Life style change

[KathyLynn]

I was wondering if you all could share your life style changes after diagnose, surgery or treatment..
Diet, exercise, alcohol, anything that could help me after my surgery to get on the right path

My surgery is on Monday. So I’m preparing as much as I can. Very anxious.

Thanks,
KathyLynn

[Atoq]

Hi! Very interesting post!

I am now since diagnosis going for a sugar free and meat and diary free diet.

I found out the studies on Valter Longo about longevity and fasting, and also about starving during chemotherapy. But with the 5 days chemo pattern it was impossibile to fast two days before and one after chemo.

So I contacted an Italian doctor specialized in integrate medicine and she gave me a very strict diet to follow, plus a list of supplements, but here in Norway I could not find them. Here it is very strict and only omega 3 and 6, curcumin or resveratrol are on the market, not many other herbal remedies.

I have just finished the neoadjuvant therapy and the doctor said to continue with the diet and supplements till the final hystologic result. I had always run and trained strenght and I kept on doing it, never smoked and drank only red wine, a glass or two a week.

My doctor here (actually it changes each time) does not know about the diet, because they just want us to eat a lot to come fat and round to the surgery. And everything else is bxxxxxxt. I am a biologist and worked with research for 20 years, so I think I can read a peer reviewed paper and quitting meat and diary plus sugar made sense to me (because they promote IGF-1 growth factor). After all we do not need extra sugar other than the one in vegetables, cereals and fruit. I am allowed to eat some lentils, fish twice a week and egg once a week.

Claudia

[KathyLynn]

Thanks, I have read a lot lately on sugar
I don’t eat too much red meat, so I can cut that out easy
Dairy, yikes, love milk and cheese, lol
Sugar, just need to watch what I’m eatung. Not much on sweets, so it would be the hidden sugar i will watch
I do drink white wine, but, more like 2 glasses a night
May need to cut back there
I take vitamins, and have for a very long time
And start exercising!!

I’ll research the supplements too

KathyLynn

[Beckster]

I was wondering if you all could share your life style changes after diagnose, surgery or treatment..
Diet, exercise, alcohol, anything that could help me after my surgery to get on the right path

My surgery is on Monday. So I’m preparing as much as I can. Very anxious.

Thanks,
KathyLynn

Hi Kathy Lynn,

My oncologist did not want me to lose any weight during chemo...He would rather me gain weight. He said that the chemo is able to work better. I was a little overweight when I started chemo (5 lbs) and gained 10 pounds during. Now that the chemo is over, he said that I can start to lose weight again. I walked a little during chemo, but I was on Xeloda, which causes hand and foot. Painful to walk. After chemo was finished, I started walking...now I try to walk 3 miles a day. I also take Vitamin D everyday.

Hope this helps...good luck on Monday

[susie0915]

If you get a temporary ileostomy, you will learn foods that may not work and how to take care of your ileostomy. It takes a little time but you will figure out the things you can do and foods that may or may not agree with you. My ileo was reversed early because I got a bowel blockage 4 weeks after surgery and my surgeon reversed the ileo because he had to remove scar tissue to take car of the blockage. It was difficult during chemo as I did have issues with diarrhea. After recovering from surgery, I tried to walk and do some weights to make myself stronger during chemo. Some days were more difficult than others depending on how I was feeling from the chemo. I think it's a learn as you go depending how you recover from surgery, if you have a temp ileo, and any side effects you have from chemo. Just don't be afraid to talk to oncologist about any side effects as dosage levels can be adjusted, and meds can be prescribed. Good luck with your surgery and if you have any concerns don't be afraid to come on here and ask. There is always somebody who can help.

[Atoq]

If you get a temporary ileostomy, you will learn foods that may not work and how to take care of your ileostomy.

That was also my thought, maybe it will be difficult to follow the diet with the ileostomy, I have not lost weight though until now. I also wanted to emphasize that life style accounts for a little proportion of our health. It is however the only thing we can control (being the rest given by genetics and unknown factors, that we can pool together as "chance"), therefore we tend to focus a lot on life style. I hope that the supplements and the diet and training regime will help me to get away with treatment without too many side effects, but in the end it will be chemo, radio and surgery making the difference.

Claudia

[susie0915]

If you get a temporary ileostomy, you will learn foods that may not work and how to take care of your ileostomy.

That was also my thought, maybe it will be difficult to follow the diet with the ileostomy, I have not lost weight though until now. I also wanted to emphasize that life style accounts for a little proportion of our health. It is however the only thing we can control (being the rest given by genetics and unknown factors, that we can pool together as "chance"), therefore we tend to focus a lot on life style. I hope that the supplements and the diet and training regime will help me to get away with treatment without too many side effects, but in the end it will be chemo, radio and surgery making the difference.

Claudia

I lost a lot of weight through all my treatment. 35-40 lbs. It was hard to gain with the ileostomy because everything comes out. Then with my blockage and reversal I didn't eat for awhile trying to before surgery trying to get the blockage to move. Then after the reversal and chemo, had diarrhea a lot and my appetite was not good. I've been able to gain back about 12 lbs the last year as I have gotten my bowel issues under control. Everyone has different issues to deal with, so have to play by ear and see how you respond to everything and make adjustments accordingly. Exercise is a good thing if you have the energy. It just makes you stronger.

[Lee]

I was pretty active prior to my diagnoses, never overweight. Grew up loving my veggies. I have been a power walking since my diagnoses. I like chicken and beef, have not really changed my diet. Maybe a bit more chicken than beef today.

I grew up in Montana. Cattle country. I knew many ranchers who ate red meat all the time and lived into their 80's and 90's. This was long before colonoscopies. I suspect all the hormones/antibiotics they give animals today is probably not helping our bodies. My daughter started having her periods when she was 11. I've been told girls start earlier now because of all the hormones they consume in there diet.

Also all the pesticides they put into the ground is not helping us either. Throw in pollution, and mix it up. Yup I can see why we get cancer. I've read where colon cancer will increase for those under 50 over the next 20+ years. As early as 20's and 30's. I see it happening now on this board today.

I believe the only way to avoid it, move away from people, grow/raise your own food.

Lee

Edited to add, the best thing you can do to avoid a recurrence is find some form of exercise and stick with it. Studies have shown, exercise can reduce a recurrence by up to 50%.

[KathyLynn]

Thanks everyone,
I guess I have been eating well, not exercising like I should.
Lee, you are so right
Especially with the younger people being diagnosed
My daughters friend was just diagnosed last week with Stage IV. 32 years old. I have seen the post here with the younger ones. It’s so sad.

Living here on the Chesapeake Bay has been a little of an issue with me. I love steam crabs and our rock fish. But there’s so much in the bay. I would swim in the bay but I won’t let my grandkids.

I’m heading out to eat my big dinner tonight, liquid diet tomorrow!! It’s getting real!

Thanks again!
KathyLynn
I’m also trying to get my daughters to stop the processed foods

[Aqx99]

Immediately after surgery, if you are getting a temporary ileostomy, you are going to be on a strict diet that your surgeon should have told you about. You literally have to avoid some of the healthier foods because they will cause major issues. Once you are about 6-8 weeks post-surgery, barring any complications, you will be able to gradually introduce some of the foods you were told to avoid. I was eating healthy and exercising every day before I was diagnosed. I plan to get back into that routine once I finish chemo and have the energy to exercise again.

[Lee]

T
I’m heading out to eat my big dinner tonight, liquid diet tomorrow!! It’s getting real!

Good luck tomorrow and especially on Monday. Remember to walk, walk, walk those hospital halls.

You will probably be on a low fiber diet for awhile following your surgery. Give us an update when you can.

Lee

[heiders33]

Exercise is important as it can help reduce side effects and keep you strong. I find it challenging to exercise outdoors in the days after my Oxi infusion due to cold sensitivity, but I do what I can indoors, including pelvic floor exercises to prepare for my ileostomy reversal. When I can go outside, I walk or run and do strength exercises at an outdoor gym nearby.

It is true that your diet is limited in the weeks after surgery. Now that I’m over two months out, I’m focused on eating a healthy diet. I haven’t eliminated any food groups, except I’ve stopped drinking caffeine and alcohol. My iron was low before treatment so I try to eat high-iron foods. I tend to avoid foods that give me gas, like broccoli and beans. But otherwise, I try to have a healthy, balanced diet, eating organic/sustainably-sourced meats and vegetables and eggs where I can. I also take vitamin D. Anything that promotes your overall health and immune system is good. I try not to sweat it too much and allow myself to cheat every now and then.

[rockhound]

Immediately after surgery, if you are getting a temporary ileostomy, you are going to be on a strict diet that your surgeon should have told you about. You literally have to avoid some of the healthier foods because they will cause major issues. Once you are about 6-8 weeks post-surgery, barring any complications, you will be able to gradually introduce some of the foods you were told to avoid. I was eating healthy and exercising every day before I was diagnosed. I plan to get back into that routine once I finish chemo and have the energy to exercise again.

I skipped all fresh veggies during the period of time with my ileostomy - May to Sept this summer. That was tough, but I had a partial blockage during week 2 and did not want to deal with that again.. basically oncs told me to eat whatever (so lots of ice cream!) to keep on weight, etc. as I was going through chemo during that span as well. Protein shakes, etc. Still had a beer here and there also. Had my cholesterol, etc. checked in the middle of all that and my best/lowest numbers ever (triglycerides even low)I still lost a bunch of weight but now post 2 mos after reversal surgery, I am back up ~20 lbs from May and while am not eating tons of sugar, etc. I've not cut things totally from my diet- life is too short (did not cut coffee either). Nice to eat "normally" again though... Also now daily vitamins (B complex, D, multi), tree nuts, and baby aspirin. Exercised the whole time by at least walking at minimum, now back to full bore (e.g., 3-4 miles/day walking to/from work, swimming, weights).

[NHMike]

If you get a temporary ileostomy, you will learn foods that may not work and how to take care of your ileostomy. It takes a little time but you will figure out the things you can do and foods that may or may not agree with you. My ileo was reversed early because I got a bowel blockage 4 weeks after surgery and my surgeon reversed the ileo because he had to remove scar tissue to take car of the blockage. It was difficult during chemo as I did have issues with diarrhea. After recovering from surgery, I tried to walk and do some weights to make myself stronger during chemo. Some days were more difficult than others depending on how I was feeling from the chemo. I think it's a learn as you go depending how you recover from surgery, if you have a temp ileo, and any side effects you have from chemo. Just don't be afraid to talk to oncologist about any side effects as dosage levels can be adjusted, and meds can be prescribed. Good luck with your surgery and if you have any concerns don't be afraid to come on here and ask. There is always somebody who can help.

I'm almost a month out with my Ileostomy and you may want to go with a vegan, low-calorie diet but your bag may dictate otherwise. One thing that I've found is that cheese and some other foods help firm up output. Output that is to watery can drain your fluids and electrolytes so the recommendation is fiber, and then Imodium, if the fiber doesn't do it. I'd rather eat foods that get the job done.

I'm probably going to start chemo soon and chemo and the bag will likely make things complicated.

People told me that I could get constipation and diarrhea when on chemo and radiation at the same time. And sometimes the things that work aren't the healthiest of options.

If I eat nuts or fresh vegetables, they wind up whole in the bag. So I'm eating nut butters and pureed vegetables.

[NHMike]

On exercise, I'm a bit of an exercise nut. I ran, did some lifting and played tennis during chemo and radiation treatment. In between chemo and radiation and, before surgery, I did a lot of core and strength-training work to help recover better after surgery. After surgery, I couldn't believe how long it's taking to recover but at least all of the other muscles are there to support me when I can't use my abs to do something.

I'm not sure how old you are but I think that anyone in their 40s that isn't in great shape should work on it because it gets harder in your 50s and beyond.