When to change tracks? The Talk

[Kathy S in Tokyo]

StephN, the cellwork indicated ER and PR positive but none of the hormonal treatments did a thing. I avoided soy while trying Tamoxifen by skipping that part of the meal. I worried about the soy issue as I've spoken with doctors here who feel that soy is great and others who warn against it.

Now I'm in my moderation stage (although I've never been in much of an overconsumption stage). I don't use highly processed foods where the soy could be hidden or somehow enhanced or concentrated but I do enjoy a little tofu, miso, gooey fermented soy beans and, when in season, fresh boiled green soy beans(edamame). I feel a little better about these as they are closer to the original plant.

I know my soy intake is probably not nearly as much as the average here. A friend who is allergic to soy beans here seems to be okay with the fermented soy products. I probably have "something soy" about 3 or 4 times a week, and only a few bites as a instead of 3 or 4 times a day. I only use about a tablespoon of miso in 2 quarts of water for miso soup as I use kombu (kelp?) and dried bonito or teeny tiny dried sardines for a soup stock. My kids are fine with this but I think my husband longs for a little more miso oomph in his soup (which he can easily add to his own bowl of soup.)

[ElaineM]

Kathy,
Mahalo for the miso soup recipe. I am in the mood for that again. I will have a bowl for lunch tomorrow.
I am with you about eating soy products in moderation.
It seems science can't make up its mind about soy and breast cancer. Sometimes they say it is okay and sometimes they say it isn't. Women across Asia eat more soy than Western women eat, yet Asian women generally get less breast cancer. Other factors probably contribute to breast cancer besides eating soy. I read a study that Asian women who come to the West and adopt a western diet get more breast cancer than women in Asia get. Humm.