dairy products

[TanyaRD]

Thought maybe I'd chime in a little here. I realize part of this conversation is about 7 years old however it is funny how the same debate continues! Dairy intake continues to be debatable but one thing that is important to keep in mind is that after diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (especially estrogen positive) bone health becomes even more important as treatments often strive to reduce estrogen thus offering less protection to bones. If you cut dairy out of your diet you must replace the calcium with an adequate source-probably supplementation. In regards to preventing recurrence there is one area in the research that is quite clear and that is reducing body weight to a healthy weight or maintaining an already healthy weight is known to reduce initial risk and risk of recurrence of breast cancer. That being said, obesity and overweight is ONE risk factor. Someone of normal weight can certainly still be diagnosed with breast cancer. However, this is one thing that is in our control. How we achieve that healthy weight is of course debatable. The WINS trial (see diet and nutrition section of message boards) found that women who followed a very low fat diet (15-20% calories from fat) had a significant decreased risk in breast cancer recurrence. Reducing saturated fat (animal fats mostly) appears to be critical in many studies. Increasing fruits and vegetable intake also appears to offer benefit. It is yet unclear whether or not the weight loss or the low fat diet resulting in weight loss provided the benefit in the WINS trial. This is a very difficult diet to follow and stick to (much like the Dean Ornish diet). Dr. Mary Flynn wrote a book called the Pink Ribbon Diet which is a plant based-olive oil, low calorie diet. Her study did not examine risk of recurrence but did produce successful weight loss which theoretically could decrease recurrence risk.

Overall, I don't think we have to make eating too complicated but find a healthy way of eating and moving (exercise) that fits into your lifestyle.

Tanya

[sarah]

Have read both Plant's book and David Servan-Schreiber's book "Anti-Cancer" which also is anti dairy. I liked his more but.... each to his own.
The convincing point is that until recently, Asia had basically no BC and called it the "rich woman's disease" in Asia milk is only given to children, adults don't drink it.
Unfortunately I live in France where you can get great cheese so it's hard to avoid dairy but I have stopped eating yogurt - a favorite that I considered healthy until reading these books, and drink only a little milk in coffee.
As the Danish oncology nurse at our hospital says "the most important thing is to enjoy life so don't deprive yourself of too much". She sees many patients die and that's what she's taken away with her.
So I'd say we should lighten up on the milk, dairy, sugar and drink moderate amounts of red wine (also difficult in a country with great wine!) and also lighten up on stress and depriving ourselves. As the nurse also says, "if you feel like a bite of chocolate, go for it!"
My husband's GP told him to take ibuprofen for his arthritic pain and my husband was worried about its negative effect (none of us want to take more pills than necessary) and his French doctor said "do you want to live a longer life in pain or a shorter one without pain?" not that I think ibuprofen will shorten one's life and may even be good periodically for us since it's an anti-inflammatory.
So, maybe read those books and decide for yourselves after all the talk about soy is totally confusing: is it good? is it bad? I've decided to avoid it since I'm ER+ which is probably another reason to avoid dairy.
and don't forget to enjoy life - you know the cliche "every day's a gift!!!!"
health and happiness
A+ as they say here - meaning - later
sarah