was they would have found a cure by now. I think that my particular breast cancer probably had a number of factors adding together resulting in an invasive malignancy that had spread extensively in my lymph system.

I personally live with a high risk of recurrence. It gives me HOPE to think that maybe, for me, there are things I can do to give myself a slightly better chance of staying cancer free. At the very least, making some healthy changes has given me a better quality of life in the last 5 years. Eating a healthier diet and excerising more consistently and at a higher level than before bc helps me to mentally and emotionally cope with the risk of recurrence.

I know that it does not make a difference for some people and that I may very well end up being one of those. I have someone close to me that is living with metastatic breast cancer and I do not for one moment believe that it was a lack of healthy lifestyle that resulted in her cancer returning after 13 years. But I have another person in my life who has now been breast cancer free for 25 years. She made a lot of healthy changes to her lifestyle (particularly exercise wise) and MAYBE that made a difference for her particular situation.

I think the word SOMETIMES is a very important one in this disease. No ONE experience is the same for all. Just as some people will unfortunately have a recurrence due to factors currently unknown and completely beyond their control, others will not. Could it be due to changes such as diet and exercise? Research does support that this MAY be the case for SOME people. 

I know that I did not lead as healthier lifestyle before bc as I have since. It gives me HOPE to believe that, for me, it might be enough to make a difference. My oncologist encourages me to continue with the changes I have made and I like to encourage others to do the same. My intention is a positive one.

@wildplaces it's actually a really great thread idea. I hope you keep posting. I know I can use all the inspiration I can get to take better care of myself. I have two small children, so my diet often consists of their half eaten sandwiches and fruit peels. Does chasing half naked kids down for their bath count as exercise? 

I think no matter what we do it can always come back. I have unfortunately read many posts/stories about women who have done all the right things and yet the damn cancer still comes back. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back to this site six years on from my diagnosis and treatment ie to remind myself to remain vigilant and not get complacent. Cancer is an insidious disease - or set of diseases - and it seems the medical profession is some way off understanding how it kicks off. The idea of blaming ourselves or others for being in this unlucky club is just awful.

Having said that as the other ladies have pointed out there are things you can do to minimise your risk. Personally I do heaps of exercise. I was exercising before diagnosis but I've stepped it up a bit in recent years to include quite a lot of running. I never would have imagined myself as a runner in the past - just not the athletic type - but I've become quite an enthusiast these days and feel so amazing afterwards I just know it must be doing me good.

I read a lot during my treatment and the year or two after about nutrition and cancer and yes the absolute best and most agreed upon thing you can do is eat lots and lots of vegetables, especially the cruciferous ones ie broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale etc. I try, but should probably eat more. I also take a supplement called diindolylmethane which - despite it's scary sounding name -  in basic terms is the substance in cruciferous vegetables thought to reduce/stabilise estrogen levels in the body. There is some scientific evidence to suggest it might be helpful but I don't think all the evidence on it is in yet so do your own research if you're interested in it.

I have also read that there is some evidence for green tea being helpful in minimising the risk of recurrence. Flax seed meal is another one that pops up a lot. So I try and include those two things in my diet each day. I usually sprinkle the flax seed meal on cereal or mix it up with avocado or peanut butter on toast. Maybe they won't make any difference but I figure they can't hurt. 

The other things I'm conscious of are trying to maintain a healthy weight  (not always easy) and minimising alcohol consumption. Ideally you would probably give the booze up but I do like a glass of wine now and again.

And yes you do have to enjoy your life. Do what makes you happy. 

You might also be interested in this.

https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/healthy-living-after-cancer-program/

And this link

https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/healthy-eating/