life style changes

SweetSue · October 2003

I know I could have prevented my breast cancer (estrogen positive)if I had changed my lifestyle.
Please tell all: 1. Not more than 1 alcoholic beverage at 1 sitting....alcohol interferes with liver's ability to break down estrogen. 2. Low-fat diet....more fat cells=higher estrogen levels.
3. No smoking 4. More strenuous exercise which results in less estrogen circulating one's body.

inkblot · October 2003

Hi Sweet0:

That's a very interesting perspective and comment!

It's always GREAT to continue to learn, finding
new and better ways to take care of ourselves on a daily basis. No question about that. However, there are many women who've been very health conscious all their lives...never drank alcohol, very low fat diets, etc. and they still got bc. If your perspective is correct, then what accounts for that having happened to them, in addition to it happening to other's who never really took care of themselves? That it happens in both groups with completely different health habits, cannot be accounted for. Nature, nurture, positive attitudes, unhappiness, overwhelming stresses? What's the difference?When science can answer that, unequivocally, then we will have unraveled the mystery of cancer and can prevent it completely! A very happy day indeed.

It is my conviction that biological goings-on in our bodies, at the cellular level, are, more often than not, independent of lifestyle. Otherwise health conscious people would never get it. Inborn metabolic errors play a role as well as the genetic link. While yes, more smokers get lung cancer, people also get it who never smoked. Why do some lifelong, heavy drinkers get cirohhis of the liver while other's of a similar habit do not? No one, to date, can scientifically explain what causes one woman to get bc while another, with a similar lifestyle does not. Our immune systems play a very big role also. I read a study some time ago which stated that most people have developing cancer at least 2 to 3 times in their lives and that the immune system gobbles it up in most cases, in the earliest/hyperplastic stages of cell change, so it never grows/thrives. Exposure to environmental carcinogens is another risk factor (in our air, food sources, water and even certain drugs). A lot of "ifs", "why's" and "wherefores" which science cannot define or explain yet.

I'm just hoping that you aren't "blaming" yourself for your cancer. That's counter productive and creates guilt and stress you do not need!

We all should take excellent care of ourselves. That's the best we can do. Beyond that, it's a chemical/biological/genetic dice game of just living on our lovely planet. While excellent health habits can tip the board some, in our favor, there are no guarantees or cancer proof strategies. In today's society, worldwide, the medical/scientific communities extoll the virtues of low fat diets, physical activity, etc. but what's being done to eliminate any of those known carcinogenic elements, which are released into our enviornments, literally, in tons, on a daily basis? Not enough. While we search for cures, more promising treatments, hold fundraisers, etc., our environment, which poses a huge risk to all of us, is left polluted and dangerous, contributing to the very thing we're trying so desperately to cure! Go figure.

Just my thoughts about it. But please don't fall into blaming yourself. It's a time for joy and grabbing life by the tail...not self recriminations.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

bullfrog13 · October 2003

interesing prospective..............

DeeNY711 · October 2003

There are people who are quite thin, never smoked or even had a drink for religious reasons, and have been meticulous in eating healthy and staying in peak physical condition, yet develop breast cancer. Current thinking is that the risk can be reduced by lifestyle changes, but it is uncomfortable to read something just this side of blaming the patient for their own plight.

wingingit · October 2003

Hey, Sweet-onion! Thanks for the great lifestyle changes you suggested, which we could all benefit from knowing and incorporating in our daily routines. But just wondering . . .do you really THINK you could have prevented your cancer or were you just having a low moment when you wrote this post? I suspect the latter. I think we have all wondered about the *what ifs* surrounding a diagnosis of breast cancer, and we have all played the self-blame game. I eventually found this sort of thinking unproductive in facing down this disease and fighting it with everything I had. Often, when I start beating up on myself about things I wish I had done differently, I remember a quote that has been credited to Maya Angelou:

*You did then what you knew how to do. When you knew better, you did better.*

I have learned so much in the year and half since my diagnosis. I try not to dwell on the past but look only to it in helping me make better decisions regarding my physical and emotional well being in the present. And of course, above all, taking our cares and worries to God in prayer is the most therapeutic and healing thing we can do for ourselves.

blossomtime · October 2003

Sweet-onion this is a very interesting post. But how does this relate to those of us that are hormone receptor negative. I personally agree with alot of what Inkblot says. We all know the things that are beneficial to our health, ie. exercise, weight control, no smoking and low fat diet. I never thought this would happen to me. I was not overweight, exercised regularly, ate well, had my children relatively early (late 20's and early 30's) and nursed my children. Yet here I am part of this club. I got mammograms regularly etc. I did suffer with guilt at the beginning because I was not very diligent about self exams, but I came to the realization that I couldn't change what had happened and so I needed to use my energy at working on getting cured. We will never know "why", move on, try to enjoy life and be happy. Take care, Sharon

wingingit · October 2003

inkblot said:
Hi Sweet0:

That's a very interesting perspective and comment!

It's always GREAT to continue to learn, finding
new and better ways to take care of ourselves on a daily basis. No question about that. However, there are many women who've been very health conscious all their lives...never drank alcohol, very low fat diets, etc. and they still got bc. If your perspective is correct, then what accounts for that having happened to them, in addition to it happening to other's who never really took care of themselves? That it happens in both groups with completely different health habits, cannot be accounted for. Nature, nurture, positive attitudes, unhappiness, overwhelming stresses? What's the difference?When science can answer that, unequivocally, then we will have unraveled the mystery of cancer and can prevent it completely! A very happy day indeed.

It is my conviction that biological goings-on in our bodies, at the cellular level, are, more often than not, independent of lifestyle. Otherwise health conscious people would never get it. Inborn metabolic errors play a role as well as the genetic link. While yes, more smokers get lung cancer, people also get it who never smoked. Why do some lifelong, heavy drinkers get cirohhis of the liver while other's of a similar habit do not? No one, to date, can scientifically explain what causes one woman to get bc while another, with a similar lifestyle does not. Our immune systems play a very big role also. I read a study some time ago which stated that most people have developing cancer at least 2 to 3 times in their lives and that the immune system gobbles it up in most cases, in the earliest/hyperplastic stages of cell change, so it never grows/thrives. Exposure to environmental carcinogens is another risk factor (in our air, food sources, water and even certain drugs). A lot of "ifs", "why's" and "wherefores" which science cannot define or explain yet.

I'm just hoping that you aren't "blaming" yourself for your cancer. That's counter productive and creates guilt and stress you do not need!

We all should take excellent care of ourselves. That's the best we can do. Beyond that, it's a chemical/biological/genetic dice game of just living on our lovely planet. While excellent health habits can tip the board some, in our favor, there are no guarantees or cancer proof strategies. In today's society, worldwide, the medical/scientific communities extoll the virtues of low fat diets, physical activity, etc. but what's being done to eliminate any of those known carcinogenic elements, which are released into our enviornments, literally, in tons, on a daily basis? Not enough. While we search for cures, more promising treatments, hold fundraisers, etc., our environment, which poses a huge risk to all of us, is left polluted and dangerous, contributing to the very thing we're trying so desperately to cure! Go figure.

Just my thoughts about it. But please don't fall into blaming yourself. It's a time for joy and grabbing life by the tail...not self recriminations.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

Inkbot--You seem to always have such a wonderful way with words. This post reminded me of a brief conversation I had a few months back with another BC patient, about 70+ years old, at the cancer center. She just seemed to want to talk to someone who might be willing to listen. Anyway, she said she thought she caused her cancer by eating too much ice cream! I was a little dumbfounded by her confession, but I quickly tried to reassure her that there were probably things out of our control that were causing our cancers. Your reply to Sweet-onion made several valid points and has made wish I could have responded as well to this woman. Keep on writing . . .

badger · October 2003

And some of us develoop breast cancer by trying to prevent it ----my stage 3, metastized bc, with 23 nodes involved, is thought to have been caused by the Tamoxofin I was taking toprevent it. So one never knows. Badger

flocolan · October 2003

inkblot said:
Hi Sweet0:

That's a very interesting perspective and comment!

It's always GREAT to continue to learn, finding
new and better ways to take care of ourselves on a daily basis. No question about that. However, there are many women who've been very health conscious all their lives...never drank alcohol, very low fat diets, etc. and they still got bc. If your perspective is correct, then what accounts for that having happened to them, in addition to it happening to other's who never really took care of themselves? That it happens in both groups with completely different health habits, cannot be accounted for. Nature, nurture, positive attitudes, unhappiness, overwhelming stresses? What's the difference?When science can answer that, unequivocally, then we will have unraveled the mystery of cancer and can prevent it completely! A very happy day indeed.

It is my conviction that biological goings-on in our bodies, at the cellular level, are, more often than not, independent of lifestyle. Otherwise health conscious people would never get it. Inborn metabolic errors play a role as well as the genetic link. While yes, more smokers get lung cancer, people also get it who never smoked. Why do some lifelong, heavy drinkers get cirohhis of the liver while other's of a similar habit do not? No one, to date, can scientifically explain what causes one woman to get bc while another, with a similar lifestyle does not. Our immune systems play a very big role also. I read a study some time ago which stated that most people have developing cancer at least 2 to 3 times in their lives and that the immune system gobbles it up in most cases, in the earliest/hyperplastic stages of cell change, so it never grows/thrives. Exposure to environmental carcinogens is another risk factor (in our air, food sources, water and even certain drugs). A lot of "ifs", "why's" and "wherefores" which science cannot define or explain yet.

I'm just hoping that you aren't "blaming" yourself for your cancer. That's counter productive and creates guilt and stress you do not need!

We all should take excellent care of ourselves. That's the best we can do. Beyond that, it's a chemical/biological/genetic dice game of just living on our lovely planet. While excellent health habits can tip the board some, in our favor, there are no guarantees or cancer proof strategies. In today's society, worldwide, the medical/scientific communities extoll the virtues of low fat diets, physical activity, etc. but what's being done to eliminate any of those known carcinogenic elements, which are released into our enviornments, literally, in tons, on a daily basis? Not enough. While we search for cures, more promising treatments, hold fundraisers, etc., our environment, which poses a huge risk to all of us, is left polluted and dangerous, contributing to the very thing we're trying so desperately to cure! Go figure.

Just my thoughts about it. But please don't fall into blaming yourself. It's a time for joy and grabbing life by the tail...not self recriminations.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

Inkblot,
I must agree!

I am living proof that lifestyle does not carry as much weight as I personally wish it would. I am 37, run at least 3-5 miles per day, do not smoke, drink, do drugs,am not overweight,live a life chockful of moderation. I grew up in a health conscious home ( my mother was a rural health nurse) we ate well, free range meats, the whole nine yards. I did not start my menses at a young age, I was 14, my breasts are not particularly dense, I had my first child at 18. My single risk factor for developing invasive breast cancer was a first degree relative and a second degree relative. So I am of the impression that we are a ball of chemical road maps with predispositions that are triggered by something different for each of us, or in my Dad's immortal words "sometimes stuff just happens" ok ok he didn't say stuff he said another word that starts with "s". I think we can delay the inevitable, but in my thinking it is inevitable, and what you do with the information you have from the point of diagnosis on is what matters. I hope no one suffers too much of the should've, could've,would'ves. There are erasers on pencils for a reason, everyone makes perceived mistakes in life and to feel illness is somehow a payback is a very hard cross to bear. I like to think I have had a very interesting life and am greatful for each day the lord has given me with my family and friends. Whatever we did yesterday cannot be undone, but today is a new chance at discovery and change.

inkblot · October 2003

badger said:
And some of us develoop breast cancer by trying to prevent it ----my stage 3, metastized bc, with 23 nodes involved, is thought to have been caused by the Tamoxofin I was taking toprevent it. So one never knows. Badger

Hi Badger:

Your post was extremely interesting. I have heard and/or read of Tamox. actually increasing the risk of bc only twice before reading your post. I'm thinking that this "indication" must be very obscure.

Did your doctor's say the Tamox was the suspected culprit or was there some advanced testing done on your recurrence to more strongly indicated that the Tamox played a big role?

Please take good care of you and keep us updated.

Pink, frilly hugs your way!

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

epgnyc · October 2003

I've read that a number of clinical studies have shown that alcohol use isn't a factor in ER negative bc. Because alcohol can affect estrogen levels, drinking didn't in any way change the statistics for ER negative women. However, I generally agree with others who posted - that good diet, exercise, moderate drinking, etc. may help in lowering one's odds of getting bc but that it's not the determining factor. By all means be healthy, but I don't think anyone should be blamed for getting cancer because of their life style choices. Including you!

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