Any other breast cancer survivors?

Sent you a friend request!

I would love to be your friend. I too was diagnosed with beast cancer at the age of 37. I too am extremely fit and lead a healthy life style. I am trying to lose the pounds put on from steroids and just being sick and not being able to be active. I had my reconstructive surgery last October and I am fully recovered. I work out with a trainer 3 x per week and ride horses 6 days a week! I was still struggling with the last 20 lbs. So I signed up on here. THis is my first week!

Hi! I am also a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in 2006 at age 37. I also found out I'm BRCA2+, so we have lots in common! I have one daughter.

I was also dx in 2006 when I was 37!

I was diagnosed at 46 in 2011. Menopause is causing me grief! Got used to the hot flashes but this weight gain is stressing me.

My daughter (age 29) was diagnosed with breast cancer in early October of this year. Dec 11, she had a double mastectomy. Now she has begun Chemo and is struggling with the fact that she knows she will lose her hair and has 3 more chemo treatments to endure. I am not a survivor, but I want to believe my daughter will be.

Diagnosed in 2009 at age 46 - 130 lbs and no risk factors whatsoever. Go figure. I'm nearly 4 yrs out and back to my pre-cancer weight (gained 15 lbs during treatment). It isn't the weight issue so much for me as the amount of muscle I lost. Really hard to gain that back. A very wise man once said to me "You can't always control the situation you find yourself in but you CAN control how you react to it." So....never give up, never give in.

I am a breast cancer survior too, I was dignosed at age 40 which was 10 years ago and about 50 pounds ago! I was always slim and fit until my medications caused me to gain some weight. I also quit smoking and gained even more weight, My cancer medications sent me into menopause, gaining a little more weight......then 4 years ago had to have a full hysterectomy and have gained even more weight : ( I try all these diets with no long term weight loss! As of yesterday, I told myself that I am not on a diet, I am improving my life style......one day at a time, my goal is to keep my daily calorie intake to 1200 and exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week. I have to keep going, I hate looking at myself in a mirror or in pictures......I want to find me again!!

Yup, still taking Tamoxifen. Doc has been wanting to switch me over to one of the aromatase inhibitors but blood counts aren't cooperating just yet. Not so sure I'm too keen on switching anyway. I've read too many stories about their side-effects. I have issues with Tamoxifen side-effects too, but at least I know what I'm getting and can manage them. The aromatase inhibitors scare me. Not so sure I'm going to agree to take them.

Congratulations to all the survivors!

I just joined the site about a week ago and I haven't made any friends yet... I was actually just going to use the site as a personal log, but I have since discovered that I need support as much as the next person.... Friends, anyone?

I too, am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer (3C) at age 28 EIGHTyears ago. I was an active, non-smoking vegetarian. Go figure, right? In retrospect, my oncologist told me that he did not expect me to live longer than 2-3 years, but 8 years later, I am still here and NED.

Aside from going through a mastectomy, chemo and radiation, one of the hardest things I found was dealing with weight gain. I gained about 40 lbs in less than a year once I started taking Tamoxifen and getting Zoladex injections. (I am still on Tamoxifen, stopped injections 3 years ago.) As a result of the meds and such, I did not have my period for 7 years and I am sure that the Tamoxifen, coupled with the menopausal symtpoms prevented me (or made it ridiculously hard for me) from losing weight. Every few months or so, I would start an exercise routine and then give up because I wasn't losing weight or seeing results (wrong mentality, I know. I should have just persevered for my health).

Well, just over a year ago my period returned and with its triumphant return came my ability to lose weight. I have lost about 14 lbs within the past year without diet or exercise. This (miraculous) weight loss has now motivated me to try to get back down to my "before cancer" weight or size. I was 135 lbs at the time of diagnosis, my highest weight was 175 and now I am 160. While I have 25 lbs more to go, I am not going to really focus on the number, but rather how I feel. I am on day 7 of the 30 Day Shred and I have been watching what I eat for the past week and a bit.

While I have started and stopped exercise regimes in the past, for some reason, I think this time it is going to stick. I hope I'm right!
(My 3-year-old told me he was proud of me this morning for doing my exercises - so cute!)

Male breast cancer survivor here. Surgery, chemo, and rads in 2009/2010 at 40 years of age. Still taking Tamoxifen. Then I got my butt in gear with exercise and eating right. I've never felt better than I do now. Hang in there!

{{{hugs}}} to all the other survivors. We've all been thru so much. This time is for US.

I was also in the best shape of my life. I had just lost over 50 pounds and got to enjoy my fit new body for 3 months when the call came. I put on 15 from all the surgeries and tamoxifen. I'm determined to get my strength and figure back. It's only been a few months since my last surgery, so it's like beginning again.

Recently my 13 year old picked up some of my dumbbells and asked me to teach him how to workout. It's been 2 months, and he's remained faithful to his program. I asked him why the sudden motivation, and he said (it's hard not to cry here), "You mom. You never gave up after everything you went through. Each time you came back from the hospital, you picked up the weights again. Sometimes just the 3s, but you never gave up. When I don't feel like working out, I think about you not quitting."

It's very hard to keep fighting to get back and then getting pushed back down again, but I'll never let that boy down. I may not be as strong and cute as I was a year ago, but I guess I'm someone's hero now.

Best of luck to all survivors.

Hi all...I have been on here for about a week and absolutely LOVE this site so far. I have acquired many friends on here but I'm wondering if there are any breast cancer survivors that would like to be friends? There are many reasons that I am changing my life and losing weight but at the top of the list is my health. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 months after my 37th birthday (and BTW, I was the healthiest and most fit of my entire life at the time). After surgery and during treatment I packed on about 20 pounds...six months after treatment I got pregnant. Well...during pregnancy I really packed on the pounds and now I'm in full gear to get rid of this weight. I know that being overweight is horrible for your health and it also increases your risk of reoccurrence of cancer and damn it...I'm going to do what I have to do to so that it NEVER comes back. I'm wondering if there are any other cancer survivors out there that would like to be friends and help each other through this weight loss/life change...

Hi, Just wondering how is the workout going. I'm a recent breast cancer survivor myself and would love to know your progress.

I was also diagnosed with triple negative BC in June 2012. It's such a an overwhelming diagnosis with lots of twists and turns and no clarity. All my treatment and surgeries are behind me but now my biggest issue has been getting out of the emotional eating Ive done to cope with it all and to try and get my butt moving again to loss the weight and keep it off. One of the frustrating things the oncologist told me as I am trying to loss the weight is that it could take up to 6 months for the effects of the drugs to get out of my system and possibly making it more difficult to loss. Just starting so we will see if this stands true.