Is it possible if you are fit and healthy at fifty and gone through Ovarian cancer [I am now on my 3 month checks soon] to be able to ward any reccurance of Ovarian cancer again in the future? or no its just pot bad luck if it comes back? nothing to do with being fit and healthy, I am not a sports person just someone who loves to walk!!
Sarah P.
Great question. I don't know the answer, Sarah, but I used to run 3 miles a day and do dumbbells and thought I was about to go into the menapause very fit until the bloating started which knocked me sideways.
I think being fit at least will help you recover from any surgery more easily and tolerate the 'treatments' better. Also macmillan are currently promoting (you may have seen it on the news) that it can help the fitter you are - so to do some exercise. The anti-cancer book I am reading also recommends at least 30 mins physical activity such as walking, each day. If nothing else it supposed to help manage fatigue, obviously though, this is easy to say, but those suffering from it may not agree that the theory is workable! I saw rather a heated exchange on the macmillan site about it between somebody suggesting it and somebody who was suffering fatigue and felt the fact they could not manage it just made them feel gulity.
I am walking each day and now just try to settle for powerwalking rather than running, and despite the surgeon saying I could build up again now - my first attempt with the dumbbells was followed by a week of pain in my one side. I hope next year though I may be able to be more ambitious!
Love Lizzie
X
Hi Sarah,
I'm sure Lizzie is right, and that there is no straight answer.
Some cancers are more aggressive than others, some have different origins and different things 'driving' them. However, it is true to say that all of us have cells circulating that could potentially turn into cancers, and it makes sense to me that a strong immune system is more effective at stopping those changes than a weak one. Therefore eating the right foods, sleeping well, reducing stress, keeping your weight within healthy margins and exercise (which all contribute to a strong immune system) are things which give you the best chance to prevent cancers. It is also patently true that no one seems to know why ov. ca. starts in most cases. All we can do is the best we can to get rid of it. That is an individual, personal choice rather than a prescription about which anyone should feel guilty or 'got at'.
Good luck (I'm sure that helps too!)
Isadora.
Well done. You are so right to start doing whatever exercise you can manage, Sarah! I am a fan of exercise (only since I had OC 9 years ago - I was a bit of a workaholic couch-potato before that!) I now do tai chi which is brilliant for anyone recovering if there's a class near you, walking twice a week and go to the gym when I can, doing weights and cardio on the advice of a menopause clinic specialist, to avoid osteoporosis. I love my exercise sessions, especially the tai chi, which is brilliant at taking you away from any thoughts and niggles you may have. It's so hard to remember the moves, that you HAVE to concentrate! It's all done in such a supportive atmosphere though, so you don't need to worry.
I'm on a "survivorship" group and, in the words of the nurse on there "If they were doling this out on prescription, everyone would be clamouring for it", talking about the Macmillan study of exercise. I think it's called "Move More" and you can download it from their site.
As far as having a good chance of staying cancer free, Isadora's advice is great. I also think keeping as stress-free as you can helps. I'm sure being stressed and under pressure at work helped mine to grow, although I could never prove that!
All the best, let us know how things are going for you
Love, Wendy xx
from sarah. P
Thank you too all you lovely ladies that blogged back,getting that kind of feed back and support is more than fantastic, lets face it we would give our right arm and leg for the dreadid O.C to never come back, I go into a panic and think that will be the end of me, I have to say I found the whole experience from beginning of dignoses, to the end of Chemo upsetting and frightening, or am I just a wimp!!
all the best to everyone.
Hi Sarah,
No you are not a wimp, we all get days like that, but as time goes on it seems to get a bit easier to deal with. Keep positive and focused on things that you enjoy. Exercise is good for us as is eating a balanced meal .
But treats are important to so dont do without them !
Good Luck x
Hi Sarah
I am sure exercise together with a positive and pragmatic approach will help you hugely.
I was first diagnosed with oc 10 years ago at the age of 53, and following surgery I had chemo and then five years of remission. I followed a vegetarian diet during those years, took up horse riding again, was always active and yet my oc came back five years later. After subsequent chemo I was determined to get fit again and walked between 2 and 4 miles a day, did aerobics 40 minutes five days a week and rode a polo pony three times a week, hoping that I could keep the cancer at bay.
However, my oc was back after 7 months, that was 2007 and I am now on my fifth line of chemo, no longer riding but still walking and I have now taken up watercolour painting and photography, I find developing new interests when you have the energy to find them helps mentally and physically.
Good luck
Jazz
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