Breast cancer links to weight, diet and exercise are all over the news, but remember this: You are not to blame.
PUBLISHED July 09, 2019
Martha lives in Illinois and was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in January 2015. She has a husband and three children, ranging in age from 12 to 18, a dog and a lizard.
When I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer four and a half years ago, one of the items I came across while trying to learn more was a piece of preliminary research in mice that seemed to show exercise increased the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs. I’m pretty sure I was on the treadmill in my house the very day I read those words.
Although it was difficult, I walked upwards of three miles several days a week during six months of weekly Taxol treatments. Since then, I’ve continued on the treadmill but have added elliptical workouts and weight machines to my routine. I’m the first to say I’m lucky to be able to do this since I don’t have complications or metastatic sites that seriously affect my ability to move without pain or risk of injury.
My personal experience with exercise and diet (heavy on the vegetables and fruit) informs how I think and feel about the relationship between diet, exercise and cancer. In short, I feel better and seem to experience fewer side effects soon after treatment (most notably diarrhea but also fatigue) when I’ve been exercising and eating a healthier diet.
Although it was difficult, I walked upwards of three miles several days a week during six months of weekly Taxol treatments. Since then, I’ve continued on the treadmill but have added elliptical workouts and weight machines to my routine. I’m the first to say I’m lucky to be able to do this since I don’t have complications or metastatic sites that seriously affect my ability to move without pain or risk of injury.
My personal experience with exercise and diet (heavy on the vegetables and fruit) informs how I think and feel about the relationship between diet, exercise and cancer. In short, I feel better and seem to experience fewer side effects soon after treatment (most notably diarrhea but also fatigue) when I’ve been exercising and eating a healthier diet.
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