Nims 

I think we go in to a new world where we sort of spoil ourselves i to have gained a stone comfort eating and drinking , remember this is not permanent we will go back to our normal eating patterns it's not so much the wine with me it's the food it just makes me happy I will worry about the weight gain next year for now I'm doing what makes me happy as last year I realised after my diagnosis that lives to short to worry about that glass of wine that take away that bar of chocolate 

love Lara ️

Thanks Lara for your support.  Sound daft but I think I have been overeating because I saw my mum go through stages  where she couldn't eat and she went from a size 18 to a size 8 within 6 months. I am waiting for op results which seem to take forever- will be 5 weeks by time get results. Psychologically I think if I gain weight then I can't have cancer  but of course I have . Admitting that more now is helping me to deal with it. I am still not open with people and have not told all family and friends yet. Feel like still processing it X

Nims 

I totally understand, don't be hard on yourself you have been through it , I akways think that I no lots of people who never smoke and get lung cancer I no extreme fit people who get cancer ect it don't make sense so I think by having what you fancy is not going to change anything I'm all for what makes me happy I'm having if that makes sense x ️ 

It's normal to find comfort in food and drink when dealing with a serious health issue. The key thing is not to make it a permanent thing because it will have an adverse effect in treating cancer. The odd drink is fine but daily drinking is not good, mainly because tolerance levels heighten so more alcohol is needed to kill the pain/worries. It's also full of empty calories so has no nutritional value but adds to weight gain. Comfort eating is usually sugar based and again, increases weight. Some research also says that too much sugar helps cancer spread as cells feed off the sugar, although other research disputes this. Regardless of this, weight gain will not help your immune system fight cancer so healthy eating is important.

A little of what you fancy is good but don't overindulge. You don't have to give up alcohol, just cut down. Comfort eating/drinking is a distraction, so find other ways to fill the anxious moments. Also, the loss of weight that your mum sadly had was due to a condition called cachexia which terminal patients have - it sadly can't be treated by eating more.

Find a happy medium and try not to stress. Good luck with your results and treatment,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi Nims,

Sorry to find you here.  Since I was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, I did give up alcohol.  I've never been a really heavy drinker but some weeks 2 bottles of wine went down, especially if I was out.  I lost over a stone quite quickly after my diagnosis and giving up.   A year on that stone is back on and I'm comfort eating.  Absolutely craving chocolate and cake!  I can't have that 'treat' of a glass of wine after a tiring day so it's now chocolate.  Neither is good as being overweight is just as bad as drinking too much.  I suppose it's all about balance.  We've been through a lot and need to take things slowly and appreciate we'll still have tough days.  I'm now working on getting that stone back off again but I'm determined to stay off the alcohol.  If you want to have a few drinks there will be no harm I'm sure but you probably should think about reducing if you can.

All the best

Mary

Maryw 

I am same as you lost a stone put a  stone back in craving cake chocolate trying to loose the weight it's not working I blame the tablets it's not it's me being greedy .

or is it that im now more relaxed x 

love Lara ️

Hi Laraj

I'm on Tamoxifen and there is some thinking that hormone therapy causes weight gain but I don't think that's it.  It makes us very tired, gives us stiff joints, insomnia, dry skin and hair thinning and because of all of that we make bad choices food wise.  I know if I'm tired I reach for anything bad, crisps, chocolate, cake and as I'm feeling pretty tired most days.   I also need to work through the joint stiffness and get moving.  
You need a cast iron will power to give up all this stuff including the alcohol but try we must.  Some studies show that being overweight is worse than drinking alcohol, especially for oestrogen positive breast cancer like mine.  Losing weight and staying active apparently can reduce recurrence by up to 50%.  I've been reading up some stuff from an American oncologist.  Those stats were enough for me to put down that last piece of cake!

Keep going and keep trying is what we need to do.

M x

Mary 

tgey do call it Tamox belly I'm on them too fat belly I've gone so bloated but minor other effects to be honest 

wow 50 percent reoccurring from eating rubbish I better take it easy like you it's got to be the tablets I crave caje cake sweets crisps taje aways much worse than ever .

how long have you been taking them I'm on month 6 coming up x 

I'm doing ok thanks Lara.  Hope you are too.  First yearly mammogram was clear thankfully, although the nurse said I probably need to get another clear one next year before we get complacent!   I take the Tamoxifen religiously but have got side affects.  Been on it for a year now.  Another year then they tell me i'll be switching to Letrozole for a further 3 years.  Glad it's suiting you so well, that's great.

Apparently in Australia they get breast cancer patients in the gym.  Lifting weights is very important to build muscle mass and reduce fat (standard).  It's something to do with insulin levels.  Sugar itself doesn't feed cancer, that's a myth, but to do with breast cancer cells being more receptive to raised insulin.   Also fasting is good especially at night for 13 hours.  So, eat your evening meal early then absolutely nothing for 13 hours until breakfast.  (No evening snacking is a tough one for me).  Optimal weight loss and some fitness every day can reduce recurrence by a huge amount.  Different BC have different risks for recurrence.  According to a Danish study Oestrogen + can recur up to 30 years later (I'll take that as I'm 55)!  We're more at risk of later recurrence with it.  The trouble is we have no way of knowing how well our cancer will respond to the hormone therapy.  Personally I haven't had any radiotherapy or chemo so I'm totally reliant on the hormone therapy to prevent recurrence.  This is where lifestyle choices kick in big time in this situation and I'm taking myself in hand!  I just think I'd never forgive myself if it came back and took me and I had to leave my family when I could have tried harder and lost the weight.  My GP also sent me a graph that showed that obesity was more dangerous in BC than smoking and alcohol.  Shockingly I think she was trying to tell me something!  I probably need to lose 2 stone.

Mary x