Recurrence Prevention

That's a big weight loss, and you still did it through the holidays.  I know what the literature says about certain foods and even bottled water, but I wonder.  I say all things in moderation, along with a good exercise plan in place. Do it faithfully! I just wish I could develop your positive attitude toward the cancer issue.  It was great for me to read your thoughts on it being a fluke, etc.  Cyber hug for you, Linda  

On every board I've been on and go on, it is a perennial question often asked by someone about every 3 months.

I've never read that anything will prevent breast cancer because there is no clue what causes the disease.  We all know that a recurrence happens when cells go into hiding, biding their time before causing havoc again.    We don't know whose cells or why this happens until it does.  All we can do is give ourself the best odds with the treatments that are available to us.

Since breast cancer is the oldest recorded disease in history going back 2500+ years,  I feel certain that if food was involved,  someone along the way would have figure it out.   They didn't have process food back in 490 b.c. and you can inform your daughter about that fact, Mary.  Yet, they did have breast cancer.  A good book to read about the history of breast cancer is:  "Bathsheba's Breast: Women, Cancer and History" by James Olson.  A little dated published back in 2002, I think but still very interesting to read. 

As far as drinking, I believe in moderation.  CC and I differ on this.  Even though she presented a few articles of interest, it doesn't make it a fact.  When the powers make it a fact with a lot more surveys and statistics and state that it is, I will continue to have my occasional glass of wine. 

One has to make choices on what they want to believe and how it fits into their lifestyle.  

Congratulations on the weight lost Mary.  

Wishing you the best as always,

Doris

Gabe N Abby Mom said:

Mary I get the same stuff

Mary I get the same stuff from my husband, and yes it is frustrating.  For Christmas he gave me a book called "Beating Cancer with Nutrition".  I flipped through it and read a little here and there.  When he asked what I thought of it, I told him the author needed to get his facts straight, and the recipies should match what he preached.  (I did get some other good stuff though.)

A doctor once told me that an average lunch of a sandwich, side dish, and beverage (healthy or not) contains about 10,000 different chemicals.  How does anyone say which chemical, or combinations of chemicals, feeds/helps kill cancer?  That is further complicated by our own individual biologies.

Cancer is also one of the oldest known diseases, if it were as easy as changing our diet and exercising...don't you think we would no longer have cancer?

So with these things in mind, I choose to travel the path of moderation.  I don't drink though.  Since my stupid party days, it hasn't had much appeal.  Then CC posted a really good article about alcohol and cancer.  Hopefully she will see this and repost it.  I do have a hard time with the exercise thing these days...

I hope this helps you.

Hugs,

Linda

 

I believe your husband meant well with the book.  However, if the author had the answer, he would be a media star with every talk show begging to have him on, every newspaper, magazine would have his face on the front page and cover, every scientist would throw up their arms, oncologist and Cancer Centers would be obsolete and ...   you get the picture.  I wonder how much money they make?

Doris

As if cancer isn't expensive enough without worrying about buying fresh food daily.  I live up north so the growing season is short.  I grow a lot of my own food.  This way I know what chemicals are used. I home can the food so I know what additives go into it.  I  found that I can sweeten foods with Equal so as to keep with my hubby's diabetic restrictions.  Since I home can the food I also know how many days it is from the garden to the jar.  I do have to buy some of the foods so there is some mystery to that but I am rather certian it is quite fresh anyway. 

I have been home canning foods since before cancer due to financial considerations.  However, when I learned that BPA lined the cans of soup and other foods that we buy in the store I increased the number of foods I home can.  Don't get me wrong, as there is still some exposure.  The can lids for home canning are lined with BPA as well.  But the jars are not so I figure I have reduced my exposure to BPA by about 75%.  And of course BPA has not been proven to cause cancer but at least with my limited income I can control this one factor, so I do.  And it is a lot of work.  But it saves the bucks on groceries. 

In my case, I don't think my getting cancer had anything to do with my diet, exercise, etc.  I often get the sense that there are folks without cancer who want to "blame" the patient, perhaps because they think if they do X, Y an Z then they won't get this disease.  I think some of their reaction may be fear-based.

I remember getting a similar lecture from my sister when I was first diagnosed--even though I was thin, doing Jane Fonda videos every day, with a sensible diet.  LOL!  Then two of my sisters also got breast cancer.  My younger sister was a marathon running health food junkie when she was diagnosed.  Of course, the lecturing sister is the only one who has not had cancer, but she quit lecturing and completed 5 years of aromasin ;-).

Now, having gotten that off my chest, I won't let anyone here completely off the hook.  We all know we need to be the healthiest we can be to fight this disease.  I have tried hard to modify my diet to include more antioxidants and foods that fight inflammation.  I have quit drinking alcohol because there is just no good news coming from the studies re breast cancer and even moderate drinking.  I personally avoid BPA (found especially in the lining of cans) because it can have an estrogen effect on the body and my tumor was ER+.  I try to AT LEAST get out and walk every day.

But I promise you that I am not perfect.  It is very hard to live near New Orleans, a city that seems to attract brilliant chefs the way that flowers attract bees, and not splurge on something like Bananas Foster from time to time. Yum!

Recipe For Disaster: Alcohol and Estrogen-Positive Breast Cancer:

http://breastcancerbydrruddy.com/?p=2703

You've worked so hard to get here, I think that you should enjoy and eat what you want.  But, there is always room for some compormise, right?  Don't they say everything in moderation is best?  In my case, Dr also said bc was a fluke and not to let cancer take over my life.  It seems like you are doing that.  My philospohy is to keep it simple, maybe with your diet you can try to eat some more fruit/veggies every day along with other stuff too?  Keep an open mind about exercise, someday it might fit into your life.  Go at your own pace.  Listen to your body and keep informed at the local clinic or community center.  Maybe there will be something that catches your eye.  

Congratulations on your progress!   

CypressCynthia said:

In my case, I don't think my

In my case, I don't think my getting cancer had anything to do with my diet, exercise, etc.  I often get the sense that there are folks without cancer who want to "blame" the patient, perhaps because they think if they do X, Y an Z then they won't get this disease.  I think some of their reaction may be fear-based.

I remember getting a similar lecture from my sister when I was first diagnosed--even though I was thin, doing Jane Fonda videos every day, with a sensible diet.  LOL!  Then two of my sisters also got breast cancer.  My younger sister was a marathon running health food junkie when she was diagnosed.  Of course, the lecturing sister is the only one who has not had cancer, but she quit lecturing and completed 5 years of aromasin ;-).

Now, having gotten that off my chest, I won't let anyone here completely off the hook.  We all know we need to be the healthiest we can be to fight this disease.  I have tried hard to modify my diet to include more antioxidants and foods that fight inflammation.  I have quit drinking alcohol because there is just no good news coming from the studies re breast cancer and even moderate drinking.  I personally avoid BPA (found especially in the lining of cans) because it can have an estrogen effect on the body and my tumor was ER+.  I try to AT LEAST get out and walk every day.

But I promise you that I am not perfect.  It is very hard to live near New Orleans, a city that seems to attract brilliant chefs the way that flowers attract bees, and not splurge on something like Bananas Foster from time to time. Yum!

Recipe For Disaster: Alcohol and Estrogen-Positive Breast Cancer:

http://breastcancerbydrruddy.com/?p=2703

Ok, CC, what is a Bananas Foster.... ?    I bet everyone wanted to know but where to shy to inquire.

Doris

Lynn Smith said:

I think it could be many things

I think many things can cause it.To many to mention.The things that were going on in my life had something to do with it.Our neighbors for one.They've been reported and justice was done.This was the stress part.Then my grandson elbowed me.It hurt.Went to the doctor he felt nothing.This being my left breast the one I had quite a few Benign tumors.I was worried. Another worry plus injury.When the doctor felt nothing he said wait till the next mammo in 5 months. .The tumor was found and cancerous.Very very small.1/2 centimeter so I feel it very well could be the injury and stress. But I have a family history with 4 of us now.So it's not one thing I can pinpoint.It's many things.

I have been told by my doctor to eat healthy.I don't.My friend who is a survivor for 18 years does and attribute her long cancer free life to that.She exercises but her job is a sit down job and no exercise during the day.I clean house all day and the only time I sit is when I'm on the computer or watching just a little TV.I get my exercise believe me.

I need to gain some weight.Lost about 15 lbs this last year and just depressed over it.Sickness was the cause of some and  just overdoing it.I must slow down. So I need to gain about 15 lbs, and eat more than I have been.I would feel better about myself and healthier.Eating some garlic bread now and had cream of wheat this am.Beef and noodles later.I hope to stick with a better diet.

Lynn Smith

is simply that we should nuture our bodies with healthy foods and exercise and avoid things we know are bad for us (cigarettes, processed foods, etc) so we'll be as healthy as possible for whatever comes our way.  And we will all have a health crisis some time.  It doesn't have to be cancer!  And on occasion, we need to nuture our psyche and have that meal or dessert that gives us sublime pleasure.   And I actually practiced that after my diagnosis.  And I felt really good (except when I was on chemo).   For the past year,  eating healthy and exercising has become an occasional experience rather than the norm and that is not making me happy or healthy.   

 Anti Cancer - A New Way of Life by Dr. Servan-Shriver is an excellent book and gives you plenty of food for thought.

I wish us all the abiity to live as healthy a lifestyle as we can - however we define that.

By the way, my cancers were caused by running behind the mosquito abatement trucks and playing in the fog as a child!  And if you believe that  . . . .

Suzanne