ER+ & Soy ???

According to another thread somewhere here on BCO, soy protein isolate may have other problems for cancer patients, but here is what my Onco told me when I asked about soy:

I should not depend on soy products for my main source of nutrients (i.e. soy milk, etc.); however, if soy is listed somewhere down the line in a long list (like MiniMacsMom wrote) I didn't need to worry.

I will be on a meal-replacement weight loss program for four months. I get shakes, soups, and bars. One bar has 7 grams of soy protein listed as the first ingredient, and she said that was a small amount, and I wouldn't be on it forever,  so not to worry.

I haven't logged in in forever, but this is a pet peeve of mine. There is NO evidence that whole soy foods are a problem for women with breast cancer, even ER++++++. All evidence in humans indicates that it is neutral or even beneficial. There are a few studies with rats who were fed large quantities of soy isolate protien and had cancer growth. For that reason, avoiding soy isolate protien might be considered. It is also very easy to purchase non-GMO, US grown, and/or organic tofu, tempeh, edemame, etc.

If you like soy, eat it. If you don't, don't bother starting. There's way more important things to worry about than the small amounts of soy oil or soy lethicin in processed foods.

If anyone has empirical evidence to the contrary of what I've said, I would be eager to see it. 

I avoid it like the plague!

I do, too!  I think that it is not necessary to consume it, so I just avoid it, even if the studies are just on mice.  If there are no proven studies, I feel that we must look at "theories"..example...like my RO had prescribed a paraben containing cream, when I called her on it, she said that the link between parabens are not proven, just a theory.  Well, for goodness sakes, if we have weak studies to go by and a theory has been developed by looking at the chemical, I can give it up, "just in case" it has a negative effect on my getting a recurrance. I hate that most foods contain Soy, I think because it is a cheap crop and used as a filler in everything we buy.  So, yes, I am cooking from 'scratch' as much as possible.  I think, not only, BC patients, but if we spread the word about cheap fillers in our food, just to improve general health.  We need to stop supporting lousy products, by not buying them.

I was on flaxseed oil for dry eye for two years before BC.  MO took me off of it.  He said to controversial right now.  I read pros and cons all the time, so I guess we just have to follow our feelings. 

I know that genisten (derived from soy) inhibits Tamoxifen - as do a variety of other concentrated supplements. But contraindication with drugs is not the same as saying a food stuff causes or prevents cancer.

I really don't buy into any kind of food-breast cancer relationship at all. But I think some people feel empowered by controlling their diet in some way. I have been a vegetarian/vegan all my life but it didn't stop me from getting cancer.

It's funny that this thread was reactivated today as I just got back from the grocery store where I chose almond milk over my usual soy milk (my husband and I are both lactose intolerant) because my MDA BS also said it was probably best to avoid products where soy was the main ingredient (specifically named soy milk, tofu, and edamane) but not to stress if it was listed further down the ingredient list.  Wouldn't you know, I love all those things.  On the other hand, I've read (Dr. Susan Love's site) and heard (my BS) that most breast cancer has been growing between 6-10 years before it's actually discovered and I only started the soy thing a few years ago.  So, I guess it's all back to your gut, your experience, your doctor's best advice, and hoping for good research to come down the line.  = )

balsie-i have not read studies etc- however- when my husband had his quad bypass in 2003 we were told to revisit his dietand it was suggested to add soy anywhere we could--except that i found that soy was very active in bad things in regards to prostate health.

because i have had gastric bypass surgery; i rely a lot on protein bars and powders and i---unfortunately--- let a soy based bar slip into my regimin when i got lazy about checking labels(-i was looking ofr low sugar content--)last fall at school- that's about when my lump grew too!

 i do whey protein even tho it is dairy based i somehow feel safer.

again-no fact-jmho.

I love my VitaMix blender...I guess I will stick to my green smoothies of spinach, cucumber, Kale, zuchin.  and an apple with coconut water.  Yummy! sometimes I put in a pear or some ginger.  Crazy sexy Juices & Succulent Smoothies by Kris Carr.  You can get it as an e-edition.  

Be  Well

Balsie 

balsie, non-GMO means the soy is not genetically modified, which is an entirely different issue and unrelated to being a phyto-estrogen.  Non-GMO is more natural and healthier because it hasn't had possibly DNA altering chemicals added to it.  But it has no bearing on the phyto-estrogen effect, as far as I know.    Deanna

wenweb: I am with you. there are too many opinions out there to know what to do.  My onc thought soy was ok; some oncs think it is not ok. I  have been a vegetarian for 20 years and have eaten tofu, edaname and other forms of soy.    But my first cancer, 26 years ago, was when I still ate meat and little or no soy.  I wish I felt confident about soy, grapefruits and the whole phytoestrogen issue. Although I have tried to educate myself, I still feel as if I don't have a clue.

My MO said to avoid soy in general but the occasional chinese meal with soy sauce is not going to cause a problem. Use common sense. I am lactose intolerant and drank soy milk, now I drink almond milk. Its pretty good. As I understand it cultures that use soy extensively have lower cancer rates but they also have been eating it since childhood. In our culture most of us have started using or eating soy products as adults and are not able to handle/tolerate the phytoestrogen effect it has.

Soy isoflavanes seem to be the culprit. Products that contain soy lecithin are okay as that is not an isoflavane. Anyway that is what I understand from my reading. Anyone else have an opinion?

My onc also gave me the green light to eat soy....I eat it a couple times a month....I try to use rice milk or almond milk in cooking instead of soy milk, but I do use soy milk...though I don't use much of any of them.....I eat whatever my little heart desires...but overall, my diet is healthy....

I am not an expert, but all that I have read, and I have read a lot of studies and consulted my MO...studies done in different parts of the world, depends on where the soy comes from and if it is grown in selinium rich soil...which is different from our soy here in the US.  So it is hard to know ...my MO took me off flaxseed oil that I had been taking for dry eye.  And, again, it depends on where the flax is grown, I had heard negative things about flax grown in Canada.   I will look for my sources.