ALH and soy products

[kare256]

I have been diagnosed with ALH. It's been 3 years since the biopsy and so far, so good. I have a question about diet since I am now post-menopause. I was told that soy should be avoided because the ALH cells can increase. Does this mean any product that has soy in the ingredients list? I am amazed at how many daily items (like english muffins and vitamins) have soy. Is there a list or website that would help me with food products?

[bluebutterfly2222]

Thanks for coming back to let me know you saw my answers.

I hope everything continues to go well for you!

Regards,
bluebutterfly

[kare256]

Thanks for all the information, you put my mind at ease. I go for a check-up this summer, so will also bring this up again with my doctor to see if her thinking has changed.

[bluebutterfly2222]

p.s. Here is a link to another article about the safety of soy in regard to BC:

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20110405/is-soy-safe-to-eat-after-breast-cancer?ecd=wnl_brc_042611

[bluebutterfly2222]

There are conflicting opinions about whether soy-containing foods are harmful or helpful in relation to breast cancer and/or  the risk for breast cancer.  Here is a report from one study that found benefit from it:
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Soy Food Intake Associated with Better Breast Cancer Outcomes

Breast cancer recurrence and overall mortality are lower among women who eat soy foods after their initial diagnosis, JAMA reports.

Some 5000 survivors of breast cancer in Shanghai provided information on lifestyle 6 months after their diagnosis and during several subsequent interviews. After a median 4 years' follow-up, women in the highest quartile of soy consumption (for example, tofu, soy milk, or fresh soy beans) showed lower hazard ratios for total mortality (0.71) and recurrence (0.68), relative to those in the lowest quartile.

The effect was noted in both estrogen-receptor–positive and –negative tumors, and with early- and late-stage cancers.

Editorialists write that until additional studies can be undertaken in larger cohorts, "clinicians can advise their patients with breast cancer that soy foods are safe to eat and that these foods may offer some protective benefit for long-term health."
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You should of course discuss this issue with your doctor or an oncologist before making any significant changes in your intake, but even if you decide to continue to avoid soy, I don't think you need to be too concerned about incidental exposure from foods where it is not a main ingredient.

Best wishes...