Who else led a "healthy lifestyle" prior to BC?

mbordo

I'm just wondering, as many of the things I am reading say "make healthy lifestyle changes" to reduce recurrence risk etc...well I was doing that before - lot of good it did me!

I've always maintained a low BMI, refused hormones (did take BC pills for about 6 mos in early 20's - that's it!), I exercise fairly regularly, eat a fair amount healthy/organic, drink green tea, never smoked, rarely drink - my only vice is chocolate

Family history was my *only* risk factor, and I am BRCA negative. Does making healthy lifestyle choices really buy us anything?

Along with making me feel I'm not being proactive enough by making post-BC "changes" - I can't help but wonder, if there's no real benefit, that I should "live it up" a bit more and succumb to temptation to "eat, drink and be more sedentary"!!

Anyone else frustrated and in a similar situation? I *WISH* I could do something to make me feel I am minimizing my risks...

Mary

Mary

Member_of_the_Club

I've been a vegetarian since I was 21 (diagnosed with bc at age 42) and physically fit. No family history. Go figure.

caaclark

I led a relatively healthy lifestyle. Non-smoker, rarely drink, etc. Exercise was part of most of my days, I probably could have eaten better but I certainly did not eat much worse than people I know. I did take birth control pills for many years but so did my twin sister and she does not have bc. In fact, she has way more risk factors than I had. I have always been a healthy weight, did not have much stress, really appreciated and enjoyed my life.

Now, post bc I definitely drink a little more. I sort of feel like being healthy before did not really help me. Although I have always exercised, post bc I definitely exercise more and with more intensity. It makes me have an illusion of control. Notice the word, illusion.

jasmine

Ditto!

nosurrender

Didn't eat meat after the age of 15.
Ate high fiber high veggie diet.
Never smoked.
Never did drugs.
Never drank worth a damn.
Never drank soda pop.
Worked out and was in great shape.
Took care of my teeth and the rest of me.
Was the poster child for healthy living.
Was diagnosed at age 39 with tripneg IDC.
After dx started the tripneg diet of low fat intake- under 30 mgs a day. Ate flaxseeds. Worked out more.
Five years later was dx'd with ER+++ Lobular.

Now when I tell a couch potato relative that they shouldn't be lying around eating a triple cheese hamburger and not exercising they say to me- WHY? Look at what happened to you!

rumoret

Never Smoked.
Breastfed 2 children 14 months apart, one to 10 months old then second until 18 months old.
Birth control pills for less than 1 year.
Ate very little meat.
Could have eaten more fruits and vegetables.
Dranked beer 1 year prior to dx.....due to ongoing backaches....did not like pills.
Weight 150-162 lbs Height 5' 7"
Good Attitude

I have sisters who currently smoke, drink heavily, eat all the wrong foods, etc. and I got the breast cancer....EVEN THEY WERE SHOCKED AT THAT.

LOVE,
TERRY

snicklefritz

I too lived a riduculously "clean" life before my diagnosis at age 44. Makes me wish I drank, smoked, ate what I wanted and screwed around to my heart's content. But the bottom line is that it is a crap shoot, and no matter how well you live and eat, cancer can and will strike. It is what it is. I beat myself up for months after my diagnosis thinking I did something wrong or somehow I "deserved" it. All that is nonsense. It just happens and we all do the best we can with it!! Mary Jane

Chattypatti

I also lived a clean/healthy lifestyle before BC (and no family history) so I haven't changed a thing. I know I didn't cause my cancer so I just keep doing what I was doing. Go figure! Patti

mbordo

I'm glad others can relate!! I don't feel any sort of guilt that I brought this upon myself - in fact I *know* that I did not

Just wondering, as far as quality of life is concerned, if my money would be better spent on a good bottle of wine rather than organic produce

Something to consider...

Cheers,

Mary

jasmine

I'd say that if you like to drink wine then go for it. I think bc has shown us that life is short and unpredictable. Enjoy the journey while you are here.

Jorf

Ditto. My risk factors were family history (mom is brca neg tho I didn't know it at the time) and never had kids.

Oh well. There are lots of things in life I don't have any control over. I wish I did but don't.

Diana_B

I was a vegetarian and also ate no dairy before my dx.

A few days after my diagnosis, my mother took me grocery shopping. I remember I gleefully grabbed some gruyere cheese (one of my favorites) - since I'd been denying myself for so many years and to no avail!

I've since started to eat meat too, usually organic. Organic (or "traditionally raised") meat is definitely worth the price because it it so much tastier and better. The problem with trying it is you might get hooked and then you can't go back to the regular stuff. I had organic chicken two days ago and I'm still thinking about how good it was...

I was on the pill for many years - I'd say that was my main risk factor, as I could actually feel the estrogen in my body. That being said, my doctor never in any way indicated that it might be better for me to stop. When I asked, I got the usual line about it "slightly upping my chances for breast cancer but lowering my chances for ovarian cancer."

I think the whole birth control thing is a bit of a scandal. I think doctors should have some kind of questionnaire they can administer to help you determine your bc risk and if you should be adding extra estrogen to your body.

livesstrong

I was pretty much like all of you. Ate very little read meat, quit smoking at 35 (I'm now 52), never overweight,drank in moderation and no family history. I was, however, on birth control pills for many years. Who knows if that was the reason.

I look at things differently now. If I want to eat something "bad" I do. But I don't overdue it. The same goes for alcohol. I had a cousin die this week in a car accident - it was over in an instant. Life is short, enjoy it while you can.

Valerie

snicklefritz

The thing about the birth control pills is very interesting. On the one hand, I believed they reduced the risk of ovarian cancer, but on the other hand, it makes sense that they would fuel ER positive breast cancer. No matter what our choices are, one way or the other, a disease can hit. Right before you roll the dice, you have no idea what will show on the board. I just enjoy each day I have and try not to look back!! Mary Jane

P.S. Now to that delicious chardonnay awaiting me!

5graces

I had NONE of the risk factors....never took birth control pills or hormones. Breast fed 2 babies until each was about 2 years old back in the 60's. Never smoked, drank very little (wine), ate very healthy, mostly chicken for the past 20 years, hardly ever ate pork or red meat.  Also no bc history in my family. Go figure!!!!