Top 5 changes to make after BC

The best six doctors anywhere, and no one can deny it, are sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise and diet. These six will gladly attend you, if only you are willing. Your mind they'll ease. Your will they will mend and charge you not a schilling. This is what I am doing.

I have hormone receptor positive breast cancer and I have made lots of changes so far.  More than five, but this is what I have done:

Eat organic, no chemicals, no hormones or pestacides

Eat hormone free/all natural chicken, ground chicken and turkey - limit any beef (when eating beef, organic/hormone free too)

Eliminate full fat dairy - only low fat organic for me.

5 servings of fruits/veggies per day when possible

Eliminate refined foods - eat only whole grain; avoid sugar as much as possible

No soy products for me - which is hard as soybean oil is in almost everything!

Avoid all oils except canola and olive oil; (avoid sunflower, safflower, corn oils and butter)

All make up and health care products (deodorant, lotion, hair care, etc...) are paraben free, aluminum free and sulfate free

Use all natural cleaning products in my home - no chemicals, sulfates

Exercise 5 days a week/keep low weight

Vitamins daily:  good multi vitamin, vitaman B complex, vitamin D, pro biotics for stomach, calcium

Reduce wine intake - save it for special occasions

Drink minimum of 8 glasses of water a day

I know this may seem extreme to some, but it works for me.  My family is adapting well to the eating changes (but they are not too different from how we ate before -just a little different).  I have been even baking low fat low sugar muffins and browies.   My 4 year old loves it and doesn't notice anything different.  I also feel like I am teaching my son how to eat healthy at an early age which is good.

Well, here are my top 5 changes since Dx:

1. Exercise every single day. I've broken this a few times, but I've made a pact with myself to do even minimal activity (walking, stretching, some static exercises, etc) even if I don't make it out to the lake for a bike ride or to the gym.

2. Paraben free makeup and skincare products. I use a lot of coconut oil, natural products, and very little perfume. (did find one GREAT one that has no pthlates or parabens thanks to this board, though!)

3. Eat vegetables with every meal. Now, breakfast is almost impossible, so I use lunch and dinner for this. I've gotten pretty good at it, and I make sure I have 3 colors on my plate (some cooked, some raw) each and every day. I keep the mantra "Every meal is a chance to fight disease" in the back of my mind to remind myself of why I am eating this way.

4. Relax. I used to be a stress cadet. I'm a lot more relaxed these days, and I try not to worry like I used to. I used to worry A LOT. Over ANYTHING. I don't do that so much anymore. Well, maybe just a little bit. Some habits are hard to break.

5. Supplements. I make sure that I am taking all my supplements to ensure that I am getting every nutrient possible to help my body.

I think that's it for me. I really have calmed down a lot as a person, and I don' t try to tackle too much at once.  Great topic for a thread, BTW.

P.S. Wanted to add that I am swimming in chlorinated water, too. I figure the benefits outweigh the cons, especially since I take a nice, hot steaming shower afterwards and scrub my skin. I've added it to my repertoire of workouts (I did a triathlon last weekend), and it's a great form of exercise, so as previous poster said...... Go for it! SWIM!!!

Before dx, I had been vegetarian for 9 years, never smoked, never drank alcohol, never did drugs, exercised regularly and was strong enough to do multiple pull-ups, had a healthy BMI, used natural bodycare products only, slept at least 8 hours most nights, shopped at farmer's markets for organic veggies, ETC.  I was pissed off that I was dx'd at age 30, despite living like such a health nut.  So rather than going down the path of trying to figure out how I could change my personal life even more - diet, lifestyle, habits, etc - I re-focused my energies on advocating for SOCIETY to change. 

I DO take a ton of anti-cancer supplements, and I gave up sugar, and I eat vegetables that are specifically anti-breast-cancer, but more than that, I do the following:

- I volunteered at an event that raised money for an organization that researches the environmental causes of BC and advocates for their elimination.

- I blog to raise awareness of the hypocracy of carcinogen-producing companies (e.g. KFC) simultaneously having breast cancer awareness campaigns.  I wrote to KFC to complain about their "Buckets for the Cure" campaign.

- I ask the local stores that I shop at if they use receipt paper that has BPA in it.  After all, what's the point of buying BPA-free cans of food if you then get BPA all over your hands anyway just by going through the check-out line?

- I sign petitions to Obama to demand Federal regulation of cancer-causing toxins, email my representatives to either support or argue against legislation involving cancer-causing toxins, etc., by staying informed through Breast Cancer Action, Pesticide Action Network, etc.

- I support businesses who make a commitment to creating and selling safe, toxin-free products.

Yes, we need to shield ourselves from the toxins and do what we can to detoxify our bodies, but the toxins shouldn't be in our air, water, food, soil, and household products in the first place.  I feel that in addition to the ways in which we change our personal lives in an attempt to prevent cancer, we need to demand that the carcinogen producers and promotors change their ways as well.

I swam as soon as I could after my mastectomy and I feel it helped me heal faster.  It certainly made me feel better!  Excercise, organic foods, moderate treats (like wine) and sex!

i like this thread! the only thing that ive been doing is remembering to take my tamoxifen and supplements every day., Also im a big meat eater so ive reduced that by half of what i used to eat.

I shoudl stop sugar, should exercise more should drink more water.........ok after reading this thread......you girls are motivating me...........!!!! thank you- i needed this.

I totally agree with Raili.

I was already doing all those things before my dx. I was floored when told I have IDC. How can a healthy 50 year old who runs 5 miles a day 5 days a week, avoids all BPA products, eats organic,  doesn't eat red meat, doesn't consume sugar, has one glass of wine a month, drinks green tea, blah blah blah get cancer?!!!!

So the top 5 things I'm doing since the diagnoses are:

I've added mega Curcumin, and 5 other new anti cancer suppliments to my already full suppliments list

Fresh chopped hot Ginger tea daily

filter on showerhead to filter out Chlorine

refused radiation, refused tamoxifen, and or other HT

And my favorite: Seeing an acupuncturist and taking chinese herbs to help my body find Natural Balance.

Mrs Chorlton-

I had the same experience. I felt so betrayed by my diagnosis, since I was crunchy-granola organic, ex-professional ballet dancer. I breastfed 3 children, exercised daily, drank h20 and ate well balanced meals.

I have tried to keep my head on my shoulders about it all and I'm maintaining my regime pretty well, but added the vitamin supplements and cut out a lot of sugar and milk products in my diet. My Dx was a kick in the pants for me to find out where the holes were in my diet and lifestyle that could be changed, I guess.

As far as what could have caused it? Who the heck knows, but I have a sneaking suspicion that my birth control pills had something to do with it......

MrsChorlton:  Know what you mean about seeing others who don't take care of their bodies and don't seem to get cancer.   

I've alway tried to eat somewhat healthy but much more so since diagnosis.

I rarely eat red meat.   Switched from Splenda to Truvia or Agave Nector as a sweetner for my one cup of coffee in the am.  

Switched to organic as much as possible.   The little bit of milk I use in the am for my coffee is organic.  Eat lots of veggies and fruit and limit carbs.  Use brown rice or wheat pasta when I do. Limit sweets.   Allow myself a little now and then.

Met with a Nauropath to go over what I eat and my supplements.

Do Yoga and walk.

Drink Brassica tea daily at least 2 cups a day (as recommended by Johns Hopkins Breast site- has SGS the antioxident from Broccoli)

Deanna,

In total agreement about the stock in "regular" supermarkets. I find myself staring at shelves and shelves of boxes, thinking "It's all completely filled with CHEMICALS".  Unfortunately for me (wallet and kiddos), I still have to go to regular supermarkets and places like Sams/Costco.  I try to give the kids the items that count in terms of organics: milk/dairy, certain veggies and fruits, and I spend most of my Whole Foods excursions buying stuff for me. I find the cost of all organic either prohibitive to cook for the entire family, or just simply too "out there". My kids really did not like kale last night, and I really had to agree-- it was TOUGH and not particularly tasty!!! I'm learning--slowly-- how to cook my "new" staples..... 

I exercised before, but now make absolutely sure I exercise every day.

No major diet changes.  Ate a ton of veggies before, and still do.  Trying to eat more salmon, but don't always succeed.  Gave up soy products which I despise anyway.

Vitamin D and calcium supplements daily.

Aspirin daily.  I took frequently anyway, as usually hurting from the endurance events I do.

I thought about giving up wine in a demented moment.  I decided as one of the supreme pleasures in my life that I couldn't do this one.

I pay someone to cut my hair.  Didn't for years, but with short growing out, I need professional help here.  Nice to have help with moving into my new look.

Finally, tossed an outdated look with an evolving and exciting new look that reflects the vital woman I am.

Sue-I tried all the gree nteas.even the ones that really have no value like Liptons.i hate them all but im trying real hard.if and when i do i put raw brown sugar/agava/honey/cinnamon and then its still not my favorite drink...but i know its very important

and soy-----im glad we dont have to do that one.double yuk.

I also gave up soaps(only dove unscented) Toms of Maine deoderant,and i clean my house with either a mixture of alcolol and water or venegar and water.

I still feel i have a long way to go.I think we all will be changing things forever.