Long term survivors, have you changed your lifestyle

Options
linava
linava Member Posts: 1
edited November 2020 in Stage III Breast Cancer

To all the long term survivors , 5+ years. Have you changed your lifestyle since diagnosis, if so what changes have you made? I am only a few years out from my dx, which was pretty bad. Mine was IDC, stage 3C, 2.5 cm grade 2 tumor with ER/PR+ Her 2- and I had 12/13 nodes test positive with extranodal extension and I worry about a recurrence. When I see the stories of long term survivors, it gives me hope. Knowing if someone made changes and what those changes were would provide me and others with valuable information to enable us to become long term survivors as well. We benefit from the advice and knowledge from others and together can be strong.

Comments

  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited November 2020

    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))

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2020

    I'm at 7+ years and really no changes. I'm walking every day now, but that's only because the gyms & swimming pools closed with the virus. I never really ate fried foods or fast foods either so no change there. I only eat red meat about once a month - but that's not a change either. I haven't given up my daily gin & tonic or a glass of red wine. I haven't given up chocolate.

    I will say, I am ER/PR negative so haven't had to contend with Tamox or Als. But I was HER2+. Still - I was in the best possible shape of my life when I got BC in the first place. Luck of the draw. That's what I have to count on for the future.

  • Francesca30
    Francesca30 Member Posts: 82
    edited November 2020

    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.


  • lifelover
    lifelover Member Posts: 553
    edited November 2020

    Hiya!

    I'm almost to my 10 year since diagnosis milestone!

    The best thing I've done for myself is work less, which has been difficult for me because I love to keep busy. So, I think reducing my stress level has helped a lot.

    Second best thing I've done is keep my weight low. I did join slimming world and lost over 35 pounds. But now I eat normally but I try to do everything in moderation. Lots of healthy, whole foods that I cook myself and I take it very easy with sweets or processed foods. A little alcohol. I don't smoke.

    Exercise. Keep moving. I like walking.

    Enjoy life

  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited November 2020

    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.

  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2020

    sbelizabeth: What dose of metformin is being given for this study? Thanks

  • amanda6
    amanda6 Member Posts: 121
    edited November 2020

    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.

  • sugarplum
    sugarplum Member Posts: 318
    edited November 2020

    Hi Linava - chiming in here. As you can see from my stats, we are similar - I also had extracapsular extension and dermal involvement. And like amanda6, I also developed heart disease as a delayed result of treatment (got a defibrillator implant a couple of years ago). I too am an exercise devotee - did my first workout on April 1, 1985 and haven't looked back since. For most of my adult life I've existed on cereal, frozen diet dinners, and Ben & Jerry's! Can't seem to go off the sugar, but with constant surveillance have managed to keep my weight relatively stable at 110 lbs. Still taking my daily Arimidex along with a mushroom supplement to boost my immune system, plus extra calcium/Vitamin D.

    I wish you all the extra years that I've been lucky enough to have - and more!

    Julie

  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited July 2021

    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.

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited November 2020

    Nope, haven't changed it much. I get less exercise and drink alcohol about the same. I never ate many process foods, but don't say no to a bag of Cheetos every now and again. I take my AI meds and say my prayers. Some day you might see me start posting on the Stage IV section, but know that I made it there my own way — having lived my life happily and without regrets.

  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited November 2020

    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.

  • Kathleen26
    Kathleen26 Member Posts: 210
    edited November 2020

    I'm almost 11 years out from diagnosis. I haven't made any significant changes. Still enjoy a cocktail every day, still eat whatever meat I want. I'm not a huge sweets eater--maybe either a cookie or a piece of candy once a day is enough for me, and I never was big on prepared foods. I've always eaten a lot of vegetables because I have a large garden, and I like to cook. I wish I had time for more exercise, but work takes up a lot of my waking time.

    I'm of the opinion that recurrence is more a matter of luck of the draw than anything else. I've just known too many people that made big changes and they still had recurrences. So my attitude is try to enjoy the things in life that I enjoy and don't worry about cancer unless or until it comes back. It took me a few years to get to that point.

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited November 2020

    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.

  • 7of9
    7of9 Member Posts: 833
    edited November 2020

    hello!

    Similar diagnosis only a few years ahead of you. A few more salads, I switched to truvia from equal. Probably exercise the same, got my weight down about 10 lbs but probably luck of the draw and good riddance to ovaries. I have a drink about 1x a week. Trying for less....but I used to drink less before and look what that got me!

    Stress has been creeping back in. My new boss is a tyrant but I'm hoping to get out or change jobs in a yr or two as my son gets older if she doesn't lighten up the he!! up. Covid and economy...ugh, but you have to find joy everywhere you can. No inlaws for the holidays. Hurray! Tee hee.

Categories