Plant based estrogens ...conflicting info

NicoleRod

Hi all.

Does anyone know what exactly foods to avoid for ER+ breast cancer besides soy? I am now reading on some sites that even soy is ok???? What the heck??? Then some other sites say that all whole grains, nuts, seeds and some vegetables are all bad for hormone positive breast cancer??

Can anyone tell me what is safe and what isn't?

Here are some examples of what I saw on line (I saw a lot more but this is just 2)

https://www.oncologynutrition.org/erfc/healthy-nut...

https://pinklotus.com/powerup/breastcancer101/the-...

I feel like "what is let to eat"? I thought seeds and nuts and being gluten free were good for me. Some sites say to eat Gluten Free which I would say I am 75% gluten free but then some sights say Whole Wheat is best..?? It's like everything seems to contradict everything.?

Baffling!

el7277

• Whe I am not stage III I believe this topic applies to so many of us and I am in the same boat NicoleRod. There is so much conflirting information. I am vegetarian and am losing my mind reading about soy. I have also researched flax seeds and other foods that will provide protien and keep cancer at bay. Tomorrow I start Kadcyla and when I see my MO I am going to ask to speak with the dietitian. I am going to keep up on cruciferous veggies and eat my fruits and I have incorporated lentils into my life. I am not a cook and I do 't enjoy it so I aim to keep things simple. We could lose our minds questioning every bite and sip we take...I am not going to do that. I am going to exercise regularly and eat the best I can but I will still enjoy things that may not be best for a diet... we have to live life.

Husband11

Soy and flax are very controversial subjects.

Edit: I think the article in the first link sums things up pretty well.

The literature goes back and forth on whether they are harmful, harmless or beneficial for ER+ patients. I think the safest approach is to neither treat them as toxic, nor make radical changes to your diet to introduce large quantities of them. Simply my opinion, but I believe they are harmless when consumed occasionally or in moderation. I would avoid products that concentrate soy isoflavones or attempt to mimic estrogens for the purpose of reducing hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms, because those products are purposefully trying to concentrate estrogen like plant derivatives and may stimulate ER+ cancer cells. The occasional meal that contains some tofu or ground flax seed in a muffin is unlikely to do any harm because it is the whole plant product, not a concentrate, and it is in moderation. Nor would I attempt to weed out every product that contains soy lecithin as it is in nearly every processed food, and lecithin is not estrogenic. Some avoid it because they worry it is contaminated with herbicides, but that is another subject.

NicoleRod

Husand11 thank you for your post. I see what you mean. I was thinking about it because yesterday at Whole Foods my husband got something to eat it was a chicken breast but on the ingredients of the marinade it was in it says "contains soy" I wanted to try a bite because it smelled so good and I was afraid. Then last night I thought this is crazy how can a bite or even 1 piece of chicken that has soy in the marinate make my cancer spread. Its not something I have in my diet regularly or anything.

One of the things I read said russell sprouts are bad and I LOVE THEM!!! I was so depressed, then 5 minutes later another site said just the opposite?!?! It's just crazy.

ShetlandPony

The web site foodforbreastcancer.com has summaries of research about breast cancer and food. You can read an educated, evidence-based summary of a particular food and see the list of scientific papers that relate. There is a list of foods recommended for ER+ bc and a list of foods not recommended for ER+ bc. It's sensible stuff, in my opinion, not faddish or alarmist.

NicoleRod

Thanks Shetland I will check that out!

ShetlandPony

P.S. And the author is not selling anything.

Anonymous

About soy, I remember reading that soy protein isolate in particular is the soy product that should be avoided. It is used in a lot of processed / convenience type foods and in protein shakes and supplements. I would concur with "Husband's" answer above - the concentrated soy products are probably the ones to avoid. I don't worry about consuming an occasional product that contains soybean oil - I just try to avoid soy protein isolate and other processed foods with soy when possible. I used to use the Nutrisystem protein shake for breakfast but I stopped because it does contain soy protein isolate.

As for nuts, never heard of nuts (other than soy nuts) being estrogenic and I've been told walnuts may actually be helpful in fighting breast cancer. Here's a study from WebMD but it's only a mouse study - https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20090421/...

There just aren't conclusive studies on whether soy and flax are helpful or harmful. So I eat occasionally but I do not use as supplements or overconsume soy or flax as "complementary treatments."

Just wanted to add - if you're being treated at a cancer center you might have access to a nutritionist. We met with one at the infusion center and also in the post chemo wellness program, all at no cost. Meeting with her was very helpful for me.