Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

A survivor friend emailed me this WebMD article this morning. Thought I'd share with all of you.

Many Cancer Survivors Make Healthy Changes

Male, Older, and Less-Educated Patients Less Likely to Change Lifestyle After Cancer

By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
on Monday, July 25, 2005


July 25, 2005 -- Cancer survivors often make healthy lifestyle changes after their cancer treatment, but a new study suggests many may not go far enough in adopting healthy habits.

Researchers found up to 60% of cancer survivors follow a healthier diet after diagnosis and treatment, yet less than half are eating the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

The study also showed that about 70% of breast and prostate cancer survivors remain overweight or obese.

There are almost 10 million cancer survivors in the U.S., and that number is expected to grow thanks to improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment. For example, only about 50% of people diagnosed with cancer in 1971 were expected to be alive after five years, compared with 64% of those diagnosed with cancer today.
Researchers say adopting healthy lifestyle changes is especially important for cancer survivors because they are at increased risk for second cancers as well as other diseases, such as osteoporosis, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

A Healthier Life After Cancer?
In their study, researchers reviewed 100 studies on cancer survivors to examine the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on lifestyle and behavior changes. The results appear in the Aug. 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Overall, they found that many cancer survivors adopt healthier behaviors, such as:

30%-60% eat a healthier diet.
46%-96% of smokers with tobacco-related cancers (lung, head, or neck) quit smoking.
47%-59% of those with head and neck cancers linked to alcohol use abstain from alcohol.
70% engage in regular physical activity of 30 minutes of exercise a day at least five days a week.
However, the study showed that cancer survivors who were male, less educated, over age 65, or who live in urban areas were less likely to start or maintain healthy lifestyle changes.

The study also showed that only 25%-42% of cancer survivors eat adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables.

Researchers also found that only 20% of oncologists (cancer doctors) provided guidance to their patients on adopting a healthier lifestyle due to time constraints, treatment or health concerns, and uncertainty about how the message would be received or affect their patient's health.

'Teachable Moment' for Patient and Doctor
In an editorial that accompanies the study, Patricia A. Ganz, MD, of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, says the diagnosis of cancer and transition to cancer survivor are "teachable moments" for oncologists to encourage their patients to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

"Cancer survivors are looking for important ways to prevent a recurrence of their cancer, and to enhance the quality and length of their lives," writes Ganz.

But Ganz says it's also a teachable moment for oncologists to focus more attention on this new posttreatment phase of cancer care.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: Demark-Wahnefried, W. Journal of Clinical Oncology, Aug. 20, 2005; vol 23. News release, America Society of Clinical Oncology.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Linda, I KNOW I need to lose weight. It's just so hard. I do try to eat healthier and walk, but since I started taking Tamoxifen I have trouble losing weight. And sugar is my worst enemy. I should ban it from our house.

Sugardrawers, the shrinking tumor is great news. And the fact that the other tumors are not in any organs is also good news. Let's whip that cancer into remission. And you can quit smoking. It's rough, but you can do it. My DH quit several years ago. He took his last pack and had the kids tell him reasons he should quit. He wrote a reason on each individual cigarette. Then if he was going to smoke, he had to read a reason that he should quit first. It worked for him. Find something that works for you. I'm cheering for you.

Glad your DD got home. I'm sure you are thrilled to see her. Can't wait to hear from my DS.

 

[NHAnn]

Shugar...thanks for the update. Sending you a lot of P and PD for beating this into remission, and for quitting the smoking. Cutting back to just a few a day is a great accomplishment in itself. I know your strength and determination will get you through this. Keep it up!!

Glad your DD is home safe Debbie, enjoy your time with her!

Linda, thanks for the article. I do OK with getting a few fruits a day between snacks and juice, but hard to get mroe than a coupel of veggies for me...I work on it though.

GAGWTA~ (Greetings and good wishes to all!)
Hey, I just made it up, no one else has suggested anything for an abbreviated greeting yet I'm open to other suggestions

 

[laurabelle]

Good morning everyone! Trying to catch up a bit...I had a fun, busy weekend celebrating my youngest dd's 9th birthday! Birthdays have become quite a big deal around here after cancer! My youngest was only 2yrs old when I was dxed, so I get especially thrilled by being here for her birthday so many years later...and hopefully for many, many more to come!!!

Welcome Mickey Nut 50! I'm sorry you had to join us...I'm glad to hear the surgery took care of the beast for you, that's great not to have to do chemo! WDW is a great place to celebrate being a survivor...you can really put cancer in the back of your mind there and just enjoy your family and being a big kid!

Laurajean-I can't for the life of me remember what I did after my lumpectomy, unfortunately I've had too many surgeries to keep track of them. I don't think the recovery was bad though...good for you for going shopping! It's expensive, but fun therapy!

Debbie-I don't expect to see you here! I know you'll enjoy every minute with your dd!!!

Shug- I think you're doing great! I quit after smoking heavily for many years. The hardest part for me was coming up with things to do during my typical times of smoking. I chewed alot of gum and held a pen or straw or something between my fingers. I fell off the wagon a couple of times, and boy did I feel dizzy when I did! If I can do it, so can you!!!
That is wonderful news about your tumor shrinking! You're right about your age...it's def. in your favor. I'm praying you'll blow your doc away with how well you respond to treatment!

GAGWTA!

 

[Disney Debbie]

Well - DD is back - with a VENGEANCE!~~LOL! This has been the craziest weekend - I'm so glad she's back - and yesterday I was ready to kill her! Her plane from Philadelphia got delayed THREE HOURS because the Atl airport shut down for a few hours - I don't know why! It was drizzly but nothing awful - but anyway I'd rather they be safe then sorry. So she didn't land until 12:30 a.m. and we weren't home until 3:30 a.m.!! Saturday was great - we got pedicures and had pictures developed and went out to eat and to a movie. But YESTERDAY!! ARRGHH! She's moving from one place to another in Statesboro where she goes to college. She supposedly went down before she left for Germany and packed her stuff up. Well - I don't know WHAT she packed because I didn't see a single thing packed and most of the stuff was strewn around She didn't have her key to her new place so we had to drive to Savannah and find the new roommate and get a key made (all this in pouring rain and without proper directions to the mall where roommate was working) - so we didn't even get to her place until 6:00 p.m.! She also had made NO arrangements for anyone with a truck to help her because she thought her roommate's boyfriend could do it. Well his brilliant plan was to show up today at 7:30 a.m. and move them - but they have to be out by 10:30 a.m.!! So she called a high school buddy and he came with his truck - or I really don't know what she would have done. We moved all her big stuff to the new place and then Bill & I left at 9:10 to start the 2 hour drive back home while she and the buddy and her old roommate moved the rest of the little stuff. I was SOOOO aggravated with her. I talked to her this morning and the old roommate is STILL moving - I knew there was no way she'd be out by 10:30 - but at least DD is out so if there's trouble with the old landlord it's not with her! The old roommate didn't show up until 8:00 p.m. last night to start packing - and she had more stuff and a bigger mess then DD did. I just wanted to knock both of their heads together and ask them if they'd done ANY thinking ahead of time. I told her when she moves again I want the entire plan a week ahead of time and she'd better be packed and ready by the time we show up - or find some other suckers to help you move!

Then when we get to the new place - the kitchen looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a year. I'm not exaggerating. It was "picked up" in that stuff was put away - but it was DIRTY - and I'm not any germ freak cleaning machine! So while they moved stuff in I cleaned that kitchen! The girl who she's moving in with had all the cleaning supplies - but apparently not the will to use them! I'm guessing they were the supplies her mother sent with her when she moved in last year!

I guess I was that young once - but I know I wasn't that - laid back?? is the nice way of putting it! My father's head would have popped off if we'd gotten down there only to find she didn't even have the keys yet!

But believe it or not - I'm still glad she's home! She's coming back tonight and is going with me tomorrow for my herceptin treatment. I called my folks last night on the way home to rant about it and my dad just laughed his head off!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Aren't kids a treat? Sorry all that happened to you Deb. But at least you're glad to have her home. That probably kept you from killing her yesterday.

My DS got home safely last night. So he and his DS started right back into their old fussing with each other mode. They really are quite fond of each other, but they LOVE to bicker and it drives me up the wall.

GAGWTA! Sounds sort of like some kind of Native American word to me. I like it.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Debbie - You just have to love her!

I'm staying home from work today to get a rest. Only mild discomfort which is fabulous!

I'm doing the animated Chick Flick thing.... Mulan, and now "The Little Mermaid" and maybe Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin (for Jasmine, of course....)

I'm stay put today. Just hanging with the pups and the princesses.

DS is having a great time at Hockey Camp (in Minnesota). DH and DS call at least once or twice a day to give me an overview. So, I will be greatly mended upon their return.

My Sister has been fabulous through all of this. And so have my friends.

However, getting the flowers from Daddio was unexpected and unwanted. I think I am going to give them to my friends husband whom is going through countless treatments and surgeries for thyroid cancer. He will enjoy them more than me.

Is everyone having a fabulous day, too? I hope so. If not, here's some

Enjoy your day and make the best out of it that you possibly can!

 

[Cruise04]

Just got caught up on the last 5 or 6 pages.

Everyone seems to be doing good and as best as they can.

Laurajean - congrats on the surgery going well. I'm glad to hear you weren't too sore.

Ann - 2 MORE DAYS!!!!!! 2 MORE DAYS!!!!!

That was good news about the gene and metastisis - I really hope they are true about this - awesome news.

Shugadrawers - GREAT NEWS!!!!!! Sorry that they found 2 more but the news seems good!!!! AWESOME for you and your family

Laurabelle - unless I missed it as I scanned some of the posts - hope Disney was great (you did just get back from a trip right?).

Debbie - glad to see your dd made it home and I would have been upset too - saw the post about the guy sitting next to her in the plane - UGH!!!!! How rude.

Been keeping you all in my many many many prayers!!!!! Lots of and for everyone!!!!!!

Have a good week
Chris

 

[laurabelle]

Debbie & MerryPoppins - I have sooooo much to look forward to!

Chris- I got back last week,fabulous as usual! I'm hoping to be there for F&W /MNSSHP
in Oct. I have tix and a Southwest credit to use, just
waiting to see if they have an airfare sale so I don't have to pay extra.

 

[MinnieM3]

Just saying GAGWTA! Starting to get busy with school starting for me this week. Went to my classroom today and just said UGH! DS16 said the local news came to band practice today and got a "close up" of him! I'm TiVo-ing it of course, as I'll be with Kevin at karate!

 

[MerryPoppins]

How cool that your son got filmed at band camp. My DS starts band camp in another week. It's hard for me to believe it's time for back-to-school stuff like that.

We're starting to contemplate a spring break Disney trip. Only problem is that DS may have a conflict and we don't want to wait much longer to make our plans. He found out last week that our province (several states) is probably going to choose him to be their youth rep for the Episcopal General Convention next summer. Quite an honor, but he'll have to go to a training session over spring break. Shoot.

DH says he's going to fire up the grill tonight and fix several kinds of meat. I love it when he does that. Then I have several meals precooked and all I have to do is fix sides. Yay! I need to run to the store and pick up what I need. Just wanted to stop by and say hi.

 

[Disney Debbie]

Okay - I missed GAGTWA - what's that??

 

[NHAnn]

Debbie...my post from the other day...in response to the ladies saying just prior to that, that we need a little buzz phrase to avoid hurting feelings when we respond to only a few posts specifically when we drop in

GAGWTA~ (Greetings and good wishes to all!)
Hey, I just made it up, no one else has suggested anything for an abbreviated greeting yet I'm open to other suggestions

have a happy Tuesday!

 

[disneylizzy]

GAGTWA! Thinking about all of you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Anyone else thinking we should come up with some kind of buzzword or phrase - meaning we're wishing everyone here well - rather than trying to name everyone and not leave anyone out? Such pressure!!

GAGWTA~ (Greetings and good wishes to all!)
Hey, I just made it up, no one else has suggested anything for an abbreviated greeting yet I'm open to other suggestions

Ann, this is terriffic!!

 

[snappy]

Can we put it in the thread name?

 

[Disney Debbie]

GAGWTA! Got it!!

 

[laurabelle]

Can we put it in the thread name?

Done!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What teamwork!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

GAGWTA


Just heard from the surgeron and ......................................

I'm non-invasive! I'm non-invasive! Yay!

So, my journey continues but it's a shorter path. I meet with the BS in two weeks for a post op and to find a radiologist.

I hope eveyone gets good news today!