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Does it increase risk for patients to eat anything they want all month?

Page last modified on: October 21, 2009

Question from Holiday Gal: What is the risk to a breast cancer patient or survivor if they let themselves eat whatever they want in December — all the stuffing, mashed potatoes, pie, cookies, chocolate, and wine you want — as long as you quit it all in January? What would be the effects on your risk of recurrence?: Answer —Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D.: I don't think anyone can quantify that. I think the risk of weight gain is there. All the data shows that weight gain increases the risk of recurrence. Again, I always use that self-mantra "how important is this to me compared to my long-term health?" I still might eat everything, but I don't think I can ever see myself eating as much as I want with abandon. One tip that people do use is to weigh themselves daily and you'll always have daily fluctuations, but if you see an upward trend it's time to nip things in the bud in terms of eating habits and exercise.

On Tuesday, October 13, 2009, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Nutrition Through the Holidays. Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D. and Larissa Korde, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about what and how much to eat when holiday treats abound.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of Breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D. is a registered dietitian in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a two-time breast cancer survivor.

Larissa Korde, M.D., M.P.H. is an assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance of the University of Washington. She specializes in the care of breast cancer patients.