Top 5 changes to make after BC

I just found this site and it's exactly what I've been looking.   I'm on my Rads countdown and only have 6 more to go so I've been wondering what changes/improvements I should plan on making to my lifestyle.  I got my Femara script from my MO about 2 weeks ago and I was really surprised when she told me I shouldn't continue my one glass of white wine a day but should try to skip days!  Claire_in_Seattle, I so agree with you about that!  I don't mind giving up red meat and making improvements to my diet, but at almost 68 there should still be some pleasures/vices in our day that we can still retain! 

Sorry gurls, I had forgotten to add topic to favs and got lost in cyberspace - darn chemo brain

Grannydukes: Thank you !  You made me laugh so hard....darn bladder  - I wonder if I have any good parts left !  Coz my ferritin is very low, found some buffalo meat to replace beef (more expansive though).  I hesitated a long time before tasting it.  It's actually delicious.  No Fat at all.  Now, please tell me that buffalos feed on grass out in the clean air year round and are not fed antibiotics nor hormones !!

Ruth in Singapore: I agree for those of us who are ER+, it's important we be careful with phytoestrogens and they seem to be everywhere.  Like you say, pomegranates are good for cancer but not for ER+ and the list goes on and on.  Who would of thought COFFEE !!!! 

Mnmom: Sorry I confused you.  I only copied what seemed to be most relevant for Grannydukes in that article   Here is the link www.fibroid101.com/phyto.htm  The full article will make much more sense. 

Ruthbru :  Ditto, the first thing I read after diagnosis was « You'll know you beat cancer when you die of something else (i.e. heart attack) - that made me feel reeeellly good.  What is it most people ask all the time « Are you in remission ? »  Remission ????  What the h....r u talking about ?  Looked it up in dictionnary.  Nope, no help there !!!!! 

May I say also, you have great comebacks

That girl :  Don Quai keeps popping up in my searches

Marianna HB - Have to agree that THE BC « process » will make anyone feel invincible

Ouf !  Have a very pleasant Sunday ladies

Hello mightymon, I know i must exercise that body of mine, but

i seriously lack what is needed, I

would much rather sit with a book.

I guess until one gets hooked on

those endorphins, its a real effort.

My brother starting running after his triple

bypass and it has turned his life

around although i don't like the

looks of his black toenails:))

There are several great exercise buddy threads on BCO. I 'confess' what I did for exercise on 'Lets Post Our Daily Exercise', and that helps me keep motivated.

I walked all the time in the wig; bought a bunch of exercise DVDs, and did my other workouts at home. I was too shy too.

Hi Luan, I wearing Beau Beau Scarves to my gym (www.4women.com). It's pre tie and really secure. In yoga class I can do Bridge Post and Downward Facing Dog Post without worrying about it coming off.

My boss's mum is my inspiration. She start running on her 50th birthday and now at 74 had run about 90 marathons! Her goal is to hit 100 marathon before she retire. Wow! running marathon in your 70! I'll be happy if I can walk or live that long! 

I'm always thinking of her on my really bad day with the chemo.  

Thank u Sherbear for you words of wisdom )

I have just found this thread.  Kale chips are VERY VERY popular in our house.  I use the dinosauer kale, wash it, trim the ends, cut in pieces and toss with a bit of olive oil.  If you don't like the stems, you can trim the leafy part away.  Stuff the whole thing on a cookie sheet (single layer) in a 400 degree oven and bake until crispy.  Watch closely as overdone kale chips are not nearly as much fun.

Once crispy, you can also crumple and put on popcorn.

Like many of you, I considered myself pretty darned healthy prediagnois.  I have posted often that the cause of bc can't just be how you eat because I didn't eat all that stuff and hadn't for over 20 years.  The last few months I have been on a holiday down the river of deNile---I was really good about taking my vitD and I stopped.  I took my calcium and other vits--stopped.  I meditated every morning with my oldest and I found excuses not to do it.  I was good about excercising --going to the gym or walking to the farther away bus with my son--and I made excuses not to do it.  Avoiding the office candy dish--well I'll just take a couple of jelly beans, thats not so bad. got rid of my bike and didn't replace it.  And then there is the mammogram that I should have gotten last month and still I haven't scheduled.

I am taking a deep breathe and getting myself back on the path to take care of me.  I don't want a reoccurance and I need to do the stuff I need to do to take as much control over my life as I can to make sure there is no round 2.  Thanks to all for the support.

LOVE this topic! I've feeling so overwhelmed with all the advice; its never ending! I love the idea of going for the top five. I plan to go back and read through but for now, I'm going to add my two cents on kale and greens.

Greens of any kind can be added to just about every savory dish. Sliced into thin strips and tossed into soups, sauted as side dish or combined with other veggies, saute & toss with quinoa, and toss into salads. I've been experimenting wIth green smoothies and try to have some kind of greens on hand (they recommend rotating different greens). I chop greens and freeze on a cookie sheet and store in container when I can't use them up as fresh. They good frozen - crunchy! I freeze just about everything and put in smoothies, cucumber & ginger are two of my favorite smoothie ingrediants. One of our local stores sells a bagged mix of organic kale, chard, & spinach, washed, chopped, ready to go.

Amen Raili! I too had a very healthy lifestyle. Didn't drink, eat refined sugar, smoke, very little meats. Was doing what I thought would protect me against BC. Had kids young. But I did take birth control pills and did not eat organic on a regular basis. I know the toxins played a big part in my BC. So at 42 right before Christmas 2010...the Earth stood still with a cancer DX. I am great now, 2 month post BLMX. And have rid my life with as many toxins as possible.

My Oncologist recommended Tamoxifen, of course. But if you look on the Prop 65 website of known carcinogens, Tamoxifen is there twice as a known cancer causing carcinogen the system stinks! We have to be own cure!

Cheers Cori

Treesprite



I too struggled with putting myself & health first, with 3 kids a husband, running our own business...I was last in line. That has all changed now! I am becoming the change I want. And so can you! Self love is what I am learning. My list:

1. Self love

2. Be accountable for what I do & put into my body.

3. Recommit everyday....

4. Learn about the safety of our food & medicines we use.

5. Don't sweat the small stuff because it usually is not worth it.

Bonus: choose to be happy...it really is a choice.

P.S I miss Washington! Born & raised in Seattle. In Ca. For the last 14 yrs.

Changes I have made

 1. Drink green tea instead of coffee

 2. Lots of vegetables, fruit and nuts - Broccoli sprouts, Broccoli soup, a couple a times a week

 3. No dairy, no red meat, yes to fish

 4. Try to not have sugar and white flour, I do fail at that sometimes

 5. Daily supplements, Vitamin D3, Omega3 salmon oil tablets, Tumeric, Garlic, Qenzime 10 and a few others.

 6. Try to exercise at least 5x week for 30 - 45 minutes - walking, swimming, gym, aquafit

 7. Go to bed by 10:00 pm as much as possible

 8 Starting yoga

 9 Use stove as much as possible not microwave

 10. Change cosmetics to organic ones

 I am sure I have made some other changes. I have made many changes under the guidance of MD's specializing in complimentary therapies. I am higly ER and PR positive, HER negative

I have lost weight, have more stamina, skin is better. Also, I don't have any headaches anymore. I suffered terribly from headaches before.

I do these things to hopefully aid in the prevention of a recurrence. I have read Schreiber's books, seen many of his videos and what he says makes sense. Ofcourse there are no guarantees at all.

I love Steaz green teas. Both the blueberry/acia and the peach.  It uses cane sugar,but is only lightly sweetened. Kinda pricey, but yumm....even my kids love them.

sleep.....easier said than done!