HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - the reason it is so hard to determine if flax oil or lignans are good/bad for bc

1rarebird · 07-03-2010, 02:32 PM

So, they found alpha-ER was up regulated and beta-ER could go up or down depending on how much flax lignan and isoflavone was administered. With these results we still don't have enough to hazard a guess whether to supplement with flax or not.

I suppose the oncologist that I heard speak on phytoestrogens a few months ago was correct when advising ER+ patients on endocrine therapy to avoid flax until more is known. She felt it could help or hurt, and on the chance it would hurt, it was not worth the risk . She advised that Tamoxifen or and the A'Is should be allowed to work unhindered by flax. Too bad for me---I enjoyed my flax and granola until I heard her rationale.

bird

07-03-2010, 02:32 PM	#3
1rarebird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: TN Posts: 175	Re: the reason it is so hard to determine if flax oil or lignans are good/bad for bc So, they found alpha-ER was up regulated and beta-ER could go up or down depending on how much flax lignan and isoflavone was administered. With these results we still don't have enough to hazard a guess whether to supplement with flax or not. I suppose the oncologist that I heard speak on phytoestrogens a few months ago was correct when advising ER+ patients on endocrine therapy to avoid flax until more is known. She felt it could help or hurt, and on the chance it would hurt, it was not worth the risk . She advised that Tamoxifen or and the A'Is should be allowed to work unhindered by flax. Too bad for me---I enjoyed my flax and granola until I heard her rationale. bird __________________ Male Breast Cancer, DX 5/15/09, IDC, STAGE 1, 1.7 cm, HER2+++, ER+(95%)/PR+(75%), Ki67 40%, grade 3, 0/5 nodes, TX: mastectomy, TCH finished 7/19/10, radiation 6 wks., Tamoxifen on going, bisphosphonate 24 mos.