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.

Maybe see your GP for a referral to a breast family history clinic. Those deemed higher risk get extra surveillance.

I know what you mean. I’ve had 6 friends in the last 10 years aged 29-50 die of various cancers (skin, neck/throat and breast) and a different friend had a massive heart attack in her sleep. All of the women who died from cancer were breastfeeding, sporty, fit, salad eating, non alcohol drinkers. The one who died of a heart attack was a non drinker but did love her food, she was quite fit though.

I have a certain amount of survivors guilt. I’m an absolutely lazy cow. I don’t think I’ve run anywhere since 1984, I love my chips and would lie on the sofa forever given half a chance. But they did all the right things and it still didn’t matter. Between them there are 11 children without a Mum, and that’s just shit.

Please please see your GP and ask to be referred. You have an opportunity to prevent it entirely. There are treatments available that can stop you developing breast cancer if you are high risk. You will be entitled to annual screening and genetic testing. Honestly, you don't what the worst to happen and have to go through that, take it from me!

I can't imagine the level of stress that the POW lives with. That probably increases your chances of getting cancer.

Totally get what you mean OP.

One of my very healthy and very sporty friends had a heart attack and died completely out the blue one Saturday morning a few days before his 28th birthday. He was super healthy and into sports, ate healthy, never smoked etc etc.

My grandparents who never exercised a day in their lives, were overweight and ate anything they liked lived to be ca. 90 and had no major illnesses throughout their lives at all.

You just never know and a lot of it is pure luck 🤷‍♀️

Yeah, I'm not sure why people assume she has a healthy lifestyle.

She is thin, and has access to the best medical care and high quality food. But she is also known to have been a smoker (maybe still is?), and we have no idea how much she drinks etc.

Also, genetics play a massive part. You can as healthy as anything, but still have genetics that make you vulnerable.

Op, none of us what Kate's lifestyle is like. She may smoke, she may have an eating disorder. We only see what the Palace want us to see.

Also, you can't possibly take one individual as representative of the entire population. For example, 10-15% of British lung cancer patients are non-smokers. If you fall into that group, you might think, "What's the point of those warnings on cigarette packs, then? I still got lung cancer." But the flipside is that although less than 13% of the UK smokes, 85-90% of lung cancer patients are smokers. That shows that lung cancer is vastly more common in smokers, and that it would be a much rarer disease if no one smoked.

Being healthy gives you a better quality of life and a better chance of recovery if you do get ill.
It's still worth it.

More stressful than being in huge debt and not knowing if you can keep a roof over your family's head/feed them/turn the heating on? We all have different types of stress. I'm sure hers is not the worst.

Hi @Notsuretoputit

Firstly, I'm really sorry about your mum. That must have been so hard for you xx

Re Kate - I think what has happened to Kate just shows we all need to be doing as much as we possibly can. We might not be able to stop something happening to us, but we can possibly delay it, and the healthier we are, it gives us a bigger fighting chance should the worst happen.

We are all bombarded with so many toxins that we have no control over - pollutants, stresses at work etc, that we all need to be educating ourselves as to what we can be doing to control what we can control and take a little bit of power back. And of course, the healthier we are, the better our now or today is, which, ultimately, is all any of us have ...

If you look at, for example the Pink Lotus web site by Dr Krista Funk who is a breast cancer surgeon, she gives a smoothie recipe, which we can drink every day, telling us why the ingredients can cause apoptosis (cancer cell suicide) which I think is so powerful. She also explains why eating other foods encourage cancer growth.

Life is stressful, but even 5 minutes a day of breathing exercises or meditation (I am terrible at meditation 😂) but I'm trying, helps a bit.

Of course if we are really ill, then we have to be as aggressive as possible and the everything in moderation approach isn't going to cut it, but the more we can do the better ... I saw it said that genetics load the gun but our lifestyles pull the trigger. We've got so much going against us, so let's control what we can, and most importantly, try and enjoy and appreciate what we have while we've got it and make the most of every day. xxx

Edited. Apologies. I just wanted to add that grieving causes more inflammation that any other stress so that's when you need to be eating and caring for yourself as well as possible. I know it's always the hardest time though.

I also just caught sight of someone mentioning judgment. It's never judgment, as I said we live in a hostile envionment these days. 1 in 2 of us will likely get cancer. In the past, people died from bacterial diseases. We just have to do as much as we can. With love xxx

Give over with this speculation. You are implying she’s unhealthy and the cancer is therefore her fault. None of which you know to be true. And it’s not nice!

Is it because people genuinely can’t accept that healthy people get cancer? That there must be a reason (and therefore they will escape).

OP I truly feel the same. It actually gives me pretty bad anxiety!

I had a breast scan Dr said its rare for cancer to be genetic as my sister had breast cancer. She said stress can be a factor as is lifestyle. It's a horrible disease but many recover and lead healthy lives.

All of those things reduce the chances of being ill.. some people will be ill anyway. Don’t stop doing them because that’s just stupid and she is unlucky!

A doctor who I know socially told me that risk of serious illness is one third genetic, one third lifestyle/dietary choices and one third luck. I am not sure these odds can be completely accurate in each case, but the principle makes sense to me.

I would say stress plays a significant factor in illness and I would imagine Kate’s life is not short of that even if she does eat and exercise in the way you imagine.

I was wondering if they’ll do some genetic testing on her. If it turns out she does have a genetic syndrome (I have) then it’s regular checks to keep it at bay. I’m not sure being slim etc makes that much difference if you have it, I was in my thirties and slim and still got it.

It's called the genetic lottery.

Sorry. For anyone who is interested. About Breast Cancer, but applies to many ...

Dr. Kristi Funk - Official Page - Pink Lotus Power Up

The people I know who eat the healthiest are the ones who've had cancer or have serious illnesses in that realm. It's a luxury for those who are well to say fuck it, it doesn't matter what I eat, carpe diem etc. When you're feeling ill or your health is in jeopardy you do your best to give your body what it needs and none of the shit. Obviously some healthy living elements can be missold, you need to have a healthy scepticism for anything being 'sold'. But it's not rocket science to try to eat a balanced diet and do some exercise.

Of course it's not pointless. You are born with a certain amount of genetic risk factors. Diet and lifestyle then affect that.

Yes, this is what Dr Funk says ... Apparently only 10% of breast cancer can be attributed to genetics ...

I hope your sister is doing well xxx

Nothing eliminates your risk, but you can lower your risk. Being over weight, smoking, drinking too much you’re putting yourself at higher risk. But doesn’t mean you will get cancer if you don’t change, same as someone healthy can’t stop themselves 100% from getting it

The fact is that even if you are unfortunate enough to get cancer, you are more likely to survive and recover if you are fit and well than if you have other health issues from poor diet or secondary diseases from smoking etc.

That said it's all on balance. I still have wine, even a cigarette once in a blue moon. I eat processed foods occasionally.

I also think in a way you have to do what you're happy with. If you did get cancer would you not want to know you had done everything right and it wasn't your fault? Surely that is a better feeling than immense regret from leading an unhealthy lifestyle and thinking what if I hadn't.

It’s always a good idea to try and stay slim and eat a balanced diet. (It may not stop cancer)but it will give you a much better old age if you’re mobile and fit.