soy

There has been one study (and maybe more) that suggests that if teenage girls and young women eat soy, it may reduce their future risk of breast cancer. This is far from being proven, but the soy industry, and the health food industry who are so gung-ho on soy, have taken this to mean that "soy reduces breast cancer". But an adolescent consuming soy is a totally different situation than a women who's had estrogen-driven breast cancer consuming soy. Although these studies aren't 100% conclusive either, the indication is that soy, being a phytoestrogen, is harmful to women who've had breast cancer. Unfortunately, the soy and health food industries chose to ignore these studies or simply are uneducated about them, and continue to promote soy as a wonder food regardless of the circumstance.

Count me in on the prayers, mylo02. I've also heard that soy is bad for bc. I am having an awful time finding a replacement for soy sauce. Anyone have any ideas?

The soy issue can be confusing. You have to do a lot of research to know what products are OK and which are not. It is only those of us with hormone receptive positive breast cancer that should have some concern. Those who are hormone receptor negative can eat as much soy as they want. There is a lot of controversy on the subject and until it is all sorted out (which may never happen) I choose to avoid most soy products. My hubby won't even go to the store with me anymore because I spend so much time reading labels. It is my understanding the soy sauce, soy oil and soy lectein (which are the ones you find most as additives are OK because they have been processed. Soy supplements are a no no but it seems that a little soy in food once in a while is no big deal. I have the same issue with flaxseed. There are a lot of healthy foods that have estrogenic properties and it is near impossible to avoid them all. I think it is more important to eat a healthy plant based diet with a variety of fruits and veggies than it is to worry about getting a little soy once in a while. I shop in an organic market so you can imagine how many soy products I encounter and it took a year and a meeting with a natural health nutritionist to come up with a health eating plan that I am happy with.

I've read several times that ground flax seed specifically fights breast cancer.

Good news! I finally found a workable substitute for soy sauce. Have you heard of Marmite? I ordered some online. It's a british spread that is somewhat salty tasting, and the same color as soy. It is made from yeast. The consistency is like honey, so you just thin it out with water. Of course it is not exactly like soy, but I took some with me when I went for sushi last night, and it was good!

I had not heard that soy is a precursor to cancer, it is just that certain cancers are estrogen fed. These tumors feed off of estrogen and use them to grow even plant estrogen like that found in soy.