Words of wisdom...

...from my breast cancer buddy, Deb Cote

When I met Deb Cote, I realized we had an important and deep connection. She was battling breast cancer just as I was. Plus, she was a few months ahead of me in the treatment cycle. If you’ve been through cancer treatment, you know that this is sheer gold. Patients who’ve just crossed the rocky road you are about to travel can offer critical advice that can save you the kinds of unintended consequences that cancer treatment is so well known for. Deb’s advice prevented me from losing my fingernails and toenails; and she routinely lectured me about the importance of drinking lots and lots of water.

And, Deb was amazing, as a long-time producer for Fox News she chose to work throughout her treatment, seldom missing a day at work. That’s amazing given her diagnosis: Triple positive breast cancer, an aggressive and fast growing variety that required long and diligent treatment. But she has succeeded in beating breast cancer and I wanted to share with you how Deb is doing now and explore with her how she’s dealing with the lingering anxiety of being a breast cancer survivor.

Me: What do you do to keep yourself healthy?

Deb: I’ve gotten used to saying no to things I don’t feel serve my health. If might go out with friends, but I don’t feel obligated to stay up late when I am really tired or do things that I’m not interested in doing. I’m ok saying no because I learned time is sacred and I want to do only things that I really want to do.

Me: How do you think about food and what is your diet like?

Deb: It’s a matter of prioritizing. Pre-breast cancer, I put less of a focus on what I put into my body. Now, I am looking for foods that boost my immune system and are anti-cancer. I just started researching the health benefits of dandelions, one of the best anti-cancer foods. I’m drinking dandelion tea and, of course, green tea. Both have incredible anti-oxidant properties. I cut out a lot of red meat and occasionally have an impossible burger, according to my doctor, they are better than meat.

I really try to eat more plants, more veggies. I drink a green drink super food in a shake with spinach and blueberries nearly every day. I also try to eat organic foods as much as possible. The pandemic and working from home allowed me to cook more at home – choosing only the best ingredients to make meals with and is allowing me to eat healthier on a daily basis.

Now that the weather is nice I try to go out for a walk every day – just getting out in the fresh air and being around nature helps with a mental break – as well as a keeping me physically healthier. Moving is important because some medications can make survivors feel stiff and achy and my oncologist suggested I exercise to help combat that.

Me: What’s it been like being a breast cancer survivor during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Deb: I have anxiety about going back to the office or around a lot of people because getting Covid 19 is one of my biggest worries. As a breast cancer survivor who is still in treatment, I am afraid of adding to my plate things I have to battle or deal with every day. You read about Covid long-haul symptoms – that makes me anxious because I’ve already been in a battle for my life and have long term issues from that treatment. It’s a roller coaster you don’t want to get on. I am very protective of who I am around. If you aren’t vaccinated, I don’t want to take that risk.

I stick very close to home. It’s just me and my partner and my puppy. I am watching the science and the CDC. To me, it’s not time yet to ditch the mask and sit in a crowded outdoor beer garden with 60 people hovering around or go to any crowded place. I am keeping myself entertained, going to the more secluded beach to walk along the water and playing with my dog at home. I don’t feel the need to get out and go to parties now.

Me: How do you think about your cancer long-term?

Deb: It’s always there. It’s hard to put it behind you. Especially because my treatment plan requires me to go to Memorial Sloan Kettering every month for a shot and I’m also taking a daily estrogen blocking pill so there’s always a reminder, but on the whole I go about every day trying to stay happy and do things that fill me up and not focus on it all the time. I feel blessed and lucky to have gotten through it and come out the other side.

Deb Cote has her own blog describing her experiences during treatment that you can read at www.debcote.com.