Hi,
I know this is a pretty random question but having recently been diagnosed I am totally shocked at how common this disease is & how many young people are being diagnosed. I remember years ago (I am 47) the statistics were 1 in 12, now it is 1 in 8 which is horrendous! Despite an enormous amount of money going into research the incidence of BC is on the rise. I have done everything in my life to avoid it: 2 children, both breastfed for a year, drink very little alcohol, slim, go to the gym 4 times a week as well as walking 1.5 hours a day, eat healthily, no family history whatsoever and here I am dealing with BC which I am sure is a similar case for many of you. My specialist and BC nurses say there is absolutely no link but how come the incidence of BC amongst Asian women is so low & they have a virtually dairy free diet until they adopt a western diet where there risk is the same as ours (1 in 8). Since my diagnosis I have given up dairy & red meat as I want to believe I am doing something positive to stop this disease coming back. Like all of you I am absolutely devastated with my diagnosis & almost feel that that the people researching BC have not been doing their job properly based on the continued increase in BC which is now almost an epidemic. Sorry for rambling on but was interested to hear from anyone who feels the same as me regarding the dairy link. S xx
I posted this a while ago because someone asked a similar thing:
If it is any consulation I should never have developed Breast Cancer. I have breast fed, never taken the pill or HRT. Very few are as health aware as I am. I was on the Grassroots Health survey (all about adequate Vitamin D have a google). Actually I am still on it and I am am “outlier” so they tell me. I eat fish and brocolli or salad most days, I am not overweight and if I was I would drop it by watching what I was eating. I excercise more than most - but I am not a runner as it a marathon or anything. I get lots of fresh air and have never been a smoker.
If I can get it anybody can!
Thank you Blueash & Ann for your comments. You almost want to blame something/somebody as it all seems so unfair that we should be in this position. I will look at the grassroots health survey Blueash, thanks for that. I am sure you are both right, it really can happen to anyone regardless of your lifestyle. Everytime I have a ‘moment’ it really helps to post my frustrations on this form where invariably you lovely ladies are happy to take the time to respond which really helps, thank you ?. The G&T sounds like a good option Blueash! S xx
Sonia,
I totally agree that the causative factors promoting Breast Cancer is both genetics(out of our control), and envirinmental(within our control). I am 56 y/o and dx. With Breast Cancer with 1 node involvement. I have a family of Cancer, but not Breast. I lead an extremely healthy lifestyle except for 2 negatives things I feel contributed to my cancer. On the healthy side, I’ve always eaten healthy, vegetarian/organic mostly, exercise, good weight, low body fat, hydrate well…water, no smoking/alcohol, plenty of rest. On the negative side I’ve been with a man who STRESSES me out daily for almost 4 years. Another negative at the age of 53 I finally got breast implants. I think I did it more for the Mr. Dickhead. But, that was my choice. I HONESTLY feel the implants (foreign body) and the stress/depression I suffered after the elective breast augmenation had an impact on my IMMUNE SYSTEM. Also the continued release of stress hormones in a TOXIC relationship can suppress ones immune system. I also feel that DIARY, soy products, hormones in our foods, genetically modified foods has an impact on our cancer. It’s a multi-causative factors. We need to BE HEALTHY and do everything in our POWER to be kind to our bodies, mind & soul! We are what we EAT. I am trying to stay away from my TOXIC relationship and take care of ME! I have undergone 2 TAXOL treatments. Will have 12 weeks of taxol, then AC, then surgery, radiation. Oh…My…long journey ahead. Good luck to ALL!
Hi Sonia I’m 41 don’t smoke drink alcohol rarely and no fam history so my diagnosis was a shock with no 'reason ’ although I have been torturing myself with should I have eaten healthier done more excise (I wasn’t unhealthy in either aspect but no fitness freak). I’ve always thought I would get it some day so maybe it’s become a self filling prophercy I don’t know. But 1 in 8 women will get it and I am just the 8th. I’ve always had bad luck too.
On the other Hand it has got more common in recent times so must be some factor in diet/lifestyle/pollution.
Rebecca x
Hi Rebecca,
It is a bugger isn’t it! You try to follow the recommended lifestyle to try & prevent these things & it doesn’t seem to make any difference. I work with so many women who live such a decadent lifestyle and never get anything, there really is no justice! The only thing I was doing (hence my interest in the dairy link) was drinking quite a lot of milk! S xx
Hi Kittie,
Thanks for your message. I think you are right regarding the whole food & stress issue. Whilst there isn’t a lot we can do about pollution (apart from moving to the country) I think the food industry has a lot to answer for in terms of dairy & meat production being so full of hormones, pesticides & antibiotics. In Asia they say that BC is a disease of rich women. Sorry to hear about mr dickhead, I hope you are well shot of him. Best of luck with your treatment & thanks again for sharing your views with me. S xx
Agree I find it not to get angry at some women I know that have smoked their whole lives and generally unhealthy and get away scot free but it’s not their fault and life isn’t fair I’ve leant that by now. X
Hi kittie also had my share of d***heads I seem to get them we are better off without them I think.
.
Hi ladies,
Your conversation reminds me so much of me at around the same stage. I did cut out dairy…went on to soya for a long time. But that now gets a bad press! One of you said, everything in moderation! Thats what I now think.
There are a couple of things I do know which can influence cancer growth, too much sugar and/or too much stress. Cancer cells love sugar…,they have a lot of sugar receptors on their surface. Stress…well some studies say no link, all I know is…for me there is a link- i never believed there was, but now I have metastases I have bloods done regularly and the results go up and down with stress.
Its thought by some that stress ups the cortisol levels and cancer loves cortisol, the bad news is…life is stressful.!
You ladies sound as if you’ve done everything right, to try and avoid cancer! We all try to beat ourselves up, blaming ourselves. I drank, got overweight, took the pill and hrt, had no kids and worked far too hard in a stressful job. So I’ve always thought thats why!
You are correct about the environment too! But Blueash Has a point…
We have to live our lives…so fit in a few treats here and there. Just dont overdo the sugar! The other thing is tho, having a strategy, be it, non dairy or juicing, working out, etc is good, doesnt really matter what you choose…helps us feel powerful!
We need to keep Ourselves developing and learning…such a diversion from the bc.xxx best wishes for your treatments
moijanxx???
Dear Sonia and all,
I am really interested in reading your exchange. Like you ,I am completely puzzled by my diagnosis after a super healthy life style, lots of veg mostly organic, lots of excercise etc etc, you know the story., similar to yours.
I am 45 and have just been diagnosed and am recovering from a mastectomy, op on the 17th of November.
Since discovering my situation I have done a lot and a lot of reading into alternative treatments and theories.
Of course what shines through again and again is the need to take care of ourselves and to listen to our boies and our soul. The canceer wants to tell us something about our lifes, at the same time I completely agree with some of you that it really does not help us to beat ourselves up with what we have done wrong. This is the time to be loving to ourselves and to cut the emotional and physical poison out of our lives.
Regarding dairy…I was adviced to read a book by Professor Jane Plant : ‘your life in your hands’. I found a cheap second hand copy on Amazon. It is fascinating as the author is a scientist and was a breast cancer sufferer herself. She has a meticulous approach to investigating the link between dairy and breast cancer and personally I find it completely convincing. In my own life it made sense. I love dairy and grew up drinking litres of homogenised milk every day. I recommend the read.
Another interesting and new book that you may know of already is called the cancer revolution. This book compiles many different alternative theories and approaches that are well researched.
Well, and there are the emotions and stress. I am also a firm believer ,looking at my situation, that emotional stress and strain has contributed. I have lived through some mighty emotional strain and shock over the years and deep down I know that there is a connection. Whilst I don’t want to dwell too much and spoil my life looking for causes I feel that my situation needs to be a turning point /wake up call for the better so that I can live a better live and avoid future recurrence. At the same time I try not to beat myself up with diet and should do’s…
Well, this is a long post but I wnated to share as I found the book about dairy so fascinating and am really interested in how we can help ourselves alongside the treatment. As one of you said it makes you feel more in control of the situation. I hope what I wrote can be helpful.
Lots of strength to you all.
Hi Sabhope,
Thank you for our comments regarding my dairy debate. My friend is actually bringing the Jane Plant round for me tonight which she ordering for me. I have read about her, in fact my friends sister has followed her philosophy for years, not because of being diagnosed with breast cancer but as a preventative measure. A bit like you I have always enjoyed dairy & before my diagnosis was consuming many skinny cappuccinos on a daily basis. Now it is black coffee & calcium supplements! In fact I am fine without it as y eldest daughter is very allergic to dairy so we always have plenty of alternatives in the house. I am also a bit wary of soya & note that soya lethicin seems to appear in everything from bread to chocolate. I am also avoiding red meat & will only eat organic chicken. Another point that Moijan mentioned is the sugar link which is definitely proved to be true and as for stress, I seriously need to look into how to control mine (she says as my 2 daughters just walk in the kitchen arguing because 1 has managed to pull the hook off the bathroom door for the 2nd time & it is fish & chips for dinner which 1 hates so that is cause for a stamping feet, pouting & shouting session!!). I guess as the other ladies have pointed out, if it makes you feel more in control in that you are doing all you can to prevent the cancer then that has git to be a good thing. S xx
Nice to hear back from you ladies. Yes soya…I suppose we can only be safe wirh organic soya.
I have also gone off sugar. Makes so much sense.
The rainbow diet sounds interesting. Will take a look. Has anyone tried coffee enemas etc for cleansing??
Sabine xx
I wonder what an alternative for sugar would be if you fancied something sweet, xylitol perhaps? Is the sugar link based on insulin production? If so I guess low GI substitutes such as xylitol or agarve nectar could be an alternative? S xx
I heard that Stevia is the best and most natural next to xylitol. Apparently it does not raise the blood sugar levels as agave does. Agave is natural but raises blood sugar…if I understood right…
Thank you Sabhope, I will get some Stevia. What was your diagnosis? S xx
Not completely sure about my diagnosis yet. Will hear coming Tuesday, once the pathology has happened. So far biopsy and other tests has shown a third of my breast full of DCIS but some microscopic amount of cancer cells were found near the first lymphnode so they think it likely there is more cancer amongst the DCIS. The MRI showed healthy nodes and underarm, which I try to hold onto. I was told the cells that were found was such a small amount they could even tell what kind of cancer cell it was. Because it was such a large area and my boobs are not large it had to be a mastectomy. …all scary
Hi Sabhope,
It is not nice I know but you must hold onto the fact that the lymph nodes look fine on the MRI.
I had a lumpectomy & had to have a further excision last week as the margins were nt clear. I get my results tomorrow & am just praying that they have managed to clear the margins otherwise I will be looking at further surgery! The waiting game & going for test results is become so stressful, I find it unbearable! Best of luck with your results, I will be thinking if you. S xx
I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hope you can sleep a little tonight.
All the best xx
Thank you Sabhope. S xx