What foods are you eating to reduce recurrence?

modified citrus pectin, astragalus, curcumin, and eating "clean" (organic/no pesticides/no soy) and vegan.  more green tea than i drank prior to my dx. lots of greens like kale, etc.   trying to avoid all alcohol except for special occasions. 

Abandoned my beloved high fat, high protein (beef, cheese, more beef, more cheese) diet.  Eating small amounts of fish and chicken, lots of fruit (too much sugar, do you think?), more veggies (mostly raw). Using avocado rather than butter.  Less mayonnaise. Lots of crackers and English muffins and roll up sandwiches with not much in them.  Substituted a couple of slices of packaged, sliced cheese, or string cheese, for big, yummy hunks of lovely cheese that I just keep chomping away at.  Never used much sugar, but trying to eliminate it pretty much totally, but a bit worried about fructose.  Less food in general--my onc says this ER positive thing says you can't be too thin.  Trying to work in yogurt for calcium.  Have lost 25 pounds in about six months.  For this, I mostly thank arimidex, which seems to have reduced my appetite and made beef taste funny.

My first goal is tummy fat.  Having been pretty successful, I'm looking to move on to identifying specific cancer fighters.  I'm happy to hear what everyone out there is doing, and, especially, the why's and why not's.

Thank you for saying that you can't be too thin with ER+. I agree.  I am sick of having to explain to others why even though I'm 5.8.5" and 132 lbs, I need to get below 130 to remain below 20% body fat because I'm highly ER+ and don't want any place on me for estrogen to hang around in.  Non-cancered folks take a look at me when I tell them I'm vegan and have to be careful and need to drop a few lbs and tell me (I'm too thin) and that I need some "extra" for fall-back (I haven't heard anyone talk like that since the depression years!). 

They just don't get it.  I'm tired of justifying.

C

Everyone here has adopted some lifestyle changes pretty similar to mine. I was vegetarian before diagnosis...now vegan. Mostly organic produce, limited fruit...however I eat a ton of berries everyday...incredibly powerful foods! Also along with tons of veggies, I make sure I eat lots of Brussels sprouts everday. Beans..beans..beans!!! No white anything. No added sugar. Drink only green tea, water or water with lemon...great for the liver and digestion. I tak curcumin, maitake extract and sulphur orphans..a broccoli extract. Of course..a B complex vitamin because im vegan. But I eat lots of broccoli. Lots of greens..dark greens..not iceberg lettuce. Steel cut oats many mornings with walnuts. Only small amounts of olive oil for salads, along with apple cider vinegar. No bottled dressings. Ezekial sprouted breads and cereal with unsweetened almond milk. Once in a great while I will splurge and have the silk almond milk vegan soft serve. It's a great treat. And of course...on femara. Good luck lovely ladies!!!

I haven't given up all alcohol.  I figure that with my killer athletic schedule I'm burning off the effects.  But I don't binge drink, or drink everyday or even every week, or anything like that.

I've been vegan at times in my life, vegetarian, paleo, and regular old American diet.  I don't like meat and don't crave dairy or even bread-never have, so going back to vegan (without any SOy of course!) was a fairly easy choice.

Brookside VT I bet you look wonderful too!!!!!!

aviva5675 - congratulations on your weight loss from Medifast!!! I know how much discipline that took!!!

In March 2012 (3 months post-BMX), I went on Optifast, lost 60 pounds, and regained my health. Then I went on Anastrozole, didn't change my diet at all (still on 3 Optifast products a day) and regained 20 pounds.

I am now halfway through my 8 week drug holiday from Anastrozole, and even though I am SO careful as to what I eat, the pounds just hang on. I am just now barely able to move again, and I do believe that exercise is the key to maintaining weight loss.

Claire - I had people say the same thing to me when I met my weight loss goal: that I needed to gain a little bit back to have some "reserve" in case I got sick. It got to be too difficult to explain that this "reserve" would just be a breeding ground for excess estrogen, and that I am 100% ER+. Now that I'm not on the AI, it's even more important to get that "reserve" off of me!!!! 

I know its beyond my control, but I will be annoyed if I gain back much of what Ive lost. I started anastrazole 3 days ago. Im trying to think positive and end up in the no/low se column. Hoping weight gain isnt going to be one.

Hi to all,

    Try to watch the video " Healing Cancer inside and OUT" also buy Dr. Furhman books and video. I started following his diet and I lost weight woithout so much struggles. Also I increased my energy level and I dont get tired easily. I got diagnosed in April 2011 and got surgery in July started chemo in Aug and finish my herceptin in january of this year. Not much side effects and No sign of the disease. Just follow the GBOMBS diet which is greens, berries, onions, mushrooms, beans and seeds especially flax seeds. I am now 80% vegan. Try to type Dr. Furhman and you will be happy you did. I am more confident and not scared anymore because its true. Its what we put in our mouth that helps us defend ourselves in any kinds of disease.

I'm so excited to find this thread! I was beginning to think I was being too extreme, when so many survivors I know eat "normal". I start the day with a kale smoothie with chia, powdered greens, hemp protein, and I just bought some Garden of Life protein that sounds awesome. I also add a carrot, either coconut water or almond milk and a few nuts. Sometimes some berries. Otherwise right now I have no fruit, no sugar (I've even avoided natural non sugar sweeteners because I'm afraid of reviving my sweet tooth!), I eat lots of vegetables with emphasis on cruciferous, beans, occasionally a piece of Ezekial bread, and sometimes rice. I will do fish and venison, no ham or processed meats. No potatoes except sweet potatoes. And melatonin, turmeric, mushrooms, vit D3, cod liver oil and I forget what else.



Also started exercising 35 mins a day 5x week. I've lost 28 lbs since July and look so much better, although I still would love to lose 20 more. Right now my bmi is 25.something - I'm actually happy to be so close to being in the normal weight range! What is the suggested bmi for a good survival rate? Is it really 20?

That's awesome Brookside! Doesn't it feel good to lose the weight?! I'm a bit paranoid of starting the tamoxifan though - I'm afraid it will go back on!



My friends always say I've eaten really healthy, but I don't think it's been as healthy as they think. I've been making cakes for friends anniversaries and weddings - it's hard not to taste. After my dx I thought of getting rid of all of my equipment, but now I'm ok with it - I have so much more willpower than ever before. Funny the things you do when you have a monster at your heels! I do plan on trying some gluten free recipes that using almond or coconut flour - just have to figure out how to sub stevia or xylitol for agave nectar. But to answer your question, I have had my green smoothies for a couple of years, haven't eaten fast food in about a year, and typically eat what others call "healthy" - but now I'm MUCH more strict! I'm actually afraid of sugar and refined carbs. I'm guessing I will relax in time, but meanwhile I'm enjoying what it's doing to my body! (Although I do have to admit that anxiety has played a big role in appetite reduction!)

Everyone here has great advice and information!

I made the following changes since May 2013

Eat organic mostly (vegetables, fruits, meats,bread and dairy)

Use almond milk instead of milk but occasionally will eat organic cheese and cows milk.

Avoid sugar but occasionally will have some, use pure stevia mostly (made with no alcohol)

No alcohol

lots of brocolli

cooked white button mushrooms (1/4 cup daily, but not raw!)

Supplements:

Turmeric

Brocolli extract capsules

Vitamin D

Maitake Mushroom Capsules

Multi vitamin

Also no sunscreen/makeup/soap with parabens or phtalates

Thats it, and thats enough!LOL

Have gotten rid of alot of cleaning products also and use mostly

citrus infused vinegar to do all kinds of disenfecting and cleaning

Baking soda too instead of cleanser.

My eyes read Bob Marley and mushrooms. I was ready to jump all over that!

for cruciferous:  brussel sprouts, still delicious

Great thread!  I have always been veg, but I have lived a very high-stress lifestyle that had my cholesterol through the roof despite my diet.  So I'm doing a lot more deep breathing, waking up with the concept of peace instead of coffee and email buzzes, and paying more attention to my diet.  I have two weak spots:  I love sweets, and I love alcohol.  The latter is a bigger challenge, as I'm a director and have to wine and dine folks a lot.

I keep my vitamins to a dull roar, as my oncologist recommended I not compete with the Tamoxifen.  She has serious concern for how vitamins and supplements react with Tamoxifen, and says there will never been enough study.  So I've gone sorta lean and mean:  calcium for my sad bones, magnesium, D, Tamox and biotin for my sad hair post-chemo.

Regarding food, it's primarily fresh vegetables from a CSA, nuts, seeds, Ezekiel bread, beans and fruits.  I don't eat out a lot.  I really think the eating out is a problem with all the added oil, salt, sugar and inorganic foods.

I try to keep my weight to 130 @5 ft 7.  Bottom line, the chemopause and Tamox have made this more of a challeng.e  I can't do better than I am now, I exercise and eat reasonably well. The stress of thinking too much about it isn't good for me, either.  But I would like to be about 127 for the reasons stated here.  I lift weights, and have put on some nice bulk.  This is mostly for my bones.

Brookside, I have cut most sugar and white carbs out of my diet. I do not substitute with fakes, I just skip it. If I am somewhere and they have some sweet that I really love, I will have a small serving, but I no longer drink juice or iced tea, I do not make sweets at home, I do not eat honey on my yogurt and I do not add any sugar or syrup to pancakes.