Hi all,
My name is Vicki... I'm 4 weeks post op for my 3rd time in 4 years of having localised breast cancer and am about to start taking letrozole to reduce my risk of a 3rd recurrence.
I was just wondering if anyone knew of any holistic Medicine and / or complimentary therapies I could take / use also, as I am very conscious of my health and go to the gym 5-6 times a week, so any natural way to reduce risk is also of great interest to me.
I haven't used macmillan in the last 4 years and for some reason tonight felt to reach out and had the need to ask for any help you can give.
I feel like I need to be part of a community that understands first hand about this awful disease - I will not let it beat me though that is for sure....!
I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for taking the time.... In advance
Hi Vic_TheWarrior , and a warm welcome to the forum. I have escaped so far without recurrence but it’s always in the back of my mind as my mum died from breast cancer many years ago. In terms of natural therapies and supplements, I would get guidance as some interact with medications. I’m on Anastrozole which is similar to letrozole and I would be wary in case its effects were reduced. I’d recommend contacting the Penny Brohn Centre in Bristol, they do online stuff as well as face to face.
Another great place is Future Dreams in Kings Cross, it’s just for those affected by breast cancer. I went to a talk/ discussion re diet and found the dietitian very helpful. You may not be near london but they do online stuff too.
The following are things I do in the hope that they may lessen my chances of recurrence. But I’m not making any recommendations, just saying what I do! I’m veggie anyway so no issues re processed meats which seem to be a definite no no. I avoid ultra processed veggie stuff though as it may well be just as bad. For example I use soya milk, tofu and tempeh as they’re minimally processed, but not things with soy protein isolate. I focus on the ‘rainbow’ idea of lots of colours of fruit and veg, and aim for many more portions than just 5 a day. I fast for a minimum of 13 hours overnight as there’s a study indicating that this could be helpful. The dietician confirmed this, recommending 12 hrs minimum with 13/14 being ideal. I didn’t drink much before but now am teetotal as there’s no safe level of alcohol, particularly for oestrogen positive like mine. I do Nordic walking, regular walking, and have joined a gym recently to boost my bone health as well as for exercise. I think they’re the main things I do but if I think of others I’ll pass them on! And if you want the link to the 13 hour fast study I’ll try to find it, it was posted on a thread here a few years ago. I’ve been doing it since late 2019. Don’t think it can do any harm and it may do good! Think it’s quite a healthy thing anyway.
I’m sure others will pop in with their stories and suggestions. Good luck with it all! Love and hugs, HFxx
Thank you for your wonderful advice... I'm 90% plant based but am a sucker for a slice of ham  I joined a gym 5 months ago and have been strength training alongside body Combat so once recovered from my op will go back to that for definite. I also walk daily so am pretty active I just have a couple of weeks to make sure fully healed then I will be back on it. I have used intermittent fasting in the past so will relook at that again for sure. I have also started doing some meditation through an app which over the last 10 days has helped and I have cried especially this time. So I think I probably need to just carry on what I'm doing.. No drink which I don't anyway... Keep active and eat well and get on this letrozole and see what happens hey... Thank you so much
Hi Vic_TheWarrior Oh yes forgot Mindfulness!! Did a course on zoom as it was during lockdown, through the Maggie’s centre at Addenbrookes. Then did weekly zoom sessions till the guy who led them stopped as he went part time. And if you get hot flushes from the letrozole, it’s worth asking at any Maggie’s or similar near you re acupuncture. I had 6 weeks of ear acupuncture at Maggie’s, just before lockdown. It did help and seemed to also help with anxiety which I seem to have courtesy of Anastrozole. And I made some lovely buddies, we’re a little group of 3 and still meet up every few months, over 3 years later. I call them my hormonally deranged friends as we’re all on hormone busters.
Btw I listened in on a livestream session at the Penny Brohn Centre about the use of mistletoe - very interesting. I would have to pay but may consider finding out more when I finish my time on Anastrozole. It’ll be 5 years next December and I’m thinking of asking for a further 2 years but will discuss nearer the time. Then it might be good to look at the mistletoe as an immune booster. I’d do it through the centre as I’d want guidance. We’ll see! Xx
Well all the info you are giving is brilliant so thank you very much... I wonder what side effects letrozole will give me... Who knows and time will tell lol.
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