What is the one thing.....

shelleyr25

Hi everyone-

I am recently diagnosed and of course I am full of questions...I was reading thru this forum and of course, like everything else it my life right now it was quite overwhelming. 

My question to you all right now is just out of pure curiosity....

What is the one thing (vitamin, diet change or addition, supplement etc..) that you have taken/used since your diagnosis that you feel has been most beneficial to you and why???

I am anxious to see your answers...thanks guys!!

hollyann

I started exercising more.......I didn't do so much before my dx but I do exercise now.......

meadows4

Lost 22 lbs.....why is it good?  it makes me feel and look much better and there is less fat in the abdomen to turn into estrogen!

luckofthedraw

1) Cleaning up my diet

2) Iodoral with B Co-Factors

dlb823

Exercise, without a doubt.  It cuts our risk of reoccurence by approx. 35%.  I now seriously walk about 4 miles each a.m., and know that it's helping to regulate my estrogen levels by reducing any excess fat.    Deanna

deni63

cleaned up my diet...i lost weight and feel healthier than ever...

rgiuff

Have decided to stick with exercising for as long as I can.  I used to just do a few months at a time and then quit for a few years.  I've now been working out for more than a year and a half!

I've also cut most of the crap out of my diet, limiting meats, dairy, and sweets, and started buying more organic foods, and making sure I eat more cruciferous veggies and take curcumin supplements.  Also trying little things, like standing far away from the microwave and other electric appliances as much as I can and no more microwaving with plastic. 

Eldub

Aerobic exercise - daily.  (I had never managed more than once or twice a week before.)  Also, adding more vegetables and fruit to my diet (I make daily smoothies with lots of greens) and greatly reducing saturated fat.

I also take some supplements that I think are helpful, but you said ONE thing...

Linda

sandilee

I have to chime in and add my vote for exercise.  I've been walking my dog 3-4 miles 6 days a week. It doesn't sound like much, but it has made a world of difference in how i feel and how much energy I have for other active things in life. My husband and I hiked down and up the Grand Canyon this year- something I never would have attempted before my BC and new exercise program. I guess I consider my dog my personal trainer!

  

fairy49

Shelley, so sorry you had to join the group, but you have come to the right place!

I have always excercised, even before dx, still running 5 mornings a week.  For me I think it was getting my hormone levels checked so that I could figure out how to balance them and try to keep them in balance with diet and supplements, I really believe that is key.

L

ox

KristyAnn

Mine was two things- Exercise (which really helped me get through chemo)- mostly on a treadmill during last summer and chemo, now walking, treadmill and water aerobics when possible

AND

Simplifying my diet - eating more organic, grew a garden this summer and basically the attitude is if I could not make the food and/or grow/raise the ingredients, I wont eat it. So anything with lots of chemicals or "fake" ingredients has been almost completely eliminated!

Kristy

rreynolds1

I agree with the exercise but I also added guided meditation.  It got me through the uncertainties of diagnosis, etc. and helped me sleep peacefully.  Lots of great tapes available.  I put them on my I-pod and when the fear hits, I meditate if I can.  Disease is dis ease after all.

Rosenn

kerry_lamb

Exercise, exercise exercise. And eating a LOT more vegies. I need to lose about 15lbs..that estrogen-filled spare tyre has me in its grip

Rosemary44

The one thing that I do everyday is eating a handful of blueberries.  Highest in antioxidants, good for our bones, they're cholesterol lowering, and free radical scavengers.  It's a triple play.

Sassa

Exercise, exercise, exercise!! (Also the attendant weight loss of 60+ pounds).  Although my BC was ER/PR -, my oncologist just beamed several months ago when she realized I was still losing weight and exercising and said, "You are doing the best possible thing you can possibly do for yourself right to cut recurrence risk." 

althea

For me it was deciding to make better choices was the one thing that made the difference for me.  Of course, that leads to a long list of things that come, go or stay.  As I sat in the waiting room in the flimsy gown for my first radiation treatment, I was given some paperwork to sign.  It was a lengthy list of the potential ill effects that could result from radiation, like heart attacks or ribs breaking when you sneeze or cough. 

After radiation I started walking every day and I'm still at it nearly 4 years later.  Also during rads, I was weighed once a week and I just couldn't figure out why I was gaining a half pound each time.  That was the beginning of my becoming a food detective.  I was drinking 1000 calories a day, mostly from beverages loaded with high fructose corn syrup.  I began to search out beverages without the hfcs (it's everywhere!).  I still have loads of room for improvement in my food choices, but there's such a huge difference between now and 4 years ago.  

Since you're newly dx'd, the information overload will make your head swim.  I really don't think there's just one thing that will make the world of difference, but I do believe one thing at a time can change your world.  

cp418

Same as the other ladies mentioned regarding healthy diet changes and daily exercise to loose weight and keep it off.  However, in addition you will find numerous posts about supplements as well.  Since I did chemo and was concerned about heart issues (family hx of heart dx), I take omega-3 and Co-Q supplements.  Bone health is also critical if you take an AI - - so I also take  Calcium with Mg and Vitamin D supplements.  YOu will find numerous articles about the benefits of Vitamin D regarding cancers - - however, the calcium supplements need to be takdn with vitamin D for proper utilization in your body. 

Lindissima

Shelly,

GREAT question!  I am bookmarking this thread to return to for motivation to  help me continue weight loss, exercise and focusing on whole natural foods..  I heartily second all the above recommendations. 

I like your approach--taking it one step at a time so you are not overwhelmed with trying to make too many changes at once is very wise.

ONE thing that's helped me--setting aside time to cook up large batches of healthful foods (soups, prewashed veggies, etc) in advance so I'm not tempted to make unwise choices when I get too busy at work, always my downfall in the past. I shop for a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and aim for organic as much as possible. 

Fire44fly

 Shelley, I guess for me there isn't one thing it is a bunch of things that I do.  If you are just diagnosed, it is probably a really good idea to eat as well and clean as you can prior to any surgery or treatment.  If you didn't exercise before, start now.

Here are some of the things I have done...  I exercise a lot and eat a clean diet.  I found a naturopath.  I do not eat processed foods, sugar, or dairy.  I started taking yoga.  I also purchased a juicer and make my own Veggie juice.  

 My oncologist told me I needed to stop reading so much!... but I don't agree! LOL.  Here are a couple of books that I liked.  "The Complete Natural medicine Guide to Breast Cancer", by Sat Dharam Kaur.  I also found "Your Life in Your Hands", by Jane Plant a very helpful and hopeful book.

Piled amongst all the things I did... were the important things I stopped doing!   Prior to my cancer diagnosis, I was a chip eatin', beer drinking sometimes exercising 30 something gal who couldn't run a mile.  Now I'm a lean mean cancer fighting machine!  Life is good!

 Shelley... don't worry, it's gonna be okay and we are here to help you along the way!

Nancy

shelleyr25

Thanks so much everyone...these are all such great ideas! My surgery is Wednesday the 16th...after some healing time it will be off to the gym!!

Sido

Thank you for starting this thread!  I'm newly dx and had a lumpectomy and SNB 9 days ago.  I'm really confused about dietary changes...do I give up dairy?  Soy?  Sugar?  My DH and I got into the Slow Food movement a couple of months before I was diagnosed (via Michael Pollan's credo "Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants"), so we'd been moving toward all organic produce, grass-finished beef, and only vegetarian fed chicken and eggs.  Now that I'm feeling stronger after the surgery, I'm walking every day and finally trying to lose the weight I've hated for so long.  I'm glad to hear of so many women who were able to change their health after bc.  It gives me the sense that I can too.

bbmom

Exercise and diet, low fat, low sugar, plenty fruits and veggies.