Flaxseed

[harrie]

The dip should be fine as long as it is not a tofu based dip!
Am I the only one working today???!!! (lunch hr HER2 break here)...
harrie

[jaybt]

Thanks RB for your help. I agree, there is SO much out there to read. A lot of it confusing too, particularly when you start looking at the stuff peddled by the companies that make the vitamin supplements. I will check out the books you suggest to get a broader view.
It a juggling act to get that balance of what's good for you and will help. I think the onc was suggesting primose oil as I have neuropathy since chemo and my diabetes does not help with the nerve damage. Apparently primose oil can be beneficial.
I have since got a list of products that contain hormones from a cancer agency and primose oil is one of them, so I will take this up with my onc.

[Bill]

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm really sorry. I know this is a serious post, but I could not contain myself. I'll try to separate business from pleasure a little better in the future. I got up and walked around, sat on my hands, went out side and whistled, but none of it worked. Andi, when you refer to yourself as a "hot flasher", maybe next time omit the space between the two words, or maybe use a hyphen. Just my opinion, Love, Bill (wink)

[goops]

Thanks for the laugh Bill We all need to laugh and smile.

[Vanessa]

I put my flaxseed in a pepper grinder and and grind it directly on oatmeal and other foods. It makes it very easy and it is supposed to be better freshly ground.

[Becky]

That's a great idea Vanessa. It is supposed to be freshly ground because it goes rancid (the oils) so quickly which is why the oil is refrigerated.

I use flax sparingly because I am ER+ but I am only 50% and PR neg and feel that flax (and soy) can be used with due moderation for hormone positive women. I was not a soy eater prior to bc (ate it in Chinese food but that's about it). Use flax one or two times a week (about 1-2 Tablespoons of ground) but I think it is a great food to incorporate into your diet regardless of hormone status. But the jury is out on hormone status if positive so don't pig out daily on flax and soy.

[harrie]

Yep, that was pretty funny Bill......"hot-------flasher"!!! Glad you could give us a smile!!!
Harrie

[R.B.]

Jaybt

Please ensure you discuss dietary change and fish oil with your doctor if of interest.

It is complex and not easy to explain in a post but fats are fundamental to body function which is why there is common ground to much of this. I have been putting this all into a book of a non expert lay perspective based on much reading. It is close to completion and should be available fairly shortly.

This is a good search resource. You don't have to understand it all just see which way the wind is blowing.

Eg enter DHA and diabetes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/


This is one result for diabetes.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum


The role of consumption of alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in human metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes--a mini-review.
Barre DE.

Nutrition, Department of Health Studies, School of Education, Health and Wellness, Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia, Canada. ed_barre@capebretonu.ca

"There is some evidence that EPA and/or DHA consumption, but no published evidence that ALA reduces conversion of metabolic syndrome to type 2 diabetes and reduces death rates due to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes."

And one for neuropathy

Neuroprotective effect of docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phospholipids in experimental diabetic neuropathy.
Coste TC, Gerbi A, Vague P, Pieroni G, Raccah D.

UPRES EA 2193, Faculte de Medecine Timone, Marseille, France. Thierry.Coste@medecine.univ-mrs.fr

"These results demonstrate a protective effect of daily doses of DHA on experimental diabetic neuropathy. Thus, treatment with DHA phospholipids could be suitable for evaluation in clinical trials."

[R.B.]

Flaxseed.

This is what a researcher said. You could print it out and discuss it with your specialist.

"There seems to be a lot of confusion on the website below. I will
attempt to answer some of the questions posted on this site: firstly,
flax oil does not contain any lignans as they do not dissolve in oil.
Lignans are present in every plant food that we eat only more
concentrated in flax and therefore commercially more viable to extract.
There is products available on the market that do deliver specific
quantities of flax lignans.

Lignans are phytoestrogens but they are very weak and only elicit a
very weak estrogenic response. The current research suggests that the
advantage of this is the body detects them as estrogens (which produce a
strong estrogenic response) and therefore produces less harmful
estrogens (homoeostatic process) though inhibition of the aromatase
enzymes, more SHBG to bind estrogens (for elimination from the body) and
increases the conversion of estrogens to the 2OHE metabolism pathway
over the 16OHE (by increasing CYP1A1 enzymes). This whole process has a
cyclic effect with the end result being less bioavailable estrogen
(harmful), increased 2OHE (protective), and decreased 16OHE (harmful)."

[TSund]

Coach, if your onc said specifically "synthetic" estrogens that sounds way off to me. Natural plants can't have synthetic estrogens by definition.

They can be slightly phytoestrogenic (is that a word? smile) but the jury is out on whether that is detrimental. There is a theory that the "slightly" naturally estrogenic things actually helps block the " really dangerous" estrogens. Throw in the conversation about natural progesterone and the conversation get s really confusing for me. RUth's onc said a very moderate level of soy was fine but she did not want her to go overboard.

[Mgarr]

I know there are other references to this book & site but pushing it up again. The book understandable and provides numerous sources for further research.


http://www.cancerrd.com/

Mary

[TSund]

Chuckling... R.B. seems to have said what I was trying to say, albeit more intelligently and precisely.


Well, I was trying, anyhow...

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

My nutritional oncologist says natural soy okay. Do not take soy capsules! Am unsure about soy powder. Think that's okay.

Natural progesterone, touted as coming from yams, is NOT good. My endocrinologist says that's b/c they contain a certain enzyme our bodies don't know how to metabolize. Stay away from supposedly bioidentical progesterone creams that come from yam! WHAT YOUR DOCTOR WILL NOT TELL YOU ABOUT MENOPAUSE (Dr. John Lee) and UNLOCK YOUR HORMONES (Dr. Graeme Williams). When you suffer, you read...

Hot flashes are not hyphenated, Bill, but if you like -- go for it.







In case you've ever wondered - - - - - What a Hot Flash is like -- suffice it to say, it's like putting your finger in a live electrical socket. You feel like you're on FIRE!




Don't mess w/a woman who is HOT FLASHING, Bill...



Andi

[Bill]

Andi, I apologize, and I apologize to everyone else on the site. My comments were insensitive, and I did not mean to trivialize the experience of hot flashes. Sincerely, Bill

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

HOT FLASH for Bill -- We're all aware of your sensitive side. No need to explain. And besides, speaking for myself -- I am actually very meek and mild mannered, with a serene Spirit that guides me. After 23 yrs of flashing, I am learning to cope. Even w/the jokes (like a tropical vacation/really a power surge). Just please, don't try to hyphenate my condition. Plus, for the record, I really do appreciate the apology AND your fun sense of humor!! Not to mention your gift for creating really cool scenarios.

(BTW, I don't think Pinkie eats anything but chocolate. Canadian salmon are safe from her harpoons.) Oh, wait. That was from a different thread. The heat must be getting to me...
Andi

[TSund]

Andi,

am a little confused. As I understand it, I don't think wild yam cream IS natural progesterone, but is a precurser to it. The human body doesn't have the enzyme necessary to turn it into progesterone, contrary to what some say. (which is what your endo was referring to I think)

I get my natural progesterone cream with prescription from the compounding pharmacy, comes in a pre-measured syringe (no needle) so dosage is uniform. It has been great for me personally. Relieved hot flashes, brought me out of way too early perimenopause, reduced cystic breats, relived PMS, and all sorts of other "female problems" along the way. Might be helping my bones too if Dr. Lee is correct. I have reduced dosage as now seem to be menopausal.

I am still SO confused about its use with Ruth and diagnosed breast cancer. Dr. Lee's books are so hip on using it, (including hormonally + women). I am afraid of encouraging Ruth to use it yet some days I am more afraid of the tamoxifen and other drugs and their side effects. If progesterone does indeed bind with estrogen, it sure makes sense when ER seems to be such a culprit. Someday I'm going to pick our onc's brain and see what she thinks about this one, but it seems like there's always too much else to talk about and she's just swamped with patients. Could you ask your endo sometime about what he thinks about its use in ER/PR + and ER+/PR- ?

THANKS!!!!!!!

TRS

[R.B.]

Tsund,

Thanks but the clarity of words were those of a researcher in the field of flaxseed engaged in current research who was very kind and responded to an enquiry from me.

RB

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Okay, Terri, and all interested in this topic. This is all I know about progesterone -- or at least THINK I have learned... Let me share...

My endocrin doc is a fab *she* (BTW). I asked my oncs about progesterone cream and they are afraid of it... What you don't understand, you fear is the way I see it. My GYNs same same. So I read John Lee and then Graeme Williams in my sleeveless top and still somewhere between clammy and trapped in a sauna, wanting to peel my skin off. You know, Did someone turn the air off in here? I can't breathe.

Dr. Williams says to stay away from synthetic progesterone and away from progesterone derived from yams. He goes into depth, way over my head, and makes my eyes cross as my entire upper body and head become flushed. Lady endocrin doc explained about the enzyme in yams we can't metabolize. Can't convert this into human progesterone. YAM CREAM SCAM CREAM, says Williams. Same w/disgenin or discorea villoses extract. Causes many bad side effects/problems/issues. She (endocrin) knew this right off. She said, sitting on the edge of her seat, Whatever you do, don't use estrogen cream. She is sharp and bright and up on everything (beyond diabetes). I have discovered that her panel of bld tests include all my hormones and stuff not one of 5 of my brilliant oncs ever investigated. I think we should all have an endocrin person. JMO...

So Dr. Williams makes my progesterone cream up, compounding it to my stats (per a half hr in depth telephone interview). Don't you just love when a doc actually listens and hears what you say? There's a slew of conditions progesterone cream is said to help (I only started Jan 4.) FYI, my flashing is 98% better.

The cream supposedly has wght loss benefits, is mood elevating, helps insomnia. I am in need of help in all these areas...

The belief is -- unopposed estrogen causes the flashes and we stop producing progesterone when we stop menstruating. Therefore, adding progesterone back in to the body chemistry is supposed to neutralize the growth stimulus effects of estrogen on the womb lining, breasts and fat cells, helps moodiness/anxiety/PMS, fatigue, lowered libido, breast tenderness, depression -- which occur when estrogen is in dominance. Endocrin checks my estradiaol. progesterone, testosterone, etc. The cream purportedly serves to avoid diabetes, heart disease, bc. Also needed by men to prevent prostate ca. Of course there are opposite views that are leary of this hormone and all things hormonal, including phytoestrogens, which is discussed by me and others in posts above...

For me, after 23 yrs of suffering from flashing, I have boldly ventured into this area to improve my QOL. I had reached an all time state of horridness, as bad as it ever was. I welcome any and all input...

Andi

[TSund]

This probably needs to go into a new thread. I've been searching on and off for months for info re: natural progesterone and breast cancer, outside of Dr. Lee's books, which are excellent but may come across as biased. I think I've finally found a few references, when I use the term "endogenous progesterone" (which means the natural as opposed to "medroxyprogesterone acetate" which is the Provera, Preverin, etc.)

http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/7/6/R1036

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en..._uids=15601642

If I skim these correctly, they seem to imply that the synthetic progestins are associated with breast cancer, but not so much the natural? Do I read right?

I'd welcome input here... drowning in scientific terms...