h in wholegrains and low in fat and protein. There are different types of macrobiotic diets and some are stricter than others. They may also include guidelines on how food is prepared, your lifestyle and environment.
This diet can be strict and is often low in calories, calcium, iron, B vitamins and other nutrients, so may not be suitable and possibly harmful. Speak to your dietitian or specialist team for advice.
Some research has indicated that overnight fasting of 13 or more hours may reduce the risk of recurrence but more research is needed to find out more.
Studies have shown an association between drinking alcohol and breast cancer risk, and some have shown an association between breast cancer and survival rates.
People who’ve had breast cancer are recommended to stay within the NHS guidelines for alcohol intake, which include:
no more than 14 units of alcohol per week for women and men
spreading this amount of drinking over three or more days per week.
You can find out how many units are in your drinks by using an online unit calculator. As a general guide:
- half a pint of average-strength (4%) beer has 1 unit
- a 175ml glass of wine (12.5%) has 2 units
- a single 25ml measure of spirits (40%) has 1 unit
It’s worth bearing in mind that alcohol is also high in calories.
We know smoking causes a range of health conditions. There is emerging evidence that smoking may also affect the risk of breast cancer recurrence but more research is needed to find out more. If you want to stop smoking there are a range of programmes to help. Speak to your GP or practice nurse for advice.
Physical activity can help improve your long-term health, and has been shown to reduce the risk of health conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and some cancers. It may reduce the risk of recurrence but more research is needed to find out more.