Am I too fat to survive BC?!

I thought I had a low chance of getting cancer, never had any weight issues, always active and played a lot of sport, healthy diet, non smoker, blah blah blah. I had bone mets 18 months after original dx, and just dxd with liver mets.

We just don't know enough about what triggers cancer. You have enough to deal with without beating yourself up. I did find that exercising helped me get through treatment physically and mentally, and as strange as it may sound, the more exercise I did, the less fatigued I felt.

I'm slim and fit, have always been. But look at me!

Actually, most BC patients that I've come across in real life have been slim. I wish being slim reduced my anxiety on recurrence, but it doesn't. Not to be fatalistic, but a lot of this is too random and so many variables are at play that are still unknown to us. In the big scheme of things weight may only be a small part for some patients.

Hopefour--I wonder if MD Anderson actually had any scientific data to back up that claim?!?

We make oestrogen from fat after menopause, that is why being a healthy weight is important.........the more fat we have the more oestrogen we créate........my BMI is just over 25 and I cannot get it under so all my records state I am overweight, even though I do not look it at all..........so there is a reason to keep to a healthy weight if you had a hormone driven breast cáncer...

I am stage 3B and am now out 13 years next month. I have been in a study for the past ten years that is looking at the impact moderate exercise and healthy weight have on recurrence. My onc explains to me that exercise lowers circulating estrogen. Also, the less fat on our bodies the better. Yes, it is true the AI's don't work as well for those of us who are over weight.

I have never had a weight problem but was still diagnosed with ILC. I do cardio one hour a day, five days a week. I eat a low carb diet. This also lowers my blood sugar which is very important for bc patients. At my fittest, my BMI was about 19. That is where my onc wants me. However, right now it is hovering around 20. I am 5'7 and weigh 130.

There are many studies that suggest moderate exercise lowers our recurrence risk substantially. I am involved in a group of survivors who are using the Paleo diet with great success.

Hope this helps.

Yeah - I've always been very active, never overweight, never smoked anything, good diet, no known cancer history on either side of family for 4 generations. Do not need to lower my blood sugar as I can be hypoglycemic at times.

I do agree that it is much better for our overall health to be active and not obese or aneortic as while they are on the exteme ends, both can be deadly. There are no simple answers.

I was looking for actual studies.

I have seen studies with mixed results, a couple that show higher rates of estrogen in post menopausal women treated with AI's over non/obese(both overweight and normal weight). However I saw one that said that survival rate on AI's was higher for obese women over normal weight women. All of the information I have seen has been on very small sample sizes, which could skew results either way.

It's all so confusing. I guess that the answer is we are all individuals and it's not a one size fits all disease or treatment.

I think most of it is just bad luck, excluding any known genetic component. I was pretty fit when I was diagnosed—had just trained for and did a half marathon 8 months before. But I've always had a high BMI. I have never looked as heavy as I actually weighed. Even now at 195, I look more like I'm around 160. "Solid" is the word that comes to mind.

So far, so good on an AI. Yes, it's added some weight and I should exercise more than I do, but I eat healthily, don't smoke, and watch my alcohol intake. The development of some osteoarthritis in my hips/lower back is the primary culprit for the aversion to exercise.

Elaine, I understand your point about the 2.5mg dosage and patients different weight. Chemo drugs are prescribed on your height and weight.

I will ask my MO when I see her, it is something I have never thought about before, now curious myself.

It's impossible to say exactly what causes cancer from one person to another, but research does show that up to 80% of cases are down to lifestyle choices whether that's being overweight, smoking, drinking too much, stress, sugar and chemicals. I think if you'v had bc cancer and are PR/ER positive, then minimising any of the risks mentioned above (which can cause weight gain and increase estrogen production) and introducing exercise is a good way to go.

Sure there are people who will get cancer regardless and who may have a genetic mutation and disposition to it, but I'd rather know I did everything i could (the second time around) to prevent it from coming back. Especially because if you have had it once, then we know the body is capable of creating that same dynamic again given the right conditions.

Admittedly it is hard to stay on the healthyfood wagon, but if I do have a treat, then I am way more committed to burn it off these days.

Freya...there are no studies to back up a lower dosage or a dosage that is weight related so thats why the standard is prescribed . I agree it doesn't make any sense!

I want to be clear. MD Anderson very much stated that their research shows ALs works best within a patients BMI. They also stated exercise was important. Both these recommandations where in regards to recurrence rates!! NOTgetting BC. Due to my background and where I grew up they think probable cause for my BC was my excess exposer to DDT. I would like to also share MD Anderson is extremely concervative in stating recommendations, treatments or expressing an option with out research to back them. I also see Dr. Block, a BC specialist in Fort Worth, my MO in my home town and a Doc in New York with a PHd from Harvard specializing in BC as well as MD Anderson. Each gives me insight and knowledge in regards to BC and all mention the need for keeping my weight down…no easy task and by far not the only action I take to stay hopefully in remission, but one I believe in and totally understand if others don't.

Hopefour, thanks for sharing your information from MDA! I appreciate it when I find more information that validates what I have had preached to me for the past 13 years by my Onc.

Freya, if you get any answers about the "one size fits all" AIs, please let us know! I believe it is a big, unaddressed elephant in the room.

SSInUK, I was on Femara for 5 years and then switched to Tamoxifen for the last almost 5. Too many personal side effects (dryness/UTI's) with Femara. Now I am able to use the estring and feeling great and things are greatly improved. I will stay on Tamoxifen forever if she wants me to.

Cyn