Looking for Diet and Lifestyle Advice from Long Term Survivors

MelissaDallas... I'm the same way.  I try to eat healthy diet with a focus on plant foods, but I do eat chicken and red meat in moderation.  I've been doing really well at incorporating more fish into my diet, so I'm pleased about that.  I still eat whole grains and the occasional bowl of pasta.  I'm way to active not to have some carbs in my diet; without the complex carbs and protein, I tire too easily on my 30 mile bike hikes.  I watch portion sizes, enjoy an occasional treat (like pizza twice a year) and don't beat myself up over the few glasses of wine I have in a month.  Maintaining my weight and health is important not just for breast cancer, but for the extremely high incidence of heart disease in my family.  But I want to enjoy my life too and food is a big part of it.

Hi Ladies,

Several of you have mentioned acupuncture, which I am interested in. Tell me if its true that med insurance does not cover it, or if there are any instances where ins MIGHT cover it. Is it expensive? One person told me it costs around $85 a session. 

Thanks to all who share!  I was recently diagnosed and had a lumpectomy, and am waiting for dr.visits to find out my treatments. I love to hear about long term survivors. It is very encouraging to those of us just beginning our journeys. 

God bless!

Hi everyone - Can I just vent my frustration? I've spent the last few months trying to figure out this diet thing. The hard part is that I've been a vegetarian for years, had a healthy weight and lifestyle that included exercise, had a mostly healthy diet (probably 80/20 ratio of healthy to unhealthy) - and yet I still got breast cancer at 38 years old. I got the book The Pink Ribbon Diet from the library and it basically suggested eating all that I was eating before I got cancer. When I was diagnosed all my friends were shocked because my diet and lifestyle are healthier than the vast majority of people and yet I got cancer. My oncologist told me that other than having BC I am in excellent health. I've been looking around to see if there are any further modifications I can make to my diet to help prevent a recurrence. I came across the Eat to Beat Cancer website, which is based on Dr. William Li's work on  angiogenesis and cancer. I did some reading and downloaded the list of foods suggested. Of course, many of those foods are on the "do not eat" list for the ketogenic diet plan. So, who do I trust and what do I do? I'm about ready just to throw out all the rules and just do what makes sense which is generally eating well with occasional treats and exercising frequently - which is what I did before the cancer. It's disappointing that there doesn't seem to be any real clear rules for eating right to prevent a recurrence. There are many theories but there is no way to tell which one is most accurate. 

Thank you, Wrenn. You are right. I've done the right things to prevent getting BC and I still got it. I'm just going to focus on the big picture which is living well, enjoying life and doing what I can to be healthy. I'm just going to go zen out a bit now.

Hi Ladies:

some great posts here

and long time thrivers as well

I just hit the l4 yr mark, thriver

very blessed

my diet, I try to eat lots of kale, and the cruciferous veggies

papyas, mangos, kiwis, an assortment of fruit

really with veg, try to get an assortment of colours on ur plate

I do drink a glass of red wine

dont walk enough but will start again

and try to keep my stress level down

I have high BP

i have tofu the odd time, dont have red meat v. often

organic chicken and salmon

and a regime of vitamins

wishing you all well on ur journey

and hoping Spring arrives soon

I do drink lots of water

Sierra

Warriorchick, I'm kind of in sync with all the latest posters--The healthier the diet, the better, but within reason. Personally, I would not rule any food out 100%.  That said, I have eaten almost no beef, pizza, or pasta since diagnosis.  If someone ordered a pizza, however, I'd either have a slice, or make my own with some kind of veggie base (Artichoke? Squash? Turnip?) and tomato sauce, veggies and cheeses on top.  As for pasta, there is always spaghetti squash.  I don't know any more about this than any of the rest of us, but my guess would be that the absolutely best time to watch your diet like a hawk would indeed be while you are/were going through chemo and rads (anything to help those treatments zap the little buggers). As far as I recall, the only actions (other than treatments) statistically proven to reduce recurrence are reducing fat in our diets and on our tummies, and getting three hours or more of exercise/week.  Circulating insulin is shown to be a growth factor for BC, so it's wise to limit carbs, and try to combine them with protein foods. 

If only food could control cancer!  There is lots of advice out there, but thus far no cure, and no proven unsafe foods or food groups.  As others have said, the key seems to be moderation and variety.  Like most of us, I've grilled my onc, and he just says that we ER+ ladies, "Can't be too thin."  Sigh. 

Brookside - Yes, sigh. We can't be too thin but it is so so hard if not impossible to lose weight due to menopause and effects of anti horminals (tamoxifen for me).   I have been exercising regularly and really watching the carbs and the scale has hardly budged.