Soy products

mumito

Soy products

mumito

I was told that soybased foods such as tofu should be avoided with estrogen + cancer.

Ihavehope

I was told not to eat food with phytoestrogens while on tomoxophen, it decreases the ability for the tomoxophen to do its job.  Foods high in phytoestrogens include soy and nonprocessed flaxseed.  Flaxseed oil without the husks is ok as are the omega3 eggs made by chickens who are fed flaxseed.

Torona

I have also been told, too, by my onc and bs to avoid soy products because I am ER/PR+, but heavens - it's in EVERYTHING!!!  If you are trying to be health conscious and reduce fat intake all these products have soy lecithin, soybean oil, soy, soy, soy!! What are we to do?

Anonymous

Stopped to buy bread and, as I'm more inclined to do these days, read the labels.  Checked several brands of whole wheat, whole grain and stone ground and they all had soy oil and/or soy lecithin. 

What bread do you ER/PR + ladies use - or do you just buy a bread machine and make your own?

mumito

I am so fed up with labels now i just buy what lools like a whole grain bread and hope for the best.Maybe the breadmachine is the way to go.

stephanie1

Soy Lecithin is ok -

"Until the issue becomes clearer, many doctors recommend that women who take hormonal therapy or who have estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer avoid soy supplements because they contain high concentrations of isoflavones. But in general, it's fine to eat moderate amounts of soy foods as part of a balanced diet. One to 3 servings of soy a day (a serving is about a half cup) is similar to an average Japanese woman's daily soy intake. If you are taking hormonal therapy to fight off a hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, and you are concerned about any phytoestrogen effects, ask your doctor or registered dietitian about how much soy you can eat"

samiam40

According to the Dana Farber Ask the Nutritionist Website, as Stephanie said, soy lecitin is OK. 

Soy lecithin, extracted from soy-bean oil, is often used in numerous foods, like chocolate to help keep ingredients emulsified. Many food labels will list a soy-based emulsifier like lecithin. The amounts are generally minute and don't contribute a substantial level of phytoestrogens. Products with soy lecithin do not need to be avoided because they have such minor amounts.

http://www.dana-farber.org/pat/support/nutrition/ask-the-nutritionist.html#number40

It is soy protein isolate, as is found in protein bars, powders, dietary supplements and some meat substitutes (veggie dogs, etc) that are apparently the problem.

Laura2009

nene2059 - I was also told by my nutritionist at the cancer center that soy lecithin is not a problem.

suzNY - My nutritionist said that soy sauce should not be an issue since it's typically consumed in relatively small amounts.

She mainly recommended avoiding foods containing soy isolates and soy extracts. She also noted that there is still a lot that we need to learn about the interaction of soy and other substances with cancer. I didn't think at the time to ask about soybean oil or flaxseed, which I see mentioned a lot as a phytoestrogen. (eta: and ihavehope mentions it above!)

ddlatt

excellent info about soy and hormone-related cancers: 

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/soy-and-hormone-related-cancers.htm

and info about flaxseed: 

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/what-is-flax.htm 

Grakenmom

Hi ladies - may I join you on the soy-avoidance thread?  I've been "off" of most soy since my dx last year.  Mumayan: I bought a bread machine to replace the one I wore out , and it's been wonderful for us - bread, pizza dough, flatbreads, etc - and I'm happy because I know exactly what's in them, altho the flip side is that I can't go out to dinner anywhere without wondering how much soybean oil, lecithin, etc is in everyone else's cooking!  I generally stick with salads, and trying to find bottled dressings that don't have soy has been an adventure too.

I read an extensive article about soy lecithin production (it's quite a disgusting process), and if I can find the link, I'll post it. Best to you all, E

NSWTD

thans for the links re: soy and flaxseed