Healing from Cancer, 51

catsinblue47
catsinblue47 Posts: 1 Member
edited November 21 in Motivation and Support
Hi. My name is Melissa. I'm 51 and under 5'2" and over 230 lbs. I was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer (stage 2, in lymph node biopsy and HER2+) Feb. 2016. I had lumpectomy with breast reduction surgery (9 lbs. off my breasts!) I didn't lose any weight during chemo or radiation. I now have edema (not true lymphedema) and I retain a lot of water. I sit most of the day at my job, have low energy, eat too much junk food, muffins, cookies, cakes, chips, pizza. Need to make lifestyle changes. It's difficult because my fiance is not on board. He brings me home snowballs and muffins and donuts, etc. Sometimes I just feel like I'm starving and I need to eat, eat, eat. I know menopause doesn't help either. I have hot flashes and night sweats and the Tamoxifen I take now makes it worse.

I'm really looking to try and stay motivated, add in small exercise sessions, and DECREASE the amount of junk I eat. I would like to lose 20 pounds before December as I am going to be flying on a plane. I know I'm going to have a hard time with that seat belt.

Replies

  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,538 Member
    edited September 2017
    You can start changing the way you eat right now. In order to lose weight, I had to become more assertive.

    You have to decide how to handle this, either DF needs to stop with the baked goods, or they just go in the trash.

    Get your head around the idea that the garbage can is a helpful weight loss tool.

    Muffins, that somehow have been sold as healthfood, are just cake. A donut is a fried wad of goo.

    Start your day with a substantial protein rich breakfast. The apple is your friend. I'd be hungry too if I ate what you say you're eating.

    Calculate a modest calorie deficit and track your intake, weigh and measure you food.

    I generally don't like time driven weight loss goals but my heart goes out to anyone trying to beat a seat belt extender or fit in an amusement park ride. Good luck. You can do this.
  • skymningen
    skymningen Posts: 532 Member
    Ask you fiance clearly to be on board. He probably wants to do good for you by bringing you sweets, so ask for something else instead. Whatever you like, flowers, healthy snacks.
    When you feel starving, eat high volume foods, vegetables, protein fluffs, whatever suits your taste.
    Don't force yourself into a rapid, radical change. Allow some treats, just measure them out. Log your food, and maybe even for now try to eat at maintenance, instead of 'cold turkeying' into a deficit.
    I know you have a goal for December, but maybe start with smaller, more short term goals first. Two walks this week, only one treat a day for the next two weeks, get in more vegetables, this kind of goals. There are multiple threads and groups around here that help you stay accountable on those.
    Try to find out what causes your water retention (besides medication). Sodium is probably one reason.
    Remember you are strong. Remember it is your life. You can do this!
  • Cancerfreeme
    Cancerfreeme Posts: 1 Member
    I too am a breast cancer survivor of 8 years. Hang in there. The side effects of the Tamoxifen should subside over time. It took about a year before the insomnia and hot flashes subsided. As far as eating healthy. I have just started and I find the biggest thing is planning ahead. There is so much info out there as far as meal planning ideas, recipes, etc. you just need to take the plung. If you don't plan ahead, plan to fail. Make simple changes at first like stop drininkg sugary drinks, start drinking lots of water, change 1 meal a day to healthy, etc. if you try to change everything at once you may become overwhelmed and give up.

    The bottom line for me wasn't the scare of cancer to change my ways. It is actually pain caused by my weight.

    You can do it!
  • anlanbear
    anlanbear Posts: 5 Member
    congratulations on getting through breast cancer treatment. I remember my surgeon telling me there is some grief in dealing with the breast cancer diagnosis, and sometimes there is a "let down" depression once the treatment which probably kept you busy for a year, is complete. I am a 7 year survivor. after my diagnosis, I was so frightened I lost my appetite and lost weight (which I was probably too worried about to enjoy!) since then my weight has fluctuated up and down. I just had my 7 year oncology appointment last week, and it was good news, cancer free, HOWEVER, between menopause, careless food choices, and stress eating, I put on 12 lbs. in one year. I signed up for Myfitnesspal the next day. I like the advice I'm reading from the first three posts, would love to journey together and offer and receive support as we progress towards health!
    Lani
  • cory17
    cory17 Posts: 1,513 Member
    Hi Melissa - you are not alone in this. Had my lumpectomy ER+ and rads this year, now on letrozole. Weight up 20+ this year. Tossup whether the multiple side effects are from the med or the weight or both. Regardless, this is about quality of life NOW, putting me as a priority. Tell the DF to shower you with a new joke or a foot massage or ? something NOT SUGAR daily.
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    Fiancee needs to stop bringing you junk food. Get mad at him if you have to make him understand.
  • laurenmjenkin
    laurenmjenkin Posts: 27 Member
    Mel, Geez glad to meet u. How to start: l say I was lucky to have been fit when it all went down because it meant more options for surgery and chemical therapy. I too are HER2 receptor pos. I am also a scientist that works with transmembrane tyrosine kinases homologous to EGF HER proteins I also have a stock of oncologistss, epidemiologists, surgeons, u name it for info......but we are not nutritional or exercise specialists just so u know. Here's what I think you can look at, because I have maybe like u surgery, axillary clear or lymph node biopsy and chemo, they want me to take hormone therapy tamoxifen as well, different story, I might refuse. Ok mel first with ur eating and weight gain: when u get a surgery for breast and a possible lymphatic biopsy u will lose estrogen. During chemo u will be given antihistamine, ok, but also steroids, not the muscle building kind but the i want food let's put on fat kind. Don't start me on tamoxifen let me just say nasty drug, weight gain plus and maybe other cancers too. It all makes a mess. Yr poor body!

    How to control: the oedema and lymphoedema; no one can cure it but control, masssge, exercise I'll say again exercise, get those fluids lymphs moving, see a specialist to fit u with some compression garment if needed for lymph. If u have just fluId, twice at leased a day massage with eg bio oil.this is all about prevention. I know not to let the tourniquet or our sticks in that side tight?

    How to control overeating and fat plus oedema: this is just my xp, I work out every opportunity. Sorry but it works even as a cancer therapy, so, I walk and take stairs every time I can. I do one or 2 Metafit's because of cardio but also scientifically it's a sound burn and gives u agility, flexibility and some body weight muscle strength. I try to do 2,weight based work outs. Might be s boot camp lkind. Lastly a fun one dedicated to abs and stretch. And one 80s one just for fun, but I'll start cross fit soon!!!! that should totally bring up yr poor physicologic depression. Trust me brain chemicals will result into happy things use them to keep moods and some of yr physical symptoms in line, try it. This is leading research now too for thins like lymphodema oedema and mental health. Just do as many times as u can, find something u like, mix it up, go for it!

    Now food: other people and not being organised are saboteurs. Now on my world s biscuit is fine...... if u work for it
  • laurenmjenkin
    laurenmjenkin Posts: 27 Member
    Ahh cut me off! Was going to say steamed vege legumes proteins and norty one a week if yr good. The cancer treatment hungry? Try plenty of water and then some more,? Eat slowly and really chew, makes u feel fuller. Controlled snacked say almonds yogurts fruits, at leased they give you nutrient value, portion it though as they are not meals! Exercise will help too! Use yr MyFitnessPal!!!! It's pretty good.
  • laurenmjenkin
    laurenmjenkin Posts: 27 Member
    Now partners, u have 4 options. 1. Keep doing what it is u r doing, but it look bad for u. Option 2 let him/ her bring goodies, they can eat them while u have a healthy gorgeous snack then throw theirs out self police. Option 3 the ideal one, explain all this to yt fiancé show the posts, make yr good/ fitness plans plans, get them involved. This is for your health and enablers often can't see that so love ppl with treats. B firm. Last option is kicked to the kerb, make them a passenger and do exactly what u need to do to gain life quality in yr health. If they can't support u in this..... marriage? Really?
  • laurenmjenkin
    laurenmjenkin Posts: 27 Member
    Oh for that plane? If u have had lymph nodes out do get a fitted compression, who knows if u need it buy it is a method to avoid lymphedema and u don't want that!
  • laurenmjenkin
    laurenmjenkin Posts: 27 Member
    Oh contact for chats but I've probably worded ppl out! Sorry bout that, I'm so passionate Bput this topic and I do have a flippantly blunt personality
  • 2011rocket3touring
    2011rocket3touring Posts: 1,346 Member
    Much love to you cancer survivors.
  • laurenmjenkin
    laurenmjenkin Posts: 27 Member
    Oi no survivy they try get u over 5 years to beat a statistic on s drug regime then say yr "clear " which is nonsense
  • DebLaBounty
    DebLaBounty Posts: 1,169 Member
    Regarding your fiance bringing home all that food you no longer want: say thank you, but no. Honestly, when someone offers me something like that, I imagine that someone spit on it, or something worse. Whatever it takes to gross me out. It's probably a habit he's developed, but you need to develop your own new habits. If you can say no for one day, you can say no on the second day. Keep doing that. After about 2 weeks, you will have developed the discipline you need to do your own thing. Good luck!
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