Just one of those "I'm curious" surveys!!!!

[Karen Weixel]

I didn't eat much sugar at all. As a matter of fact, I'm still a very healthy eater.

Not sure it did me much good though.

Karen

Please stop blaming yourselves. I was out of the country for a number of years before my diagnosis. My husband and I had fish (usually salmon) four or more times a week, lots of salads and wonderful vegetables, always served with olive oil, very few sweets, and we walked an hour each evening, up and down hill. My good friend who does not have cancer is very over weight and eats sweets and junk all the time. My mother who did not have cancer was devoted to sweets and died at 88 from Congestive Heart Failure. And then there's my other two friends (both with breast cancer) who danced for years for major ballet companies (so lots of exercise) and both very careful, healthy eaters. You are not to blame for your cancer! Repeat this three times, please. Of course, you should eat healthy foods and exercise every day, particularly now, as it's great for our hearts and makes us feel good. But stop hitting yourself over the head.

[Lolly]

I am the first one in my family to have breast cancer, or cancer of any kind for that matter. My grandmothers, mother, sisters and I have ALL been devoted to sweets our whole lives, but also a healthy diet. The only thing I've done differently is that I have taken mega-doses of vitamins for 20+ years. I stopped when I was diagnosed. Food for thought, as there is an interesting school of thought that there CAN be too much of a good thing, ie throwing the body out of balance.

And now, playing the devil's advocate, an interesting article:

Science Daily: Can a Spoonful of Sugar Stop Cancer?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0925083439.htm

[Jean]

sugar! I have noticed lately that I crave chocolate soon after my herceptin treatments every 3 weeks. About three or four days later I just crave it.
I gave in this weekend and boy did I feel guilty as I really eat up a lot
of M & M's (the peanut kind)...hmmmmmmm they hit the spot. It's funny
because on the average I don't have those cravings and eat pretty healthy
I am not perfect (I think that is why God put erasers on pencils) but
we must all remember that many women who followed very strict veggie
diets (Linda MaCarthy for one) still got breast cancer. I think something
goes a stray in a chemical manner and the cancer along with our immune
system allows the cell to take off. Those hormones play a mjor role also.
I hope we all learn the why and how real soon......in the meantime, hide
those M & M's every 3rd week...


Hugs,
Jean

[rinaina]

I was never a huge sweet eater but I did eat sweets from time to time. I am particular about what goodie I will eat though. I won't waste the calories on just any old sweet treat. I probably now have some type of dessert about 3 times a week though but sometimes that can be a piece of fruit, big on berries and watermelon and grapes, and as we all know, fruits have a lot of sugar in them. I think the old rule about anything in true moderation is wise. Portions are important too. But don't leave the pan of fudgy gooey brownies around me because they would disappear in no time flat! I don't bake because of that.

[Bev]

I didn't eat many sweets prior to BC. Worked out lots, normal weight, ate salads and protein, even salmon, and olive oil. As I am slightly perturbed that that lifestyle didn't work out I am eating chocolate with abandon. By the way, fruit does convert to sugar. Will eat fruit but chocolate makes me happier. I think chocolate covered strawberries or broccoli is the answer.

Not my fault, Grace! I am going to make up for chocolate for- gone in the last 48 years. BB

Actually, there's lots of evidence lately that eating chocolate is good for us, particularly dark chocolate. So eat away. I love chocolate and I eat it whenever the craving hits! If anyone wishes, I have a great recipe for chocolate mousse, very easy to make.

[caya]

I was also not a big sweet eater ( except during my period, when I had to have chocolate), but I did eat alot of carbs- potatoes, bread, bagels, pretzels, chips etc. and alot of diet coke (caffeine free) - but who knows, the aspartame? I think Grace is right though - I have couple of friends who are severely overweight - they don't have cancer. I really think stress was a factor with me - like RhondaH I had an extremely stressful year - my husband had a brain aneurysm in Jan. 2006,I (he is fine, a full recovery, but that is another story) - and not only did I have the worry about him, keeping my two daughters sane, etc. - we basically run our business ourselves and I had to take over all his work (which involved a lot of travelling) and do mine too - I did hire someone to help out, but believe me, STRESS was my middle name. I discussed this with my GP after my diagnosis, and she thinks there is a correlation between extreme stress and cancer - she says she has seen this before in her practice. So who knows? All we can do is soldier on and fight the beast. But if sugar could be a "cure" - man sign me up!!

caya

[janet/FL]

I was on strict Atkins for 3 years prior to diagnosis as my husband is diabetic and that diet controls blood sugar very well. So no sugar, no bread, lots of water, I don't drink soda pop,-- we ate fairly healthy. Sauteed spinach, garlic and tomatoes with scrambled eggs for breakfast were our favorite. Some suralose for sweetener.
With chemo/Herceptin--I couldn't stop craving sweets. Now off Herceptin--I don't crave sweets. I had lost 35 pounds prior to diagnosis. I have now gained back12 of them.
Janet/FL