Long term survivors, have you changed your lifestyle

Hi!

I was diagnosed six years ago (you can see my diagnosis in my signature). I was also Stage III, and I also worry about recurrence. I've been doing ovulation suppression (Zoladex) + an aromatase inhibitor (Aromasin) for over five years. I try to exercise regularly, but it's been more difficult recently because my kids are home from school so much, thanks to Covid-19, and they can't be left alone unattended (twins with autism). I've been trying to eat more veggies, and that's gotten easier as my daughter (21 y.o.) isn't around much anymore. So, I haven't done anything extreme. I've just tried to take small steps to healthier living. ((Hugs))

Hi Linava,

Thanks for asking this question . We have similar stats and this thread is very helpful☺️ I worry about my diet and the correct supplements to take too, but can't seem to stop eating sweets (although a lot less than before) and my re wine on weekends. I'm only several months out from diagnosis.

I have changed almost nothing. I get a lot of exercise, but I did that before diagnosis. I drink wine in moderation (2-3 glasses a week) and eat pretty much everything, again, in moderation. Red meat maybe a couple of times a month. Lots of fruits and veggies, because I feel better and can keep my weight down more easily. I shun processed soy. No soy supplements or soy milk, but a little soy sauce from time to time is ok.

I'm careful to not miss a dose of letrozole. Yes, it has made me feel stiff and achy from time to time, and it's probably the cause of my recurrent UTIs after lengthy bike rides. Nonetheless, I'm willing to put up with the side effects to keep any rogue cancer cells asleep that might be lurking in my bones or brain or lungs.

Not long after treatment ended I entered a research study involving metformin. It's been shown to have a anti-recurrence effect, so my MO has kept me on it since then. It's probably helped prevent metabolic syndrome for me as well, since I have a lengthy family history of type II diabetes and obesity.

An exercise program I'm involved in has a slogan--"movement is medicine." There isn't much that ails us that increased movement won't help.

lm almost 11 years out from stage 3a...I think I had a pretty healthy lifestyle before cancer, a little healthier since. I might have a glass of wine 2-3 Times/ year, don't eat sugar or white flour, though I do eat dark chocolate every day , use an elliptical or walk about 30 min/ day. I was diagnosed with radiation induced heart disease 7 years after my left sided cancer & have had open heart surgery for a diseased heart valve, so I tend to worry more about the heart stuff than cancer recurrence.

I'm nine years out with IIIc. I eat many more vegetables than I used to. I eat a lot of kale and broccoli sprouts and spinach. I eat less dough and "white stuff" than I used to but still too much. But I try to eat something healthy like a salad before I eat any bread or pasta. I eat the green stuff first to keep the blood sugar from spiking.

I look at glycemic index charts and try to mostly stick to foods that are low or medium. And if I eat something with a high glycemic index I try combine it with something that is low.

After a lifetime of being a night owl, I now try to go to bed at around 10 pm and get good sleep in a dark room. If there's any ambient light I use a sleep mask. I also sometimes supplement with melatonin.

I exercise more too. I walk at the very least but I haven't done so consistently over the past nine years. More like sporadically. I keep little dumbbells by the couch and I use them even if I'm watching TV.

And maybe most importantly, I avoid toxic people as much as possible. I have cut certain people out of my life. I'm trying to protect myself at a cellular level. My advice would be if you feel someone is behaving abusively towards you or around you, whether it be physically, mentally, emotionally, or psychically, change your life and stay away from him or her. But that's regardless of whether or not you've ever had cancer.

I haven't made any significant changes, I was leading a relatively healthy lifestyle before diagnosis. Maybe I eat a bit more vegetables and fruits, but I continue to enjoy a glass of red wine at dinner almost daily.

I don't think most of us got this disease because of unhealthy lifestyles and I don't think lifestyle changes alone can hold it at bay for those who had it already.

this thread is making me sad and mad. It's like it's victim blaming. There is no guarantee .

There is no prevention, only risk reduction.

You can do everything right and still have a terminal recurrence. Or you can tons of things wrong and die decades later of essentially 'natural causes/age.

I'm glad I did everything right because this way I have no regrets. But I think for a while I fell into the oh very seductive trap of thinking my healthy lifestyle would protect me. It didn't.