Diet when er/ pr positve and can't eat soy products

well, there's some new research that says soy is okay after all.  Hard to keep it all making sense, I know.  Having been vegan for 10 years ('85-'95) and vegetarian since, it's been annoying to be told that soy is "bad" for me given the crap that is in the "normal" American diet.  this link might work http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez  or try JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2009 Dec 9;302(22):2437-43.

deborahmae,

I was just diagnosed several months ago and I fully believe that my BC was caused by eating too many soy protein bars or that too much soy helped add to my issue.  I avoid it like the plague. I wasn't aware of it at the time, but it is a scientific fact that soy turns into estrogen in our bodies.  My ONC also told me to do this and that is the only thing food wise that I've been told to stay away from.  However, I've completely changed my diet to whole foods and stay away from sugar, white stuff, processed, sodas, no fake sugars and all the other stuff that I know is not healthy. It wasn't easy for me before, but it's funny how much willpower you have when you get diagnosed with BC (one of the positive things). 

I also am hypothyroidism and am trying to get everything balanced again.  Just started taking tamoxifen and taking radiation treatments and I'm doing pretty good.  My big issue is the same one I had before my diagnosis.  My hormones are fluctuating and I'm desparate to find a DR that can look at everything. Will try another END, but I'm not sure what they will do to balance hormones know that I have BC.

Soy is in everything and the only way to really avoid it is to eat fruits, veggies, meat (as a condiment) - nothing processed.  No more running out and grabbing a protein bar.  Now I have to plan ahead and cut up veggies or fruit in advance. I do feel better and hope to continue so I can detox the soy, radiation and all the other BC stuff that is in my body. 

Do you have a juicer or smoothie machine?  This is a good way to get in all of the fruits and veggies so that you don't have to eat all of them on a daily basis.

I had to chime in on this because it's been an issue for me for nearly a year, I read everything I can find on it, and I thought I'd add what I've learned. 

You've gotten some really good nutrition/eating tips so I won't repeat those.  I will recommend one book:  A Dietitian's Cancer Story, by Diane Dyer.  Has a lot of good advice on how to eat healthy without twisting  yourself in knots; it's a small book and an easy read.  I was able to find it at our library.  She doesn't advocate her way as the only way and urges people to follow their own path and instincts, but there are many  good tips whatever path you chose.

BTW, tempeh is made from soy, so if you're avoiding soy you don't want to eat that.

I trust RD's for nutritional information over MD's pretty much any day.  Most drs. get very little nutritional information as part of their training, and it's rarely a part of their conversations with patients or a part of their continuing ed.  If your oncologist's office has an RD on staff, do make use of that person.  And ask lots of questions!

I've been reading and re-reading research on soy and flax seed (not oil) and am pretty convinced at this point that both are fine in moderation and as whole foods.  Right from the start, it didn't make sense to me that soy is bad for ER+ women... Since soy is a good component of many Asian diets and their incidence of breast and other types of cancers has been historically much lower than those who eat an American diet, the notion that soy can cause cancer (or contribute to it) doesn't make sense on an intuitive level. 

Now, as Chutney and Debra say, there's some very good research that supports the findings that the phytoestrogens in soy and flax actually block estrogen receptors on cancer cells.  Very interesting stuff.  I'm grateful for my strong science background that helps me understand what to look for in a research study so I can more easily see the flaws or strengths of any particular study.

Whether or not you decide you're comfortable eating soy (and there's no reason you have to), you can make changes to your diet so you feel better and get the protein you need (but keep in mind that complex (not simple) carbs should be a good part of your diet).  Don't try to make an overnight, drastic change -- do it a little at a time -- it will become easier and easier and more a part of your normal routine.

Good luck!