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.

Mass studies show the impact of a healthy lifestyle on reducing the chances of developing certain diseases.

You need a lot of people in those mass studies to show the impact.

OP, I really do understand where you are coming from. My own father lived until 85 despite smoking from the age of 7 (yes, really!) and being a very heavy smoker as an adult. He was also a very heavy drinker and, I would say, alcoholic all the way through my teens and onwards.

On paper, he should have been dead by mid 50s.

Someone said to me, if you have a very strong liver it will filter out all the nasties and prevent illness. I guess my dad was one of these.

I think, keep yourself as healthy as you can and focus on the present as tomorrow just isn’t guaranteed for anyone.

My friend had cancer, she was very poorly and wasn't expected to survive.
She did, after a long period of gruelling treatments and the team looking after her were convinced she bounced back the way she did because of her healthy lifestyle prior to being unwell.

I agree with this. And I had cancer as a healthy 35 year old with no family risk. And felt it was so unfair - I am slim, ate well, exercised. Cancer is far more complex than anyone understands.

I personally think there’s something going on in the environment (microplastics?). But it is a worry. Listening to a Guardian science podcast which was talking about how bowel cancer in under 50s has shot up (not for one minute speculating on what cancer PofW has).

All we can do though is carry on being healthy and eating well (but live your life!). It’s more important than ever because clearly cancer rates are rising and nobody seems to be able to tell us why. (More research please!!).

What I will say is that I was fortunate to have a grade 2 cancer (not grade 3 which is more common in younger people). Who knows why but it helps me a bit to think maybe all the green tea and blueberries slowed it down a bit. (This obviously doesn’t mean those who has fast growing cancers are unhealthy).

People feel the need to have control. That’s why they overemphasise lifestyle components of cancer. Because then they believe it will never happen to them. I’ve spent a long time on oncology wards and I don’t think I saw one overweight person. In my mind the huge correlation is not there. And we all see this in real life too. Is it all the unhealthy overweight people who are getting cancer? No quite often the opposite.

How many people who have a similar lifestyle don't get cancer?

She’s having preventative chemo which suggests the surgery was curative. Her overall health will have contributed to that.

If you google obesity and cancer risk there’s loads from various related organisations showing the increase in risk

FFS.

You do understand mass studies - and not personal anecdotes?

"I know someone who smokes and drinks and they didn't get cancer or heart disease"

I don't think any mother of three young children can truly be healthy on all fronts. People love to underplay the colossal impact having children has on woman's mental and physical health. Just think of the stress and sleep deprivation that nearly 10 years of being pregnant and juggling babies/toddlers brings. It's absolutely not comparable to a person without any children who has every single day to themselves and can sleep for as long as they want or schedule downtime whenever they feel like they need a break.

She also has immense pressure to appear immaculate and perfect during all work engagements so any time away from the kids is spent on grooming, makeup, hair etc. In the real world, most mums are willing to look a bit slobby in public if it means skipping hair and makeup so you can enjoy a few more minutes to yourself.

You can eat healthy all you want but it doesn't compensate for much if you're chronically sleep-deprived or under stress. Certain phases of life (eg being a mum) are fundamentally not compatible with being in a perfect state of mental and physical rest.

YANBU

It’s scary to think someone as young, fit and privileged as Kate could develop cancer. I’m a couple of years older than her and it’s shaken me a little.

I’m not daft - I know cancer doesn’t discriminate. But it’s still frightening to see that proven in such a shocking way.

This.

Shes very fit and into her exercise. But I doubt she eats a lot to be that way.

I'm.sure shes very healthy eating but I've realised over time that trying to keep super skinny in life raises cortisol levels and then....

My ex mil was the same,a vegetarian, who never drank or smoke . She ate incredibly thin because she felt she was punching with her husband , he was 5 yrs junior and perhaps a looker. I feel that starving herself or not eating right and the stresses in her life gave her cancer . She had no genetics of it and then bham

Sorry to hear this. Have you been told to have early mammograms/ BRCA testing? Breast cancer can have a big genetic element. My SiL has even been offered preventative tamoxifen as MIL has breast cancer. That’s just one close relative.

I think that posters on here are often OTT. Having been through lots of clinics (I'm a carer) and having worked in elderly/end of life, disease/conditions aren't as easily predictable or preventable as thought on here. However, being fit and healthy increases your chance of survival and can mean faster/better recovery. It's important to think about health as you enter your 50's. The healthier you are as you age (55+) the better your quality of life.

I don’t think this is a particularly nice thing to say.

I don’t think it’s fair to infer Kate or anyone really is unhealthy solely due to a diagnosis, some will be others won’t

But that doesn’t mean on a population level there aren’t trends

Personally I don't think being that skinny and underweight radiates health. But that's my opinion in the same way you think she radiated health.

I can't believe people think like this 🤦🏻‍♀️

Cancer doesn't discriminate - but if you have particular lifestyles - and that could be due to circumstances beyond your control, you are more likely to get it.

@User35352662 yes I was just about to say the same thing. Even if cancer was not influenced by genetics and was solely lifestyle related, no diet or exercise regime in the world could counteract the extremely stressful life PoW has, I would not swap for all the money in the world. Same with any royal family members. I honestly feel sorry for them all.

It makes me think that money and privilege can't buy you health. But I I will get kicked for this...I always thought she looked really skinny and pale. Like she really wasn't getting enough nutrition. So maybe she wasn't so healthy? But cancer can happen to anyone.

Well I can’t see her getting home and knocking up sausages, fried egg and chips or ordering a Dominoes, what with all the chefs at her beck and call and her ability to afford the very best ingredients, and there are numerous photos of her exercising regularly.

It’s a numbers game. Lowers your risk. It’s not a magic charm that wards off all illness. Your logic is like saying some die when wearing a seatbelt so I won’t bother.

There is a theory out there called surviving "Sniper Alley", meaning that if you get through your 40s/50s relatively unscathed, chances are you'll be ok for the next number of years. So middle age (40 -55) are the years to watch.

I've seen it with many I know. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes you name it all at a relatively young age, and others in their 60s and beyond who are never ill. I dunno, it's just a theory.

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You do understand though that if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle, you are more likely to get diseases, including cancer.

Cancer can be caused by genetics
Cancer can be caused by environment and also the food you eat.
Certain foods help reduce the chances of DNA mutations taking place - because of their properties.

You need to look at the population level.