Preventing Reoccurrence - Any Ideas?

Cyborg, I've been giving this some thought too as I have one more tx in 3 weeks. I know that I will include green smoothies in my diet and supplements (haven't decided which ones). Also, I will have vit c infusions.



Great topic. I need suggestions too. Wishing you all the best.

I agree. I want to do everything I can to avoid a recurrence and you've gotten some good advice on exercise, alcohol, and weight. I believe the American Cancer Society has their list of Top 10 advice (avoid meat with nitrates, maybe all meat if possible). For me, I'm taking a two-pronged approach: a) avoid all the bad environmental stuff and b) make my body as healthy as it can be.

For Part A, I've chosen to eat all organic whenever possible (esp. meat and dairy), I'm avoiding BPA as much as possible (including BPA from canned foods and any plastic-heat connection: not microwaving anything in plastic; trading in my Mr. Coffee for the old-school stainless steal percolator, etc). I'm switching all my "beauty" products to healthier versions, etc.

For Part B, I'm shooting for 5-9 servings of vegetables a day, and trying to eat at least one serving of cruciferious veggies day, cutting back on sugar, trading white flour carbs for whole wheat, etc. (I've bought cookbooks like THE CANCER FIGHTING KITCHEN by Rebecca Katz)

BTW, there are related and in-depth discussions in the Alternative Treatment forum. There are also books on Integrative Cancer treatment, like Anti-Cancer and the one by Block (I found some at my library)

I have been worried about the recurrence issue ever since I was diagnosed.  It seems that treatment is layered these days with surgery, chemo if indicated, hormones, and life-style.  All of the things mentioned are good, since I heard and read about them multiple times.  Weight (because fat cells produce estrogen), diet and excercise are very important.  My onc told me to stay on Tamoxifen longer than 5 years if needed and then go to other treatments if estrogen levels are still high.  My onc said that the risk nevers goes to 0% and the very best it is for anyone is 7-8% once diagnosed.  But think about it, the risk in my area which is San Francisco is 1/8.  So not matter what, we are all fighting this disease whether it be if the form of a primary or secondary.  Just try to live as healthy as possible. And look for new treatments as they come.

Liane, good point that even women w/o BC have a risk of getting it. I've heard there's a 1:8 lifetime risk for all women (I heard there's a 1:70 risk for women in their 40s, my age group) So yes, that "baseline" risk is never going away and is surely included in MO's calculations for our risk of recurrence. And yes, Clarie, I agree, let's not forget to live! 

I too am doing Anti Cancer book ideas.  I have gotten rid of BPA and only buy BPA free canned foods if I have to get anything canned.  I am eating more vegetarian - try to only eat organic meat/chicken/eggs and cheese.  I am eating 5-6 servings of fruit/veggies per day.  I lost 20 lbs since Dec when I was dx and have kept it off.  I exercse 5 days a week minimum for an hour a day.  I use to drink wine several nights a week...now only on weekends - with dinner.  I started baking things from scratch - bagels, bread, low sugar brownies/muffins so I can have some "normal" things.  I am avoiding ALL soy....no soybean oil in foods either (which is hard because it's in almost everything packaged including whole grain bread!).  I don't drink any diet soda/soda or juice...just water.  I am going to add in some teas....have not done that yet. I still see a holistic MD and will continue to take supplements/vitamins to boost my body's health.  I feel like by making those life changes I am empowered a little.....keeping busy keeps my mind off BC.  I hate having down time.  I am also making a lot of changes in my life...quitting my job and starting a business and just being the best mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend I can be.   I also plan to find a way to give back to those going through BC in some way.   Live each day to the fullest...if BC is going to come back - it's going to come back.  Thinking about it and waiting for it to happen is only going to steal precious time from you.  I don't know why I am saying that today like that...I often worry too!  I guess I have to take my own advice....  

Great ideas, totally agree. A few other things that I do.

 1. I drink 3-5 large cups of organic green tea daily. The Japanese kind seems to be the best

 2. I eat organic almonds and walnuts

 3. I am totally off dairy, will have almond milk unsweetened instead

 4. Multi-vitamin, co-enzyme Q10, tumeric, Vitamin D3, Omega 3 supplement

 5. Lots of wild Salmon

 6. Starting yoga, the relaxation part is the hardest part for me.

 7. Use as much as I can stainless steel pots, save left overs in glass, not plastic

  I have decided to believe that it will create a healthy environment in my body. I don't want to focus on the crap shoot theory too much. I need to feel that I have some control over my health.

8. Try to be in bed by 10:00 pm, use melatonin for sleeping

Also limit grapefruit with any anti-hormonal

Hi,

I had ILC BC ER++ in Oct 06 and a recurrence in Oct 10.  I believe that alcohol brings back ILC.  I was on Tamoxifen and it did not prevent it.  I now limit myself to one drink on the weekends and it is either a weak mixed one or a Miller 64.  It's the only thing I did that was against suggestions the year before my recurrence.  I excercise, eat right, sleep right and now I drink mostly water and tea.  I don't know if the fact that my cancer is pleomorphic plays a part too but it could.  I'm taking Armidex now and it is OK except for the stiffness you feel everytime you get up.  It goes away after moving a little so it is doable.  My oncotype DX was a 9 and now I'm stage III.  My BC showed up as small dots on my bad breast so now the skin and breast are gone.  I check my remaining skin about 10 times a day and yes.....it drives me crazy.  I hope none of us get a recurrence of this beast again.

Have a good day,

Nancy

I was curious about the grapefruit and turmeric issues, so I checked my 20 page cheatsheet from the nutritionist (she did a database search in the "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database" for any/all interactions with tamoxifen). Thanks RuthBru for the heads up on grapefruit. From the database:

"Tamoxifen <interacts with> Grapefruit: interaction = major (do not take this combination)

Severity=Moderate, Occurrence=Likely, Level of Evidence=B

Grapefruit juice can inhibit CYP3A4 metabolism of drugs causing some increased drug levels and potentially increasing the risk of adverse effects. "

Back to Peggy:

I couldn't find anything about turmeric or curcumin, but found an entry about the possible SE with tree turmeric. (anyone know the difference between "turmeric" and "tree turmeric"?) ChasingHope, do you know where we can find more info on turmeric's interaction? Sounds like you might have sources we don't know about. thanks

Back to the database:

"Tamoxifen <interacts with> Tree Turmeric Interaction Rating=Moderate, Be cautious with this combination

Severity=Moderate, Occurrence=Possible, Level of Evidence=B

There's very preliminary evidence that berberine, a constituent of tree turmeric, might inhibit cytochrome (CYP3A4) enzyme. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. "

I'm glad you posted that Ann, because I just had a root beer float!