[Becky]

Ann


I take one Solatron (GNC brand) multi vitamin/mineral (no iron version)

6 Fish oil tablets (2 with every meal)
350mg CoQ 10 (200 breakfast, 100 lunch, 50 dinner)
I take 2 maitake mushroom capsules 2X a day (breakfast and dinner)
one evening primrose
4 olive leaf capsules (2 breakfast and 1 with each other meal)
1 cod liver oil tablet (since it has an extra dose of A&D)
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil every morning
1 magnesium with one cranberry extract (that has Calcium in it)

I eat cereals and fruits for breakfast (a variety of different ones). I add an "extra" thing that is different everyday. Like one day it might be walnuts or almonds. I add ground flax 2X per week (or add it to pancake batter - I am careful with this on a daily basis since I am also ER+ but 2X a week is what I think is fine) or I add wheat germ. Cereals are all no sugar. Ones I eat include oatmeal, Uncle Sam's cereal, shredded wheat, Cheerios and All Bran extra bran. I use skim milk in all other circumstances except for the breakfast cereal in which I use 2% (gives a boost to all that fiber and a dose of CLA that is only present in high fat dairy).

For lunch I work where there is a huge salad bar so I have a salad with legumes and veggies. I put about a tablespoon of olive oil on and then lemon wedges. Sometimes I will have a smaller salad and a piece of veggie pizza. Sometimes the hot meal is a good one - like salmon with rice and veggies (but they don't have this much).

Dinner is chicken 2X week and fish 2-3X week (sometimes not the high omega 3 type cuz you can't eat salmon or tuna all the time - sole, flounder, cod etc) and vegatarian meals. I do eat red meat - maybe twice a month. Lots of veggies - always brown rice or whole wheat pasta. I do the sweet potatoes instead of white if baking (but I feel that mashed potatoes is a food group onto itself that cannot be resisted by mortal man). I really round robin veggies to get a variety and think about the foods I eat "by the week" versus "by the day". For example, if I eat carrots and broccoli today I will have asparagus and squash tomorrow. I look at what I included weekly cuz you can't eat everything everyday.

I do use tumeric but naturally (much like Rhonda on this board). I make my own salad dressings at home and put a teaspoon in there and I always put it in the rice water when making rice (or cous cous). I drink green tea but I always drank tea and if I go out, I will get unsweetened tea to drink (green and white have more antioxidants than black tea but black tea is still an excellent and healthful drink). I eat mushrooms but usually just the normal kinds from the grocery store (button, shitake and portobello) and all kinds of fresh and dried herbs for cooking. I really believe that there is something good in everything (whole foods wise).

I do have a glass of red wine now and then (and during the holidays I had more than one) but I really try to be good because during the week, I am too busy to get tired from a glass of wine.

I exercise a lot too. I walk at least 4 miles a day and about 3X week I do an exercise tape. Sometimes I run instead of walk.

For the record (and I think you and I have responded to one another on this board before), I am ER+ (50%) and PR (negative but actually less than 5% which some consider neg and some not) and of course, Her 2+++.

So, this is what I do to try to prevent a recurrence. I think if I do, I will really be at peace with it and work hard again on chemo because I feel I am doing everything I can. This isn't hard for me because I have incorporated this as my lifestyle and I haven't felt so healthy and good in years. (My 14 yr old daughter however is wondering if she will ever see white foods (besides mashed potatoes) ever again - maybe she will thank me one day).

Best wishes

Becky