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AlaskaAngel · 09-11-2013, 09:02 PM

Hi Suzan W,

It depends.... on age/menopausal status at time of treatment. It happens mostly to those who become completely menopausal with treatment. Those who are younger are at higher risk for recurrence but the trade-off is that they get to keep more of their pre-treatment characteristics like strength and faster metabolism for keeping the excess weight down. So some replies here from those with bc who are younger recommend intensive exercise, which actually doesn't cut it for those of us who have done chemo and are very menopausal.

At OUR age (I'm 62), exercise plus what had always been a weight-loss diet before treatment does not even result in weight maintenance. The only method that has been successful for me has been to combine that reduced diet with fasting a couple of days every week on a permanent basis -- which then results the catch-22 of very low energy and very low stamina.

It IS exhausting, and it does make one both angry and sad.

A.A.

09-11-2013, 09:02 PM	#4
AlaskaAngel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 2,018	Re: this might seem silly... Hi Suzan W, It depends.... on age/menopausal status at time of treatment. It happens mostly to those who become completely menopausal with treatment. Those who are younger are at higher risk for recurrence but the trade-off is that they get to keep more of their pre-treatment characteristics like strength and faster metabolism for keeping the excess weight down. So some replies here from those with bc who are younger recommend intensive exercise, which actually doesn't cut it for those of us who have done chemo and are very menopausal. At OUR age (I'm 62), exercise plus what had always been a weight-loss diet before treatment does not even result in weight maintenance. The only method that has been successful for me has been to combine that reduced diet with fasting a couple of days every week on a permanent basis -- which then results the catch-22 of very low energy and very low stamina. It IS exhausting, and it does make one both angry and sad. A.A. __________________ Dx 2002 age 51 bc for granny, aunt, cousin, sister, mother. ER+/PR+/HER2+++, grade 3 IDC 1.9 cm, some DCIS, Stage 1, Grade 3 Lumpectomy, CAFx6 (no blood boosters), IMRT rads, 1 3/4 yr tamoxifen Rads necrosis BRCA 1 & 2 negative Trials: Early detection OVCA; 2004 low-dose testosterone for bc survivors Diet: Primarily vegetarian organic; metformin (no diabetes), vitamin D3 Exercise: 7 days a week, 1 hr/day No trastuzumab, no taxane, no AI NED