Oh no! Not ice cream, too! Risk of death from bc increases in survivors overindulgi

[Ruth]

I'm not sure how to take these studies....I think the toxins that we are polluting our grasses, waters and seas are more to blame. My older sister has just been diagnosed again in her other breast with stage 1; ER/PR 99% Her2- and allergic to dairy her whole life....no high fat cheese, no ice cream and no chocolate. How mayo missed this second tumor on the other side is beyond me but first one was found last September on left side. Tubular tiny and grade 1. Other side just found still Stage 1 but 1.5 cm and low grade so it's been there for a while. Now she needs chemo and starts next week. My cancer was completely opposite of hers (i was ER/PR - , Her2 3+) We are BRAC neg etc. The one thing we have in common is we grew up on well water that happened to be next to a huge university research field where they tested pesticides on plants in the 70's. My best friend died of adrenal cortical carcinoma and she lived in my neighborhood and she was 32. We lost 3 people in a block - across my street, behind my house and across the street from my best friend Cheri's house from multiple myeloma. Coincidence? I just can't imagine so. I know I am a lucky one and if anyone asks me what I did to make it so far (almost 10 years NED in 3 months) from a stage 3 diagnosis with poor prognosis factors (10+ lymph nodes) i don't really know. Herceptin no doubt played a huge part but I ate my cheese when my body said yummy. I had my chocolate and wine ( not often but when I wanted it). i walked but not on streets where cars are driving by me. I also stayed totally away and still do from pesticides, indoor house sprays, fabric softeners on clothes, dry cleaners, anything with MSG and lastly to sunscreen companies horror I try to get daily sunshine for 20 minutes sans sunblock. Crazy and maybe nothing to it but my sister did absolutely everything what someone should do and still got it. She was/is 100% organic and has been for years and years. Before we even knew organic. There are genetic factors in all of us but to me something triggers this inflammation and cancer, whether its stress, poison, radiation, foods who knows? We have to live and most of all be happy. I wouldn't be happy if I couldn't eat my peanut M&M'S Mexican cheese dip and whatever else I craved. I think if we live in moderation with "bad foods" and with happiness it's all worth it to me. This is just my humble opinion.
Normally I don't write much and haven't in so long but my sisters recent second diagnosis has just put me in a bad place emotionally. She is only 49.
Lugs to all of you!
Ruth

['lizbeth]

Ruth,

I'm so sorry that your sister is going through this. She & I are the same age.

You might be onto something:
In 1842, the Italian physician Domenico Antonio Rigoni-Stern noticed that nuns in Verona were more susceptible to breast cancer than other women. Ruminating on what aspect of convent living might explain the phenomenon, he concluded that the nun's corsets were too tight. This explanation was far wide of the mark but the initial observation was valid; we now know that having children makes a woman less likely to develop breast cancer. Ref: http://www.velvetgloveironfist.com/index.php?page_id=63

The studies data may all be correct, but the assumptions are wrong. Dairy products have fats which might be the best carriers of pesticides. Your sister didn't eat dairy, but was still exposed. I would guess she eats mostly vegetables and fruits that are likely exposed to more pesticides. On top of the ones you were exposed to at an early age.

I think we are all voicing our thoughts and emotions about cancer.

Since your sister is at Mayo is she in a clinical trial?

[Hopeful]

I agree with the comments about toxins above. I posted on a thread a few years ago about my experience as a child in the 60's when the trucks spewing DDT for mosquito control used to tool through our neighborhood, and the kids used to run behind it in the mist because they thought it was funny. We have all been exposed to a lot of toxic stuff just by living in this era. Who can really separate what is safe and what is not, when what is good for you and what is bad for you is so inextricably intertwined in our food system?

Hopeful

[BonnieR]

Hopeful, I could have written your post! We loved running in the mist behind the mosquito spray truck every summer evening after broiling ourselves in the sun all day on the beach(using the baby oil/iodine formula!)

[Mandamoo]

http://www.integrativeoncology-essen...-off-the-menu/
I thought this was an interesting read in response to this research.

['lizbeth]

My mother would love that article. She made us drink goat's milk growing up. I remember the drama, as we little ones hated the musky taste. Now I love chevre and would rather have it on my pizza than mozzarella.

[Jackie07]

Same stuff reported on the breastcancer.org site:

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20130327