BWEL Breast Cancer Weight Loss Study

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I have been accepted into the BWEL Weight Loss Study and was randomized into the lots of support and good stuff arm. I already wore an accelerometer for a week to get a baseline of my activity. I will get a Fitbit to capture my steps and other activities. I got a food scale and a wireless scale in the mail today along with a workbook which I will work through with my counselor on the phone. I'm already about ten pounds down because my Tamoxifen has killed my appetite. I'm going to have to work on nutrition because I'm also a diabetic. It seems like a lot of work but I'm trying to look ahead to the Good things that could come from this. Anyone else in this study

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Arty How is it going? Have you seen any difference in your blood sugar numbers? Fatigue levels? What baseline lab studies are being watched and how often? Would it be too much to ask for a periodic update as to your impressions on what is happening with you?

    Good Luck with it, sassy

  • ArtyMom
    ArtyMom Member Posts: 71
    edited May 2017

    OK, finally something to update about. A couple of weeks ago, I got a food and scale and a regular scale and a bunch of workbooks. Seemed a bit daunting. Had my first call with my coach this afternoon. So we start slow, getting used to tracking what you eat and then calories and fat, Then we talk about fitness. None of the nutritional information is new to me but it's good to have someone to be accountable to. If I can lose 20 pounds, I'd be in the best shape of my life.

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Arty, it would be also interesting to hear about your contact with the coach. Many insurances companies are doing this as a way to improve outcomes. Particularly, avoiding hospital readmissions. Your companies approach sounds like a bit of a different approach. It will take you several months to see if the approach is valuable. Then based on your assessment here, can guide members if this type of program has value.

    Mixed bag if you tell the company you are a member of BCO and are going to make an assessment report here, versus just doing it and write your assessment. If the company knows you are making a report here to BCO members, and your coach reports that back to management, you just might get extra attention.

    This is my thinking, if you say "I'm going to report on BCO, my assessment of this experience".

    The usual scenario is asking for your feedback on the program. How can we make it better, did we miss anything, could we have done anything better? That's a normal business response. From a business standpoint it makes great sense. It brings in the insurance dollars that pay their salaries. You will become part of their team to create a better program, if they realize they can reach the wider BCO community. Never hesitate with them to describe what is or isn't working about the program.

    Again are they going to track any bloodwork----baseline and overtime?

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    " if they realize they can reach the wider BCO community." We are essentially a wide open community. We are one of the greatest communities. I am so sure we have soooooooooo many people from all different spheres reading us. They learn what they need to do, and study from us. They could even study more and are missing the opportunity.

    Arty, you are entering a commensal relationship. You can learn from them and they can learn from you :)


  • ArtyMom
    ArtyMom Member Posts: 71
    edited May 2017

    3 weeks into this study and I'm down about 4 pounds. Feeling good, keeping track of what you eat really makes you think before putting junk food in my mouth. Coach spends some of his time trying to get me to not be so hard on myself. I'd found some excellent new recipes and actually cooked for the family

  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 679
    edited October 2017

    I just ran across this Trial and looked it up, my Dr is on the list of participating Dr's but has never mentioned it to me. I'm less than a month away from the cut off of one year from diagnosis. I'm wondering if I should try to get in with my Dr to see if I qualify for this. I read the criteria but don't understand every bit of it. I've got an appt with her to be randomized for the Pallas trial already but it's only a week before the cut off date for me. I'm wondering if that enough time?



  • Tuna27
    Tuna27 Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2018

    Arty how was the trial been going since you joined? Just came across the study and considering joining.



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