feedback needed: The BC Prevention Diet book by Dr. Bob Arnot

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bluewillow
bluewillow Member Posts: 779

Hello! 

I am considering purchasing a book entitled The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet by Dr. Bob Arnot.  I have read mixed reviews about this book and I'm a bit skeptical just because of the title.  I still find it hard to believe that diet can prevent BC, just because of all the healthy and fit conscious people I know who have the disease.  It was written in 1998, which does seem a bit outdated.  I would like to know if anyone found it useful or not useful-- I welcome anyone's comments, reviews, etc.  Thank you!!!

Mary Jo

Comments

  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 2,167
    edited December 2008

    I read this book, and while I found some of it good advice, I disagreed with a lot of it. If I remember correctly, he seemed to advocate eating a lot of soy, which is controversial. I would not bother with  this book, While it is based on good nutrition, there are better books out there. I can never remember them all because I read a lot of library books, and forget which is which, but there is a great thread about books to read you might want to look for and resurrect.

  • Jellydonut
    Jellydonut Member Posts: 1,043
    edited December 2008

    I've not read this book but I'm doubtful that eating the "right" foods can prevent BC.  Although it sounds like a good title to sell books.  BC has been with us since humanity began and that was long before preservatives in foods, food colorings and all the other things.  Someday (century?) we'll learn for certain that genetics is the cause - but we're not there yet.

    If you can find it at the library there's no harm in reading it but I say, don't waste your money on this book.

  • Yazmin
    Yazmin Member Posts: 840
    edited January 2009

    The evidence is steadily mounting that diet does have an effect on the development of cancer; this is particularly true about "substances" such as Turmeric and many, many others. So does exposure to environmental chemicals

     Nevetherless, there are scores and scores of other books out there and I would agree with vivre: you can do better than this one.

     While it is probably true that breast cancer has been with us for the longest time, I suspect that what makes it more prevalent today is over-diagnostic and subsequently, overtreatment. One theory out there is that many cancers are simply not deadly and would stop on their own if left alone.

  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited January 2009

    Hi and thanks for the great replies! 

    Vivre, thanks for pointing out the soy part-- glad I didn't order the book.  I took Jellydonut's advice and found it at the library.  Yazmin, my gut feeling is that the environmental chemicals are the biggest culprits. And I found your last paragraph very interesting and I think you are correct about the over-diagnosis & over-tx.  I try to stay away from controversy on these forums (there sure is a lot here lately!), but I have wondered also how many cases are dx'd because of "good insurance".  Just in the last 2-3 years, even before I was dx'd, there have been so many early stage cases in women employed by the school system where I work and I have to wonder...  So glad they caught it early, but like you said, how many would stop if left alone. Ironically, our health plan has just announced that it will go broke in 2009-- one more worry to deal with.

    Thanks again!

  • dreamwriter
    dreamwriter Member Posts: 3,255
    edited January 2009

    Yes and someone opened a link to an article stating that eating cruciferous veggies prevents BC - to which I wrote my honest opinion..... if anything prevented cancer, do you not think we would be stuffing our kids with it???????

  • revkat
    revkat Member Posts: 763
    edited January 2009

    I haven't eaten brocolli since my diagnosis (ok, that's an exaggeration cause I've eaten it in things, just not by itself). Prior to that I ate it at least 3 times a week and other cruciferous vegetables as well for at least the past 6 years! Go figure. There is no magic bullet.

  • Maire67
    Maire67 Member Posts: 768
    edited July 2010
  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited January 2009

    Hi Dreamwriter and Revkat, I think you are both correct-- there's no magic bullet or food indeed!  Thanks for your input.  Maire, thank you too, and congratulations on your negative bone scan! Cool And I agree, Bob does need to update his book--hopefully he will in light of all the new info out there.

    Have a great day, all!

  • EWB
    EWB Member Posts: 2,927
    edited January 2009

    Bluewillow

    this has nothing to do w/food or exercise- but I love your icon..the sweet face looking out is a wonderful reminder of all that is good in this world!  Thank you for sharing.

    Elaine 

  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited January 2009

    Hi Elaine and thank you for the very nice comments!  That is my darling grandson Mason, who will turn one year old in a couple of weeks.  He has been the guiding light that led me through all this ordeal and what a blessing he is to me!

    Take care,

    Mary Jo 

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