To think the PoW’s diagnosis makes healthy living seem pointless?

[Notsuretoputit]

I try my best to live heathily (although definitely not fanatical). I try and stay away from ultra processed foods, try and avoid saturated fat, too much meat etc., try and exercise every week. I’ll have the odd takeaway and definitely overindulge on wine, but always try and be mindful of living heathily because so much information is constantly battering me through the radio, media etc. about getting ill from various foods and not exercising.

I’ve recently lost my mother far too young too, so I suppose it’s particularly on my mind at the moment. But then you hear Kate’s diagnosis, who obviously exercises regularly, has the best instructors, best food, best ingredients, best preparation, and she still falls ill, and it all seems a bit pointless.

AIBU to feel this way? I just wonder whether I really should make an effort to watch what I eat and run when I don’t feel like it if really, what will be will be regardless.

Healthy lifestyle isn’t a get out of jail free card, particularly with respect to cancer.

There are specific correlations between some behaviour and a higher risk of cancer (smoking is the most obvious example). But other than those the link between cancer and lifestyle is probably overstated. A large number of cancers have a genetic component to them and there’s not much you can do to prevent them.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t other sensible reasons for a healthy lifestyle either. Reducing your risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease is a huge one as you are more likely to succumb to one if these diseases as you are to cancer.

The news of Kate’s illness is obviously shocking but it doesn’t mean your life needs to change.

Of course I don’t ‘blame’ people for being ill, as some of the posters on this thread have suggested.

But I suppose in some ways it is something I’d like to think. My mother died of heart problems and it’s really worried me that now I have a strong family history of heart issues, which is something I never expected, and I suppose I’ve been trying to convince myself that the increased genetic risk can be balanced out by running, not eating fried foods, sausages, bacon, red meat, and so on. But Kate’s diagnosis just makes me think that if she can get cancer in her 40s how much can lifestyle choices really protect you.

You have no idea how she lives behind closed doors or what her family history is. She could also just be one of the sadly unlucky ones.

Living well improves your odds. It doesn't guarantee you a long and healthy life but it improves your chances (your chances according to the hand you were dealt as an individual).

I think it’s down to luck quite honestly, no one knows what the future will hold. So enjoy life and make the most of it while you are fit and well. I was dx with Multiple Sclerosis at 40, totally out of the blue, I have lost so many wonderful family members and good friends to cancer, I absolutely despise the devastation it causes.

I haven't read other responses but all I will say is that every person I know with or had cancer was not leading an unhealthy lifestyle , slim , exercise , non smoking . Not who you might think would be higher risk .

I personally think your genes are more involved than they'd care us to believe

I understand what you’re saying but healthy living is never pointless. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol, walk everywhere and eat very healthily. The BRAC1 gene is in my family and although I tested negative for the gene I kept a very close eye on my health. Last September I was diagnosed with mestatic uterine sarcoma and am going through chemo.

My mum who ate healthily, exercised, never smoked, and rarely drunk alcohol died at 56. My dad who drinks a fair amount, doesn’t exercise and doesn’t eat very healthily was distraught that she were the one of the two of them to get poorly and pass young.
But this doesn’t means it pointless. presumably being healthy just makes you feel much better in yourself day to day? And it does help reduce risk factors, but sadly can’t eliminate them altogether. I’m like you - eat well the majority of the time, exercise but not exclusively, and enjoy wine a bit too often. Find a balance to being healthy but enjoying things that make you happy.

I did a course in health once.

A statistic that stuck with me is that health is 1/3 genes, 1/3 environment and 1/3 lifestyle.

So you may as well work on the 1/3 under your control.

You don't know her diagnosis so can't say it's anything to do with lifestyle. Living healthier can help you fight illness better or it can just be your genes that give you longevity but the fitter you are the better quality of life you can have.

Genes and also the environment we can't control (eg air /water pollution etc)

I think the lesson here isn't that it’s all pointless but that it’s worth reconsidering some motivations.
We should all eat well to nourish our bodies, treat our bodies with care and kindness, and exercise to feel good, not to be thin or “healthy” eg. protected from illness

This

With respect OP you are coming across as a bit naive. Babies get cancer. Awful things happen no matter what you do. It's no one's fault but a combination of circumstances and luck.

Some illnesses and diseases are bad luck or just one of those things. Doctors don’t even always know why. I know someone in their 20s who dropped dead with a heart attack after running a marathon - slim, fit, active, healthy lifestyle and the coroner ruled he died of natural causes. It doesn’t always make sense.

It's about probabilities, not certainties.

Taking care of yourself makes it less likely you'll get ill - doesn't make it impossible. It also makes you more likely to recover if you do get ill. And you'll feel better than if you don't look after yourself.

Everyone has a story of someone who lived healthily and got ill/died young anyway. And everyone has a story of the uncle who lived on booze, fags and salami and died at 103. The reason these are stories worth telling is that they're the exception, not the rule.

I don’t think it’s pointless but it seems like more and more young and healthy people are getting cancer, both in the news and people I know. It seems generational - I wouldn’t be surprised if some kind of environmental effect makes it far more likely as the generations go on.

I agree with pps that living a healthy and active lifestyle does benefit you in day to day life so that’s why it’s important to look after ourselves although there is probably no point in being extreme about it.

I believe its all in the genes. You can do your best but it is what it is. From a cancer patient (4th time).
@ManchesterLu not everyone who has Crohns is skinny, I'm not sure why so many people think this?

But Kate’s diagnosis just makes me think that if she can get cancer in her 40s how much can lifestyle choices really protect you.

Well, anyone can get cancer. Babies and children are sadly diagnosed with it every single day.

A healthy lifestyle won't stop you getting cancer, or heart disease, or diabetes, but it can help prevent it, and, generally speaking, life is much more enjoyable if you're healthy, fit and active.

You also don't know anything about Kate's family history or what her lifestyle consists of behind closed doors.

My view is that “living a healthy lifestyle” is not about reducing the chance of an illness like cancer. It is more about giving you better odds of survival if/when it’s diagnosed.

@Notsuretoputit
Understandable cause you lost your mother young that you feel like this,

just like i did,

I think 🤔 in healthier lifestyle as its a case of in most things can eat in moderation and in balance,

life can feel like airbiratory lottery in regards of health wise and good fortunes such as family dynamics envorimentally etc and misfortunes too,

other factors involved like upbove poster said our family genes, way we react to stress too,
based on whether,
we have have had enough support and had a reasonably good enough childhood experinces or not factor's ect,

Princes Kate diagnosis has made me realise even when privileged like she is,
our health is a social class leveller

i just think it's important we make the most of our life's,
prioritise good relationships and friendships
focus on quality in life, not in materialistic obsessed centric way,

but what essentially matters focuses on..

Cancer Is indiscriminate it can affect anyone at any time
Sometimes illness just happens my son was very ill last year with necrotizing pancreititis it stumped the Dr's as he was only 16
But being young and otherwise healthy helped him recover much faster than the Dr's anticipated.

I always drive carefully. Last year my cousin was very seriously injured in a car crash when she was hit by a dunk driver. 100% not her fault, she couldn't have avoided it. I still drive carefully.

What an odd post. You don't know her diagnosis (other than cancer) nor anything about her lifestyle 🤔

I've been on several threads like this recently, or people wanting to know what to do to avoid cancer . You can't avoid cancer. You can reduce your risk by the obvious sensible measures but you can't avoid it. If you're going to get it, then you're going to get it.

I had breast cancer and there were several fit, slim, vegan/vegetarians I met during my treatment who had cancer. A friend whose entire career and lifestyle was health, fitness and nutrition related has just died of cancer. However, I do believe that being in relative good health means you have a better chance.

Cancer does not discriminate. It can happen to any of us. Live your life, be sensible with your diet and take care of your body. That is all you can do.