Am I the only one who hasn't changed my lifestyle?

Janet_M

Apart from learning to love Bok Choy, my diet has stayed pretty much the same. I was a healthy eater pre-diagnosis, lots of blueberries, salmon, water, vegetables. Not to mention yoga, sunscreen...and I still got cancer. Maybe I drank too much red wine? Who knows - but I love red wine and don't feel like giving up anymore of my favorite things.

I had a nurse who would come to my house during chemo to gibe me injections. He was a mysterious nurse/healer who would slip in alternative treamtents and suggestions. (He was also very cute). I asked him his opnion on red wine. His response was 'What does it to to you mentally?' I said it made me happy, and he said that is the most important thing. 

So now I'm maintaining (mostly) a healthy diet, but I'm also trying to be around healthy minded people and weed the arseholes out of my life. Because I think for me, mental stress is as dangerous as a lousy diet, and happiness builds immunity.

By the way, now I choose to drink really delicious red wine. If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right. 

Blessings2011

I think we venture into dangerous territory once we start using labels like "good" and "bad" on ourselves.

Look at the profiles of those who were "good" and still got breast cancer.

Perhaps you thought you were "bad" because of something you did or didn't do. Did you CAUSE your breast cancer? Certainly not!

Life is all about choices and balance.

Some of us have always lived exceptionally healthy lifestyles and will continue to do so. 

Some of us change our diet and lifestyles after dx because it gives us a sense of control over an overwhelmingly irrational disease.

Some of us are making changes for other health factors. I'm in a radical weight loss program for many reasons, and have just discovered that my fibromyalgia pain is nearly gone. Does that make me "good"? Hardly.

I love the way that Janet_M just put it: mental stress is as dangerous as a lousy diet, and happiness builds immunity.

coraleliz

I'd like to feel I'm doing something right or favorable in order to prevent BCs return. I did switch soaps. No more para-(whatevers) or anything remotely like that in the ingredients. I have to admit that this helped with my wintertime itch that usually haunts me 6 months out of the year.Didn't itch at all this winter! Diet & exercise have & will continue to help me mentally & physically(just don't believe they'll help oncologically).

Pessa

Great thread.  Have made no changes (except I drink green tea daily and take vit D at my doc's recommendation).  I had enough stress with the surgeries and chemo and continued MO app'ts, and feel that other changes will add more stress, which I don't need.  Am glad to read this thread, so I don't feel guilty. 

CapeTownBM1

Heya.  Please see http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/31/topic/285062 on this website.

SelenaWolf

Thank you so much for this post!!!  I have, always, been a veggies-and-fruit girl and an athlete, and look what it got me!!  I've made a few changes post-breast-cancer (less processed food, alcohol, but only because it made sense to me), but I decided from the get-go that "moderation" was going to be my new motto.  I can't spend the rest of my life terrified of alcohol/sugar/sesame seeds/fennel bulb/hummus/insert-latest-cancer-causing-food/drink-here; I can't live like that!!  I, also, can't eat five cups of broccholi- or cabbage a day (and who would want to share space with me if I did!)

Now... if I could just get well-meaning people to stop sending me links/articles on the latest thing I can't eat- or drink or I'll suffer a relapse... I'll be good!  I refuse to believe that the odd Girl Guide cookie is going to cause a recurrence...

Ang7

SelenaWolf~

I agree.  I was at a church function and I was eating a cookie and someone was "kind enough" to come up to me and ask if I should actually be eating that, "wasn't I concerned about my cancer coming back?"

It made me feel so bad that I almost went home...

Chickenpants

Excellent topic! My evidence-based MO will not discuss factors what I think may have been relevant to me getting BC, nor will he discuss my research on changing my diet and adding supplements. That being said, he is offering me tamoxifen to give me a 30% reduction on my 18% recurrence risk. I'm not doing it, but instead incorporating some of the suggestions from my naturopathic oncologist. I am the poster child for healthy lifestyle, daily exercise, non smoker, no family history, healthy weight, etc etc etc, but still got BC (2 primaries, one in each breast, at the same time), so I will not be changing too much with the exception of trying to lower stress a bit and a tad more restraint on treats. I was already incorporating a healthier eating plan to recover from my spontaneous brain bleed that occurred ten days after my second BC surgery (not related in any way).



After my subarachnoid hemorrhage (non aneurism) in January, I was going crazy with the whys. Why did I get BC, why the SAH? Sometimes there are no answers. If we had the answers, we feel in control to prevent it from happening again. It is genetics and randomness. Please see if the "Catching Cancer" documentary is still available to view on You Tube. I started a couple of threads on it. You'll understand my thoughts on why we get cancer.



My advise, make the changes you feel are right for you (or none) and enjoy each day. Smile, laugh and love as much as possible. This is from someone who almost pushed daisies as of January 5th, 2012. I am happy to be here and no complaints!

bcisnofun

selenawolf - love your post!

ohio4me

I eat healthier since BC but not because of BC. I am a carb lover and carbs helped me through chemo but now they slipped down the list of favorite foods. Same with breads. Sweets tasted horrible during chemo so those have slipped down the list. I still have both, just not the same frequency as before.

I was always a water drinker just counting my water now cuz it makes me feel good. During chemo and radiation I found smaller, more frequent meals helped me feel better and that sort of carried over to post chemo life.

I guess chemo changed my diet, not BC. I rarely drink alcohol- used to have 1/2 a week, don't enjoy it like before but will still have a drink if I want but only 2 or 3 in the last year.

I didn't ask for cancer and I can't guarantee it will never return, but I can enjoy today and that just may include chocolate.

Chickenpants

Yes, yes yes... Let's hear it for chocolate!

Califgirl12

I never ate chips b4 BC. Not anymore. I buy chips, ice cream, and sweets. I eat them in moderation. Always was a health nut before. Now I don't feel guilty of eating junk food every now and then. I wash it all down with some green tea and my high quality vitamins. I got rid of stress in my life and I don't sweat the small stuff. I Excercise more like walking and enjoy tanning in the sun for vitamin D. I don't worry about wrinkles or age spots. Basically I am happy to be standing on my own two feet and am determined to be content with my life.

Mardibra

I have not changed a thing. I have none of the risk factors for BC but got it anyway. So screw it...I'm eating chocolate and enjoying margaritas.

ohio4me

Mardibra - I like it. 

Getting through chemo and radiation wasn't all that fun and it was all to remove the cancer so I could live longer. I'm going to enjoy those days I worked for.

Chickenpants

Califgirl - well said. I like your attitude. I think moderation is the key, like I said - I'm tidying up my diet but I won't swing to extremes. Cancer is caused by multiple factors and diet is only one area.



Mardibra - amen



Ohio4me - I hear ya.



We are thinking a lot about lifestyle and possible changes to protect our bodies from disease, but the organ most affected by all this is our brains - the mental aspect.

Mardibra

I'm a woman of my word....had three margaritas last night!

SelenaWolf

Thank gawd for you, ladies!  I thought I was the only one out there who was willing to embrace "moderation" going forward...  You've made my day, all of you!

ahdjdbcjdjdbkf

I'm trying to stay as close to me as possible too! I plan to go back to work part-time when I hit my weekly taxol and I even rode my spinning bike this week! The major change in my diet has been more calories since I lost about 13 lbs since diagnosis. Live strong!!!!

Paula1231

I am taking a very low dose of aspirin every other day and I am drinking a bit more.  Mostly Jose Cuervo Light Margarita.  I am trying really hard to lose weight and have upped my coffee intake.

I quit taking vitamins of any kind at all.  Other than that, I am splurging with exceptional chocolate and Rhubarb pie occasionally.  Life is indeed short, and I want to enjoy mine.

Fighter_34

I feel like it is such a crapshoot. I do my best and I do what I can, and I move forward. End of story. I do know that I am tried of hauling around my mini purse of pills when I travel, and the funniest thing is I pack that darn bag first when we are going out of town. Maybe one day this will pass.

melly1462

Love. This. Thread!

If I make any diet changes it will be to lose the weight I've gained since treatment began, not to prevent recurrance.  Like the majority here, my plan is moderation.  I'm a Southern gal, and if I want a piece of fried chicken or a fried seafood platter I'm damn well gonna have it!

Thank you ladies for making me smile and chuckle today

lago

I was doing all the right things before. So what I have I changed. I gave up diet soda when I started chemo. Used to have a 1-2 day habbit since the early 80's! When the scans said I was osteopenic I knew I would have to stop especially with the addition of ESD (estrogen sucking drug) and chemopause. So now I drink lots more water.

I also added black raspberries to my salads (extra antioxidents). My PS kept bugging me about eating berries and I dislike blueberries.

Other than that no change. Still eat too much sugar. I make the best cookies. I do have the occasional glass of wine but wasn't drinking much before. I also have hot and sour soup at Sun Wah that has big hunks of tofu in it.

Best thing you can do is keep your weight down and exercise. Also I feel reducing stress is a huge one but no evidence on that. I truly think that was the final switch that turned my cancer on.

"Short of resorting to such drastic measures, all women can reduce the risk of getting breast cancer by drinking less alcohol and losing weight. "Patients want to know what they can do," says Cobleigh. "It used to be you could say, ‘There really isn't anything.' Now you can say, ‘If you control your weight after a diagnosis of breast cancer, you'll be less likely to die.'"
source linky 

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SelenaWolf it would have been funny if you said "OMG" then spit the cookie out in their hand then reply "thanks for reminding me" 

coraleliz

I've picked up an ice cream habit since diagnosis. I have it 2-3x a week with either Kahlua or Baileys on it. So that means I'm drinking more. I use to have a drink 3-4x year. I've always been thin, still exercise & eat fairly healthy...just like before. I'm actually quite annoyed when (heavier)people tell me that I should gain weight. But maybe they are right, being thin didn't prevent me from getting BC. I just don't have the patience to explain that being overweight is about the only modifiable risk factor there is(if the studies are correct......)

Lee7

ditto..coraleliz, on the 'you're too thin' comments.  I heard that all my life until the 2 years I started putting on a few healthy pounds which unfortunately turned out to be right before I got my bc diagnosis.  Now, I'm way too thin again but I refuse to eat junk just to gain weight.  I'm really hoping this summer to be able to exercise more and build back some muscle and stronger bones.   I'm still eating healthy foods so I'm not really worried about making any changes there.  I did quit all alcohol out of fear of bc, but I really miss that glass of wine.  Maybe I'll reconsider.  Now if I could only reduce stress.....does anyone have a magic wand you could wave over me for that ??  

Blessings2011

lee7 - I've always wondered why some people feel it is perfectly o.k. to say to someone (in that "concerned" tone) "Oh, you're so THIN!" when they wouldn't dream of saying "Oh, you're so FAT!"

Paula1231

I agree Blessing!  I was the chunky monkey, and my sister was very thin.  Everyone was always begging her to gain weight, but I think they were jealous!  Only my Mom, bless her heart would quit buying bananas for me.  Being very chunky now, I don't think you can be too rich or too thin. 

SelenaWolf

OMG lago, that's PERFECT!!!  LOL!!  I'll have to remember that .

Even though my MO encouraged me to limit my alcohol intake going forwards, she - also - said, "... you've still got to enjoy life, so have that glass of wine ... just keep it to once in a while ..."  Life goes on and if you can't enjoy what you've always enjoyed about it, then what's the use of a second chance?

 And I agree that reducing stress is an important factor, but I've never figured out how to do that.

lago

Selena the ESD has caught one. We are all using it now on the Illinois Ladies thread. My NP cracked up when I said it last month. I've been using that term with my mom for a year now so I don't event think about it when I say it.

BTW if one more MD told me  how small and thin I was when I started this journey I was going to deck them. I'm about 7+ lbs heavier now so no one is saying I'm thin… but they are not saying to lose either. If you look at photos of people back in the 70's you can see  how people are much larger now. I do need to lose that 7lbs in spite of no encouragement from my MDs.

Blessings2011

Oh, yeah......ESD/Estrogen Sucking Drug?

I've called it that with all my docs ever since I first heard lago say it!!!! Thanks, Darlin'!!!

My MO sort of smiles and rolls her eyeballs, but so what.

BouncingBetties

I already ate a fairly healthy diet and exercised up to 5 times a week, and rarely drink. So, I've given up dessert tofu and as much soy as possible, but I'm a stage IV metsters, so there's no way I'm giving up my treats. I didn't eat Two Bite Red Velvet MiniCupcakes BEFORE I had cancer, but I eat them weekly now and you'll have to pry them out of my cold, dead hand at the end. I starved myself for more than 12 years of my life and now this? I'm determined to enjoy my life a tiny bit before the cancer takes me out. Or I guess I could stop eating meat (but I know a ton of vegan and vegetarian bc patients), eat only organic food (that I can hardly afford), exercise 7 days a week (using up what little energy I have after my cancer and chemo) and just be generally afraid of all foods and cosmetics and hide in my house waiting to lose my fight....nah, don't think so. Well, back onto the stationary bike, 30 minutes to Tamo and maybe a mini cupcake as a treat!