Holistically lowering chance of TNBC recurrence

Nifer

Hello, I am wonder what TNBC people are doing to lower chance of recurrence. I am still in the treatment phase so right now it's all about managing side affects but I am looking at all the research of what I can do to lower my risk of recurrence. So far I know how important exercise is. I also have tried to eliminate sugar. I am trying to change to a mediterranean diet. I switched from drinking coffee to green tea. I take supplements such as fish oil. What is everyone else doing?

wrenn

I feel that stress is the biggest factor in my immune function so I did decrease sugar but am keeping things ‘liveable’ by not being too anal about it all. My one cup of coffee is a morning ritual that gives me more peace than giving it up would do for general health.

I am also learning through mindfulness meditation to be compassionate with myself about it all. I am doing ok 4 years out without treatment and am slowly starting to chill about recurrence fears.

I’ve learned from this site and elsewhere that apart from reducing sugar and exercise the other trends are not very meaningful to me. Every day there is a new one and they often contradict themselves.

Wishing you peace

ksusan

You may want to search for some of the recently posted studies suggesting that whole soy products (tofu, edamame, for example) may decrease recurrence for hormone-negative women.

amtreb

Hi Nifer-

I would also include Vit D in keeping your immune system functioning. Or at least get your level checked to see where you are. I will likely do quarterly IV Vit C therapy as well as chinese herbal therapy for the next couple of years. I am working with an integrative oncologist who is a wealth of info if you want to look her up. I am thru chemo and my mastectomy and just have my TE/implant swap surgery to go.

heres her website if you want to look her up:

www.nalinichilkov.com

Icietla

There is this thread that may give you some leads__

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/72/topics/853454?page=1

Kayrem

Hi Nifer

All of the suggestions above are great. I believe I am still here 6.5 years out because I drink tons of green tea and used to (and have restarted) taking tumeric/theracurcumin.

The articles listed below are why.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/1710...

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/1503...

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/1702...

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/curcumin-amelo...

My neutrophils have always been low (around 1.2 - normal range was 1.8 - 7.7) but interestingly I never got sick. Used to bother me but not anymore. My neutrophils went up to normal when I went off tumeric and green tea for some prophy procedures. After the procedures I resumed the tea and tumeric and brought my numbers down again.

Every year I try and get my bloodwork done. Last year all my doctor wanted to do was testing for cholesterol. Had a real battle with my doctor last year but no problem this year after showing her a couple of the articles above. I told her I need to know where my neutrophils are as a way of managing my metabolic disorder (my BRCA1 mutation).

I also have high cholesterol and will be starting medication after she gets my recent bloodwork. I am not going to mess around with it after reading the above info.

I take 4000 IU of vitamin D3 and I am not even near the middle range. My doctor told me to up it to 5000 IU. I have told my sister and my friend to get their Vitamin D level checked. Both are on 6000 IU after receiving their results. Vitamin D is huge for triple negatives.

I also do strenuous exercise (elliptical) every other day for 40 minutes -with a heart rate monitor so that my heart rate is over 130.

I try to eat low fat but that has gone out the window and I have gained over 20 lbs. oh well....

Good luck with your plan

Nifer

Thank you for all the great suggestions. I also take 5000 iu of vitamin D3, astragalus, and Beta Glucans.

Kayrem- interesting articles. Thanks for sharing. I have heard alot about tumeric. How much do you take?

Amtrem- I too have thought about the IV vit c therapy. Anyone else have knowledge or experience with this?

Great tips...keep them coming. This helpful to stay on track.

abigail48

give

it a break now and then I hear so it keeps working, reason it didn't work for liunus pauling

Hariry

Hi Karen,

Mind if I ask why did you need the masec and ovary out yrs later? What happened?

Another tnbc...

53nancy

Hello everyone. Am so glad I found this thread. I have seen some conflicting articles about coffee reducing risk of recurrence and also increasing risk, so am somewhat confused. And not sure if it matters whether it's caffeinated or decaf. have been told to drink Green Tea; does anyone have suggestions for brands. And how much do you drink of it? I've been allowed one cup of regular coffee during rads, but there was no concern re: decaf. Finished rads yesterday, so now want to avoid risk of recurrence if I can. Thanks for your help

Nifer

I've read the same about coffee. I used to drink it with flavored creamer and I know that can't be good. So I just switched to 1-2 cups of organic green tea per day. I sometimes also make ginger tea. I was never a tea drinker but am learning to enjoy it. I see my naturopathic doc tomorrow so I will report back with any new tips.

Amelia01

I haven't read anything about coffee except to avoid decar, but like anything else, in moderation probably isn't a problem (maybe choose organic coffee and store in the fridge?). For green tea I've read that Matcha is the best. It is a green powdered tea that needs to be stirred very well (I use a battery operated hand "frother" meant for milk for cappuccinos. It is an acquired taste and I make a mixture of 1/4 almond milk to 3/4 water and add a baby tsp of manuka honey. It doesn't have to taste good, it just needs to work!

Sara536

I've heard that the problem with decaf is the chemicals used to remove the caffeine, so the best choice would be water-processed organic decaf.

Sara536

Abigale, Linus Pauling lived to the age of 93. Something must have worked for him!

MelissaDallas

Most of Pauling's theories have since been debunked.

Kayrem

Nifer - I used to take 1/2 tsp in 1/2 tbsp of olive oil with a couple of twists of my black pepper grinder, in 1 tbsp of my favourite salad dressing. I would mix it up and put it on my evening salad.

But I stopped doing it and have been eating pretty crappy lately. My cholesterol so high (over 6) for 2nd year in a row. I started simvastatin 2 days ago. Prescription says every day but I am taking it every other day. Research shows it is pretty much same effect lowering cholesterol as every day and less side effects. I had to really work on the doctor to get it. She told me my risk of a heart attack was so low (did some Farmington risk thing on me). I told her I was not worried about a heart attack because if I continued to play around with the cholesterol the cancer was going to get me first! I asked specifically for Simvastatin because research shows (used this specific one) that this is appropriate for triple negative cancers. I showed her the research article on my phone and she wrote me the scrip.

Hariry - I had the prophy procedures later than my original procedure because my genetic tests came back positive for a BRCA 1 mutation. It was a no brainer (for me with young children) to get rid of it all.

I think the most compelling piece of research that has come out to prevent recurrence for me is the one below

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140129115205.htm

I actually have tried to run (on an elliptical because my feet hurt) every other day lately. I am up to about 40-45 minutes but my goal is 50 mins 6 times a week. A 95% reduced rate of recurrence means almost no one in the group of runners who ran for 5 hours a week recurred. I run on the ellipitical and I wear a heart rate monitor and I try and get my heart rate up to 145 bpm. I then cycle (like an interval) down to 125 (slow down for about 1 min) and then bring it all the way back up to 145 again. I have read that interval training is better for you than flat out running at a high intensity.

Anyways, once again my post is way too long...

Take care everyone.

Kayrem

You are pretty young Hariry. Have you been offered genetic testing? If not you should insist. The outcome could possiblychange your treatment plan.

Gwinnettgirl

I use CBD oil but make sure not hemp . Need full spectrum plant. I am in treatment and taking as well.

MamaFelice

What are the benefits of the cbd that were shared with you? Benefitting the side effects fro, treatments or actually benefitting staving off future BC? And when you say full spectrum plant, are you being treated with cbd oil that contains THC? The THC component is illegal in my state, therefore only cbd without is available. Charlottes web has been recommended to me to look into for such. Where do you procure yours? Thank you