Diet & lifestyles changes you made???

MamaM

I am a week away from meeting with my surgeon to set up my double masectomy surgery date.  I am trying to make changes & get info about diet/lifestyle changes that I should be making.  I would love to hear what everyone found helpful???

Manu14

There seem to be two lifestyle issues that the cancer medical community agree on for the best chances of surviving cancer for the longterm. One is to get regular, ideally daily, exercise of not less than around 35 minutes a day.The other is to be at a good weight with a BMI below 25 I think I've read quoted most often. Maybe someone else will have more exact numbers.

Beyond exercise and weight, eating a largely plant-based diet (Mediterranean style) is said to have benefits and increasing consumption of organic foods. 

That is the broad brush stroke; but you can find lots of posts on here about specific foods and supplements which have been discussed as having possible benefits in reducing body inflammation and strengthening your immune system. I don't know what all your treatment plan will be but if chemo is to be included you'll find lots of discussion on how to cope with that regarding foods, etc. 

clmtootie

If you have an ER+ breast cancer, eat more foods that help lower your estrogen level such as broccoli, cabbage,  kale, brussels sprouts and cauliflower. 

Make sure you aren't using lotions, shampoos, soaps that contain any "Parabens"  these mimic estrogen and the body can't tell that it isn't. 

Cut back on alcohol consumption, alcohol increases your estrogen levels. 

Stay away from lavender essential oils and tea tree oils as both are a natural estrogenic oil. 

As Manu14 said above exercise is a must, have a healthy weight and low BMI, excess fat stores and releases extra estrogen. 

Eat more fiber as fiber will help flush the body of excess estrogen.

Reduce caffeinated coffee and red meat. Both of these food items increase production of estrogen. Coffee should be limited to one to two cups a day.

Avoid genetically modified (GMO) foods and Bisphenol A (BPA). These are known endocrine disruptors that can cause a hormone imbalance. Look for “non-GMO” on food packaging. BPA is found in plastics (including those for bottled water) and the lining of food cans.

 

MaryJC

I agree with all of the above ladies! And if you wanna be more hard core, start and stay juicing- green juices as sugars feed cancer. There is also the Ketogenic diet- tons of info on it. Starting my regiment on Monday. I'm an advid juicer but need to takes breaks bec it is a grind with shopping and getting juice done n juicer cleaned up b4 I leave for work. BUT with my biopsy (awaiting path report) n radiologist saying highly suspicious and highly likely... Doing my shopping tmw and God willing shrink this mass as even before I have treatment plan  

My love and hugs to you!