Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

Ah soy !! We will ever get past the soy issue? I have been a vegetarian for over 20 years. I eat alot of various kinds of beans, including edamane, which are soy beans in one of their most natural states. I eat tofu or natto once in awhile. I drink miso soup instead of chicken soup when I catch cold. My total estrogen levels actually went down and what estrogen I had left went into perfect balance (the different kinds of estrogen)
over a period of several years after my diagnosis.
High estrogen levels can be from different causes, not only soy.
Now if Tanya would explain chia seeds I would be grateful. They are supposed to have similiar nutrition as flax. A friend put some chia seeds in a smoothy she made for us and I tried them in oatmeal. They were very tasty, but more expensive than flax meal or flax seeds.

Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

We are vegetarians/So flax seeks is the only source left for us.I use it on toast and in the Kanji (Gruel) I make.I want to know from Tanya what is her view on Soy.Hema is Er-ve PR-ve

Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

Expert, Mark Messina, was interviewed in the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group Newsletter recently. His recommendation for breast cancer patients re: soy is as follows. “First, the current default position of most oncologists to advise their breast cancer patients against using soy is no longer justified. Second, there is insufficient evidence to actively recommend soyfoods solely for the purpose of improving prognosis. Third, oncologists should allow women who consume soyfoods and develop breast cancer to continue consuming soy and should allow their patients who want to begin consuming soy, for whatever reason, to do so.”

Another expert, Dr. Stephen Barnes, provided these points.

• Isoflavones given in the diet in animal models of breast cancer inhibit the appearance of carcinogen-induced mammary tumors, BUT only if given prior to puberty.
• Diet (and exercise) early in life may have an important role in determining the risk of adult br. cancer.

There is very little information on chia and breast cancer. Chia is high in omega 3 from ALA like flax. Like soy, evidence is inconclusive.

Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

Thanks, Tonya.

The article (and responses) on the Washington Post site echos similar sentiment on certain nutrition factors:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...Q_story_3.html

Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

Not sure if this site has been posted before:

http://www.wcrf.org/cancer_research/...ancer_risk.php

A summary by AICR:

http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/P...endations_home

The ongoing update website:

http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/

Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

Elaine,
I appreciate the links..but hard to get a bead on your overall situation. you wrote "My total estrogen levels actually went down and what estrogen I had left went into perfect balance (the different kinds of estrogen)
over a period of several years after my diagnosis.
High estrogen levels can be from different causes, not only soy."

Is this post meno? I am interested in the use of estradiol measurement, even if oncs generally aren't.

Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

Some labs can do blood tests for the various kinds of estrogen in our bodies. I don't remember the name of the actual blood test. Maybe if you do an internet search for something like blood tests for estrogen levels you might find it or you can ask your physician. Even if that person doesn't immediately know he or she might be able to check for it in the physicians desk reference or check online. Doctors have online sources of information we don't have sometimes. The trick is finding a doctor interested enough in your case to be willing to do a little extra work on your behalf.
Several biopsies with complete pathology investigation over time might also show a difference in estrogen levels.
Many foods (not only soy) can either increase or decrease estrogen levels in the body. I suggest you do an internet search or work with a nutritionist, an endocronologist (spelling?) or a naturopathic physican on this.
Also carrying extra body weight can increase estrogen levels, because estrogen is generally stored in body fat. I slowly lost 55 pounds on purpose over a period of 9-10 years with the help of a naturopathic physican. That helped everything !!

Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

I forgot to mention that our hormone levels may change as we get older.

Re: The Anti-Cancer Shopping List
 

For vegetarians flax seed is the best source for omega 3.The Onc here has said yes to flax seed but no to soya