Weight, Exercise, and Gynecological Cancers

Alicia it is good you put this out there!

I assumed people knew that obesity and smoking were two of the highest risk factors for most cancers. In the case of uterine cancer too much estrogen is definitely an issue as your research shows.

My regular gynecologist warned me several years before my diagnosis I was at an increased risk because of my weight, but I don't recall him discussing how estrogen played a part in the risk. 

I wasn't able to lose the weight until 3 years after my surgery and only thru the help of weight loss surgery.

I have always found that doctors and even the various cancer societies tend to be very general in discussing risk factors. I'm sure there is reasoning behind that, but it frustrates me given any serious health problem!

Like others on here have said in reference to their cancer...they have learned more on here about their cancer then from any other source. Kinda sad bc no one is going to randomly  search out message boards for preventative info....

I am fortunate to have a son-in-law who is a physician researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering.  He knew and told me clearly that exercise was important to my immune system and would help me fight the cancer.  I have always done some exercise and was going to the gym at least 5 times a week.  But as luck would have it I still got serous cancer.  I exercised throughout my chemo and radiation and am still at it.  I exercised in front of videos during the worst of Covid and have resumed my classes at the Y.  I tell everyone how important exercise is to the immune system.  I also learned through my son-in-law that some research at MD Anderson showed the benefits of 30 grams of fiber per day for both cancer patients and for prevention.  That is harder to do but I try to get that in everyday.  I was surprised to learn from a dietician that she knew of the 30 grams for women and recommended it in a presentation she did for cancer survivors.  My regular doctors were not as enthused about exercise and fiber but I kept it up anyway.  They thought it was a good idea but really did not recommend it.  Serous cancer is lousy and evidently weight is not necessarily a risk factor.  But I know it is for endometrial cancer. So I am just with all of you that exercise and diet are key factors to preventing recurrence.  I know there is no guarantee but I like knowing there is something I can do.

Those of us who were dx at an older age, I was 67, Type 2 EC, have a life long history. I was born in 1950. There are photos of my mother with a cigarette in one hand and a cocktail in the other when pregnant with me. Both my parents smoked, at home, in cars with the windows closed. We used to chase after the DDT trucks with our bicycles, breathing in that horrible pesticide. There was asbestos everywhere, schools, home, churches. Lead paint was the norm. You get the picture. We are the sum of our lives exposed to cancer causing substances. Now we know how dangerous it is to be overweight and not exercise. I really hate this Calvinistic attitude that we deserve our cancers (or any illness) as a punishment for our choices in life, whether voluntary or involuntary. Many do everything right in life and still get cancer, many who have poorer lifestyles do not. I have one doctor who is very wise, he says that we can't change the past so look forward to doing what you can to be more healthy, vs. a few of the fat shamers I have had. I have had terrible osteoarthritis since I was in my 40's, with 5 surgeries on my hands alone, bad back, one knee, and one ankle. When I complained that I could not exercise as much as I wanted to because of the pain, he said take your inspiration from the para-Olympians, work around your issues, if they can find a way, so can you. No shaming, just sound common sense advice. As we go through treatment and recovery, we can all find a way to be more healthy as we are able to physically, and stop blaming ourselves for past choices or circumstances. The one thing I also do is try to educate everyone I know (who express interest) about the lack of screening tests for EC, that many of us are not taken seriously by our gynecologists, that obesity, lack of exercies contributes, that to never ignore bleeding. Few if any people come to this group before they were dx so the knowledge here is not getting out to the general public. Our doctors also do not do enough to educate us, but then caution us against using Dr. Google. As the ParaOlympic Games are coming in August, I will take my inspiration to keep exercising from them. 

Denise 

Thanks Denise for your comments...especially this:

" I really hate this Calvinistic attitude that we deserve our cancers (or any illness) as a punishment for our choices in life, whether voluntary or involuntary. Many do everything right in life and still get cancer, many who have poorer lifestyles do not." 

I have a friend who is the same age as me, is 50+ lbs. overweight, eats a ton of sugar & a poor diet generally speaking. She also smokes but is relatively healthy. No diabetes or cancer for her. So that is certainly true that some people can beat the odds whereas others won't. 

And els19, I have felt like this also. 

"I've always hated when someone tells me I'll be fine because I always have such a positive attitude. So, if I have a bad day and I'm depressed and ate a big bowl of ice cream and didn't go for a walk or pray that day, did I just lessen my survival chances? Of course, when I'm feeling positive I'm more likely to exercise and eat healthy. But I refuse to blame myself for my disease. Maybe it was something I was exposed to when I was five or maybe it's just bad luck. I think all any of us can do is the best we can."

One friend...and I know she means well told me to "not talk like that" when I mentioned 5 year survival rates not long after sharing my dianosis with her. She said I have be more positive. I agree that having a positive attitude is important, but we also need to come to grips with what things might be like us going foward.  A person can't always be upbeat and positive when you don't feel well. And aren't we allowed to have a "pity party" once in awhile? This whole "cancer stuff' is a lot to deal with and it gets overwhelming at times. I know she means well, but hearing her say that to me just felt to me like she didn't want to hear it. That's why it has been so helpful to me to come here and hear what you all have to say. Your insights and advice are invaluable. So thanks again to all of you for sharing. :-)

RainbowRita said:

Thanks for sharing

Thanks Denise for your comments...especially this:

" I really hate this Calvinistic attitude that we deserve our cancers (or any illness) as a punishment for our choices in life, whether voluntary or involuntary. Many do everything right in life and still get cancer, many who have poorer lifestyles do not." 

I have a friend who is the same age as me, is 50+ lbs. overweight, eats a ton of sugar & a poor diet generally speaking. She also smokes but is relatively healthy. No diabetes or cancer for her. So that is certainly true that some people can beat the odds whereas others won't. 

And els19, I have felt like this also. 

"I've always hated when someone tells me I'll be fine because I always have such a positive attitude. So, if I have a bad day and I'm depressed and ate a big bowl of ice cream and didn't go for a walk or pray that day, did I just lessen my survival chances? Of course, when I'm feeling positive I'm more likely to exercise and eat healthy. But I refuse to blame myself for my disease. Maybe it was something I was exposed to when I was five or maybe it's just bad luck. I think all any of us can do is the best we can."

One friend...and I know she means well told me to "not talk like that" when I mentioned 5 year survival rates not long after sharing my dianosis with her. She said I have be more positive. I agree that having a positive attitude is important, but we also need to come to grips with what things might be like us going foward.  A person can't always be upbeat and positive when you don't feel well. And aren't we allowed to have a "pity party" once in awhile? This whole "cancer stuff' is a lot to deal with and it gets overwhelming at times. I know she means well, but hearing her say that to me just felt to me like she didn't want to hear it. That's why it has been so helpful to me to come here and hear what you all have to say. Your insights and advice are invaluable. So thanks again to all of you for sharing. :-)

I have said this before in prior posts, that we are shockingly honest here in a way we cannot be sometimes with our family and friends. It is the proverbial safe space. What is also true is that the "think positive" police can be devastating to us emotionally because they don't allow us to talk about what we are going through, to grieve what we have lost, to come to terms with our situation. I don't mind admitting to anyone here what an emotional wreck I was during the 1st year, but only my husband saw and heard the worst of my days. I figured out pretty quickly that my kids and friends could not handle seeing me melting down, especially in the early days. What could be more terrifying than to see a bald woman sobbing on the couch, Mom, the strong one in the family, unable to cope? What I did learn is that I needed to grieve my old life and come to terms with my future, before I could move to a stronger emotional place. Actually, I had no choice because I was so emotionally fragile that I sometimes just could not control when I was melting down. I learned whom I needed to protect myself from and whom was safe to talk to. I had an acquaintance die of ovarian cancer many years ago and I never knew how to talk to her, so I know it is hard for others to talk to us. As far as blame goes, I cannot think of anything more counterproductive than blame. I can't change the past, I can only learn from it and try to do better. So the takeaway is that there is no one way to go through this, and we should not be too hard on ourselves.

Denise

RainbowRita said:

Wow, and you are still friends. :-)

I guess that either the two of you are really good friends and you realized she meant well or you are a very forgiving person.  It may have been honest, but the comment was certainly insensitive. But the context of the conversation and the situation where it occured matters and I wasn't there. But sad to say, I think she was right, as I've been telling myself that lately. I think you are right though that the ones who are supportive are the ones who've experienced something similar or with a close family member so they find it less awkward to talk about. Kind of how people are afraid to talk to someone who has recently lost someone. Big 'ol elephant in the room. I was at our dog club's first "in-person" meeting since Covid a month ago and most of the people there wouldn't even look at me, much less talk to me. I wanted to shout at them, "Will you just act normal? I'm still the same person. You act like am I invisible and what are you, twelve?" Most of these people I have known for years, so I didn't expect things to be so awkward, but I think the wig I was wearing was what made matters worse. 

I'll have to check out that book. :-) I just googled those words and found a few online articles. Here's one: https://cancerservicesonline.org/supporting-someone-through-cancer-what-to-say-what-not-to-say 

They also have a good article for those of us with cancer on what to tell people. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a tendency to just put on a "happy face" and say I'm doing fine. When people say to let them know if I ever need any help, I thank them for their offer, but then tell them I'm doing OK. One reason is because I'm not sure they actually would follow up on an offer and that would be awkward and dissapointing to me if I ever did ask for them to do something specific. And in regards to helping with housework, I'd be embarrassed to have someone come in and clean my untidy house and I'd feel I'd have to clean it before they'd come and then that would just be more work for me. ;-) I just have two more chemo cycles to endure and then hopefully I'll be done with it. So I figure I can handle looking at the clutter on the counters a little longer. My next chemo cycle is next Thursday and then the last one is scheduled for July 28th. So looking forward to August! :-)

https://cancerservicesonline.org/when-you-are-diagnosed-communicating-with-friends-and-family 

I found the comment very insensitive at the time. But I was getting so many insensitive comments. I did the same thing you did Denise. I became very protective of myself and tended to avoid people and situations to protect myself. I felt I was standing on a precipice just hanging on and negativity could just send me over the cliff. I tend to be honest on how I'm feeling with most people but others I just say fine. This time around I even took up some people on their offers of help. I found they were actually very happy to help me with things like a grocery run. I'm very lucky to have a wonderful husband who does most of the work around the house and with whom I can always lean on. But when he recently badly injured his hand, I realized all the things that are still hard for me to do. For some reason I just can't give in to someone cleaning my house for me. I'd feel like I'd have to clean it first too. I had no problem hiring someone for the yard work. But somehow your home is just too personal. So, don't worry about the clutter. It will wait and you really will feel up to cleaning it up someday soon.

hanging on and on some days those insensitive comments could send me straight over. 

My one sister and closest friends were fine when I was diagnosed and having treatment. But my other sister was one of those annoying "positive" people. Of course, I was hopeful that I'd have good results from treatment, but I was realistic enough to know that the odds weren't great, given my stage and type of cancer.

Well, I'm still here 4 years after chemo ended and with no reason to believe that I'm not NED. It's a bit irritating to think that my positive sister is probably thinking "I told her so," but in this case I'll have to give her a pass since proving she was wrong would definitely not be in my best interest.

Carcinosarcoma usually recurs within the first year or two. Once I hit the two-year mark, I figured whatever time I had after that was "found time" that I was going to appreciate.

Maxster, both my parents had cancer and I learned that I have Lynch Syndrome. So I know that even if I don't have a recurrence of my uterine cancer I can always develop another kind. All I can do is have the mammograms, colonoscopies and other tests on a regular basis and hope if something else develops it will be caught early. I haven't stopped thinking about cancer completely, but I am renewing my magazine subscriptions for more than one year at a time once again.

Maxster said:

Thank you all!

I think I have been lucky to be around supportive people but even then I felt I had to keep up a happy face.  I haven't faced insensitive comments but a person in my support group was happy to learn she had the BRACA gene to stem off the comments that somehow her breast cancer and now ovarian cancer was her fault!  I could not think of something more awful.  But I do know family and friends prefer the good news and not my fears.  I try to do what I can do to improve my chances and also accept most of this is out of my control.  But I do fear recurrence and what it might mean.  I feel like I did all I could during chemo and the thought of going through that again just depresses me.  I feel hopeless at times.  I do a lot of self-talk as many of you do to keep me sensible and in a positive direction.  But there are days when a cloud comes over.  Not sure what triggers it.  On the luck thing, I feel like bad luck dogs my family.  My mother died of breast cancer at age 44.  It was in the fifties and there wasn't much treatment besides surgery.  She did live for six years after her first masectomy but by the second the cancer had spread.  My sister also had breast cancer.  A blood test did not reveal any genetic link.  In fact the geneticist said it is possible my mom had two different cancers! My daughter had a scare with her breast but it was benign, thank God.  My gyn-onc was so kind to me when I was looking for a reason.  He just said so kindly that this cancer was not my fault.  I didn't do anything to cause it.  My cancer is also not genetic.  I would say good for my daughters but our luck doesn't seem to run on the dark side.  Thank you all for sharing and letting me express myself.  I try not to think about it but it is on my mind most days.  I am over 1.5 years from diagnosis.  I hope the thoughts diminish soon.

I am almost three years out from my treatment for UPSC. NED so far. The first year I was a puddle of emotions, but once I realized it was healthy to give into it, I was able to see how allowing yourself to be sad, angry, cry, (no shame in any of that) I gradually was able to process (I hate that word but it is descriptive) what I was going through. It takes time to adjust emotionally, so take that time, realize it is normal and do your best to be good to yourself. The 2nd year was easier, but I was still terrified of every ache and pain, still worried about recurrence. In my third year, I am much happier, emotionally stable, rolling with the punches. I do not feel the sense of doom I had earlier, but always in the back of my mind I know it can come back. I feel the same as some, everyday I have now is a gift and post Covid we are going to have a dedicated Year of Fun. Family, grandkids, friends, a bit of travel.

Denise