I woke up one spring morning this year to discover someone
had sewn a new layer of fat around my middle.
Who did this I shouted at Mr H as I grasped the roll between
my fists in horror…was it you?
He giggled, put his arms around me and said I still love you,
every bit of you Mrs H…
Some people have told me that the Tamoxifen I am on, which blocks oestrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, will make me fat but not wanting to take their word for it I hit Google Scholar and do a bit of research...
The clinical papers I come across indicate that whilst some
women do gain weight on this anti cancer treatment, statistically it does not
appear to be the cause!
I blame it on Menopause! Chemotherapy has kicked me straight
into menopause. My oestrogen levels have dropped. Excess fat is now being
stored in my abdomen instead of elsewhere!
I am putting myself at risk because this extra weight gain significantly increases the risk of the breast cancer coming back!
So I book an appointment with a dietician…sitting in front of her I clasp my hands around my new friendly fat roll and mutter where has this come from? I need to get rid of it. Send it back.
We talk about my diet. Since my breast cancer diagnosis I
eat a diet full of organic fruit and vegetables. I cook everything from scratch…have
ditched processed food I tell her.
But I can't resist cake and chocolate I slip
in with a secret smile…
Exercise is key I subsequently learn on a Living Well with
Cancer Day. Exercise until you feel breathless the lady tells us. I put my hand
up
...but I walk and swim like a snail so how can I get breathless
doing that I titter. Try something new, walk up hills, find something more
difficult to do she replies.
So I buy a cross trainer and yes ten minutes make me puff
and pant…
Now I record everything I eat on the MyFitnessPal app, struggle
to keep to under 1200 calories…and try to do 30 minutes of exercise every day…
But most importantly I try and say NO when cake is on offer and turn my head the other way
when Mr H mentions chocolate…
It is tough but I remind myself that going through a second
round of breast cancer treatment would be tougher!!
If I was made of cake I would eat myself before someone else could - Emma Donoghue
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