Support systems help survivors move beyond the ... - Main Line Today

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Special Promotional Supplement Contents L4 Your Diet, Your Health Good nutrition improves quality of life after breast cancer. L5 10 Foods to Boost Overall Health L6 Think “Pink” Support survivors with chic, low-cost products. L8 The Butterfly Ball Co-chairs and honorees prepare for a “green” event. L8 15 Living Beyond Breast Cancer Programs to Keep in Mind L10 8 Things to Do to Support Living Beyond Breast Cancer Writers: Janine Guglielmino, Mary Alice Hartsock, Anna Shaffer Photographers: Susan Beard Photography, Laurie Beck Photography, Dan Brody Photography Dear Readers, Based in Haverford, Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. I am pleased to have this opportunity to tell you about LBBC and share with you some information on the importance of good nutrition. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, good nutrition lowers people’s risk for many chronic diseases, including cancer. In this special section, we offer information on how to use nutrition to improve quality of life after breast cancer treatment. Diet can affect your risk for recurrence and recovery. Even if you haven’t been diagnosed, use our list of power foods to boost your energy and overall health! Getting the nutrients you need through herbs and supplements will be one topic covered at our annual fall conference, “News You Can Use: The Future of Breast Cancer Care” on Nov. 14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The topic has been the subject of past programs that are now available as publications at lbbc.org. For support with other aspects of breast cancer, call our Survivors’ Helpline at (888) 753-LBBC (5222), or attend a networking meeting in West Conshohocken, Center City or Cherry Hill. Read on to learn about what you can do to support breast cancer survivors in our area during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We thank Main Line Today for the opportunity to contribute to this issue and help us reach more women affected by breast cancer. Warmly, Jean A. Sachs, MSS, MLSP, Chief Executive Officer 4699 West Chester Pike, Newtown Business Center, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073, Phone (610) 325-4630 Fax (610) 325-4636 Editorial Fax (610) 325-5215 www.mainlinetoday.com a division of Today Media, Inc. Publisher Sally Holub; Associate Publisher James Bauer; Editor Hobart Rowland; Creative Director Ingrid Hansen-Lynch; Senior Editors Tara Behan, Dawn E. Warden; Associate Editor Shannon Hallamyer; Senior Account Executive Nan Mangine; Account Executives Bentley Alberts, Patti Griffin, Christine Holsopple, Tim McCormack, Larry Singer, Krista Wiggins; Production Director Deana J. Yokimcus; Graphic Designers Stephen T. McElwee Jr., Marissa Simeone; CEO/President Robert F. Martinelli MAIN LINE TODAY 4699 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073, PHONE: (610) 325-4630 or (888) 217-6300, FAX: (610) 325-4636, EDITORIAL FAX: (610) 325-5215. All contents of this issue are copyrighted 2009 by Main Line Today, a division of Today Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial submissions: Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs, unless specifically assigned by an editor in writing, are not the responsibility of this magazine. Submitted color photography, requested or unsolicited, is always non-returnable. Letters to the editor are welcome. Letters should include name, address and a daytime phone number so that authenticity can be verified. Subscriptions: $18 a year. Subscription queries: Mail: Main Line Today, PO Box 30109, Wilmington, DE 19805, Phone: (888) 600-3770, E-mail: subscriberservices@mainlinetoday.com, Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Single copies/back issues: Single copies and back issues are available at the cover price, plus $2 postage and handling, with bulk rates available. Call (888) 600-3770 or go to www.mainlinetoday.com. october 2009 www.mainlinetoday.com L3
Special Promotional Supplement Special Promotional Supplement Your Diet, Your Health Good nutrition improves quality of life after breast cancer. Liz Rand leaves her Wynnewood home every morning armed with fruit, granola and other healthy snacks. But three years ago, her diet wasn’t quite as healthy. Rand, then 44, squeezed in snacks between appointments at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she is a physician and medical director of the liver transplant program. As a healthcare professional, she understood what foods were best for her body. The problem? Jelly doughnuts appeared at meetings, and delicious aromas escaped from the outdoor snack carts. Then Rand was diagnosed with breast cancer. She decided she needed a change. “I wanted to do something for myself,” she says. “I knew that losing weight and eating a lower-fat diet could be connected with a reduced risk of recurrence. This gave me motivation.” According to Ardmore-based gynecologist Dr. Kara Nakisbendi, of Nakisbendi and Associates, the foods you eat impact your recovery after treatment, and they could decrease the chance that the cancer will come back. Nutrient-dense foods also improve energy and overall health. Improving Quality of Life Carole Roberti, 74, of Haverford, became a vegetarian eight years ago when her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After her breast cancer diagnosis last year, she decided to make more changes. Roberti attributes her quick recovery and high energy level to cutting out fat and sugar, especially because she cannot use long-term treatments like tamoxifen because they won’t work against her type of breast cancer. “Eating well is empowering,” she says. “There is nothing else I can do, but I have control over this. If I neglect my diet, I don’t feel as strong.” “What we take in sends messages to our body in telling it how to function,” says Nakisbendi, who focuses on holistic medicine. “Strengthening your immune system and addressing any deficiencies you may have accumulated through treatment is important.” Managing Recurrence Risk For women with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, which makes up about onequarter of diagnosed breast cancers, the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study shows that eating a low-fat diet and increasing fruit and vegetable intake can lower the risk of the cancer coming back. Nakisbendi says studies also support a healthy lifestyle for women who have the most common type of breast cancer, which grows in the presence of hormones. Exercising and eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and omega-3 fatty acids (found in some oily fish, nuts, flaxseed and eggs) improve the way our bodies metabolize and expel estrogen. “Having excess weight has a direct correlation with breast cancer incidence and recurrence,” she says. Soy, Supplements and Going Organic Many women are concerned about food safety and getting enough nutrients. Nakisbendi says that, although women who have eaten soy all their lives have a lower (Above) Carole Roberti; (below) Liz Rand with her husband, Spencer. incidence of breast cancer, adding a lot of soy to your diet in adulthood may not decrease your risk of developing the disease. In fact, the estrogenic qualities of soy may increase risk of recurrence in women who have had breast cancer. One to two servings a day is heart healthy and probably safe, she says. Most of your nutrients should come from food. But depending on individual needs, Nakisbendi says supplements may be necessary. Most people don’t get enough B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to an increased risk of breast and other cancers. She recommends a primarily vegetarian diet with a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, plus healthy fats like flax seed oil, fish, avocados and nuts, regardless of a person’s cancer history. Buying organic is ideal, Nakisbendi says, but if cost is a factor, it’s most important to buy organic when you’re buying fruits like strawberries, apples and peaches, which are higher in pesticides. First Steps Getting started with a healthier routine often is the biggest hurdle. Rand sticks to her diet but tries not to deprive herself. “If I feel like I’m never going to have a certain food again, then that’s all I can think about. But if I say to myself, ‘I’m not having this now because it’s not good for me, but I could have it some other time,’ that works better.” Roberti notices that aerobic exercise cuts down her cravings for sweets. When tempted with cookies or cakes, she limits herself to a small piece, and she doesn’t keep treats in the house. 10 Foods to Boost Overall Health Regardless of whether you’ve had breast cancer or not, you can eat certain foods to improve your well-being and reduce the risk of developing certain conditions. The foods below may increase your energy, enhance your immune system, and protect you as you age. 1. Broccoli is low in calories and high in nutrients. It boosts the immune system, and is thought to help prevent cancer. 3. Oats lower cholesterol and your risk for heart disease. They are low in calories and high in fiber, protein and vitamins. 4. Yogurt contains good bacteria that protect the intestines, strengthen the immune system, and help you metabolize the foods you eat. 2. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, potassium and vitamin C. They help boost your energy and immunity, lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, and reduce inflammation. 5. Walnuts and other unsalted nuts and seeds are high in good fats and protein, which control hunger and may reduce the risk of heart problems, diabetes and cancer. In moderation, they’re good for snacking and add flavor to recipes. 6. Oranges are portable and easy to eat. Vitamin C also may be linked to a reduced risk of some types of cancer. To get started, Nakisbendi recommends some simple first steps: • Avoid refined sugars and simple carbohy- 7. Salmon and other cold-water fish are high in omega-3s. They are good for the heart, memory and joints, and lower cholesterol. Fish with high mercury content, like tuna and swordfish, should be eaten in moderation. drates found in many processed foods. • Add at least two servings of fruits or vegetables to each meal. • Include protein in each meal. Focus on 8. Tea is high in antioxidants and may reduce cholesterol. It is a good replacement for sugary drinks. beans and legumes, and limit meats. Avoid red meat, and try to buy meats that are grass fed and not given hormones. • Eat breakfast. It jump-starts your metabolism and will help you reach your ideal weight. 9. Spinach contains many nutrients and is another source of fiber. It may help prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer and some eye problems. • Exercise to help metabolize your estrogen and control weight. • Get guidance from a healthcare professional who has experience working with breast cancer patients. 10. Beans are a good source of fiber, which helps your digestive system function properly, and helps you feel full longer and manage weight. They also offer plenty of protein, especially in vegetarian diets. L4 www.mainlinetoday.com october 2009 october 2009 www.mainlinetoday.com L5
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