Jane Plant's No Dairy Breast Cancer Prevention Program

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Paula7
Paula7 Member Posts: 21
Jane Plant's No Dairy Breast Cancer Prevention Program

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  • Paula7
    Paula7 Member Posts: 21
    edited December 2009

    [repeat of posted msg on complementary/alternative forum): Okay, I just got diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ, a lobular neoplasia that puts me in the high risk category of getting cancer. So, I'm looking at diet. Now interestingly, that's kind of easy to do and a very interesting thing to do because my diets been extreme and kinda crazy---I've been on an almost exclusive raw milk diet where days upon days I would have NOTHING else (okay raw cacao and raw honey) but then a lot of days where I'd fall off the wagon, a LOT of days, and just eat whatever I wanted, not partic. healthy food, so I wasn't goodf ab out sticking to this but point I had a LOT of dairy, and I had colostrum too. Jane Plant implicates dairy not so much because of the saturated animal fat and all the rest, the main thing is the GROWTH factors, the IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factors) that may promote cell division and all the rest. (detractors argue conjugated linoleic acid in raw milk counters that and also argue that digestive enzmes kill off IGF-1 before it can become harmful. Still, her personal story is compelling (she had recurrent breast cancer 5 times and was literally at death's door--given 3 mos. to live, cancer had spread to lymphs and then when she linked it to dairy and stopped ALL dairy, the tumors and cancer literally dissolved away, practically right in front of her eyes. However, devil's advocate, I've seen some people posting (not here, on other sites) that they followed it or knew others who had to no avail. Have any of you tried this? Heard of it? Any thoughts/experiences? What was your dairy intake like? this is all based too on idea that chinese and japanese don't get breast cancer much and they're not too big on dairy at all. I'd be interested in others experiences or thoughts on this.--Paula

  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited December 2009

    I don't think there is a consistent trend towards increased breast cancer risk and dairy products.

    I have drunk at least 1 quart of milk/day (on average) since about age 5, almost all nonfat.  

    This study associates the intake of low fat dairy to REDUCED breast cancer risk. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18400416

    Childhood dairy intake was not associated with breast and stomach cancer risk.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18065592

    Our data support the hypothesis that dairy products, through calcium content or a correlated component, might have a negative association with the risk of breast cancer, particularly among premenopausal women.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17536191

    The apparent lack of association between diet and breast cancer may reflect a true absence of association between diet and breast cancer incidence or may be due to measurement error exceeding the variation in the diet studied, lack of sufficient follow-up, and focus on an age range of low susceptibility. The risk of breast cancer can be reduced by avoidance of weight gain in adulthood and limiting the consumption of alcohol.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17503428

    If decreased dairy makes you feel better, then go for it!  As long as you get enough calcium from other sources, dairy is not an essential food group.  I don't think there's a strong case that dairy causes breast cancer, but the side effects would be few, as long as you are getting sufficient protein and calcium from other sources.

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 5,324
    edited December 2009

    Someone once said "The plural of anecdote is not data".  Jane Plant's book has been referenced many times on this website.  But, it is her story, and hers alone.

    Speaking of anecdotes: my mother never ate dairy -- hated milk and cheese, and only very rarely ever had ice cream.  She got BC -- the first in her family to do so, and she had none of the recognized risk factors, besides being female.  Does it therefore follow that she got BC because she didn't eat dairy?  Probably not!

    Cheers, Linda

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    paula---I have to agree with Leaf. Everything I've read says that low-fat dairy actually helps to prevent bc; also that calcium and vit. D  help to prevent colon ca too. (so since I have LCIS and have family history of both bc and colon ca, I make sure to take my calcium/vit D (3 x day now), drink skim milk, eat low fat cheese, and plenty of low fat yogurt. (helps my bones too).

    anne

  • Lisa_from_Newton_MA
    Lisa_from_Newton_MA Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2010

    Thank Goodness I discovered her book over eight years ago when I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at the age of 38!  Over 38% of breast cancers can be prevented and the #1 way...by what you eat! 

    Thankfully many, many woman have asked me what my answer is and I've shared Jane Plant's book.   What have we got to loss?  Who do you think paid for the studies that tell us the only way to get calcium is to drink another mammal's milk that has been given growth hormones to enhance milk production?  Yell

    We are living proof that the dairy free diet was exactly the prevention we need!  Ask my oncologist at a world renowned cancer center in Boston.  Yes, it means no dairy products... ever!  That means no cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc. etc.  and I've never been healthier or thinner.  Yes, it's not easy to suddenly shift your family to soy substitutes,  My husband turned to me one day & asked, "is this some of that organic soy stuff you've been eating.  It tastes good.  How long have I been eating it?"  You'll learn to shop quality not quantity.  It will become a family life style and not a quick fix pill.   

    Sorry if I'm coming of as a bit harsh.  I'm tired of people implying that I need a science degree to know that it's healthier for my kids to eat an apple rather than a pop tart.  When someone has a heart attack the first thing the cardiologist will say is, "what are you eating."

    To your continued good health!  Keep us posted.

     An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  -Ben Franklin

     Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.  - Hippocrates

  • Sydneybased
    Sydneybased Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2011

    Me too. Thank goodness for this book. I'm cynical by nature, but when someone refers to 450 or more peer reviewed journal articles to set out their theory, then I'll give it the time of day. I was Jane- planting before I was diagnosed, but then gave up for a couple of years and started back on cheese and yoghurt. Now I stick to the dairy free thing religiously. I don't believe that any one factor causes BC, but do believe that dairy when added to other factors creates the perfect storm. For me, this was a weakened liver having taken anti-malarials for many years. But back to Jane plant. I agree- there's nothing to loose by following her advice. She has lots of good advice on the calcium issue - and points out that countries with historically low calcium intakes also have the lowest rates of osteoporosis. A dairy free diet has helped me maintain my weight while on tamox, has kept my skin bright and clear.

  • Sydneybased
    Sydneybased Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2011

    But one grumble about this book.... it argues that women undergoing chemotherapy can keep their hair if they ensure that they have all the right nutrients. Really? It's hard to read that when completely bald.... I'd like to hear about women who have managed to do this on TCH and the other nasties.

  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited July 2011

    Of course you're welcome to ask any questions where you want.

    However, perhaps you may get more answers to our questions if you post on other forums - LCIS (and nothing worse) patients normally don't get chemo.

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