Special diet to help prevent Breast Cancer

[HazelLynn]

Hi, after having spent the past six weeks in absolute torment of wondering if I had Breast cancer - which thank god I do not - only found out a couple of days ago, I wondered if there is a special diet that we could all follow to prevent it, I did read that food rich in progesterone would help and to reduce esterogen (sorry not sure how to spell those) is this true?  what would the best foods be?

I live in Portugal, and heard today that the scientists in OPorto have discovered a breakthrough in breast cancer - something to do with stopping a molecule that causes a tumor to grow, I think thats great news and hopefully will be a beneficial find for every brave person who gets BC - when I get chance I will put the article on the site.

Many thanks.

[HazelLynn]

Hi, Thanks for your post, sounds like good advice what you have researched, I will definitely make note of what you and your family are doing and wish you all the best with it - Healthy diet can only help alround.  I am so happy that your daughters lumps were benign.
Best wishes,
Hazel

[realtimedyno]

My daughter just had a similar scare, and the two lumps turned out to be benign.  In the meantime, I have been up 24/7 on the internet trying to educate myself on implications of diet and supplements.  I ordered a book by Bill Sardi  called "Cancer", and now my whole family is taking the following: resveratrol, IP6-Inositol (rice bran extract), Vitamin D3, turmeric extract, cod liver oil, krill oil, melatonin, etc.all as immune system boosters. One thing we are now avoiding like the plague is soy and soy products.  There seems to be some linkage between them and hyperplagia of epithelial cell in the breast. We used to eat tons of soy, and now I regret it. Also, just to be on the safe side, avoid all foods with high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and anything you can't pronounce on the label. We drink only raw milk now, and stay away from highly processed foods--also we avoid foods prepared with the unsaturated oils like canola and safflower, choosing instead olive and coconut oils.  Who knows if all this will make a difference.

[HazelLynn]

Hi Alarson,

What a wonderful attitude you have to it all and what a good way you told the children.

Well, I had my lumpectomy and the surgeon didnt get clear margins, so am booked in for a mastectomy on the 4th March - I think its the right way - what sort of treatment did you have after yours? I am not sure yet what I will have.  The children are coping well knowing that I have a poorly boobie, but do not yet know the full extent, we shall break it to them nearer the time of my going in. Please do you have any tips about the mastectomy? the best pain relief etc - I would appreciate anything you can tell me that may help.
All best wishes to you and thanks
Hazel

[alarson]

Summer 06 - I had 2 small lumps and decided to have a double mast, expanders and reconstruction (32 years old).  No rad or chemo, stage 1, not in nodes.  The mast was lots of pain for a week and then got better.  I would say 75% in 2 weeks and 100% by week 3.

During 06 & 07 - I had several inplant problems & an infection from inplants.  From summer 06 to summer 07 I had a total of 5 surgeries.  My kids (4 & 7), husband and I coped well.  I think that it's easier when you have kids because you have to be strong for them and it passes the time more quickly.

I took them to many of my appointments.  They have seen my scars and know what I have had done.  They are quite the experts.  I made sure that they understood this was not something that they did or something that they can catch.  I am not sure the age of your kids but we garden a lot and I told them my cancer cells were like weeks in the garden.  If you get too many weeds the good plants cannot grow well and produce good food.  We have to kill the weeds just like the doctor has to kill the bad cells.  So mommy can feel better.  It went something like that - it worked for them.

I coped by writing a journal, being with my kids, not being so picky about things (not needing the house in perfect order, bedtime could be 5 minutes late, the kids didn't have to eat all their food), and getting help from others.  I never joined a cancer group or talked with anyone else about cancer - maybe I should have but nothing was close to me or I just didn't want to take more time away from my family.

I found this about necrosis (I didn't have it):

(When DCIS is diagnosed, the pathologist (a doctor specializing in diagnosing disease from tissue samples) will look for an area of dead or dying cancer cells, called tumor necrosis, within the tissue sample. If necrosis is present, the tumor is likely to be more aggressive. The term comedocarcinoma is often used to describe DCIS with necrosis. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_breast_cancer_5.asp)

Good luck - Take care...let us know.

[HazelLynn]

Hi, thank you for your post, I really appreciate it.  The timescale seems to have shifted to one month now after checking again with the hospital, from what I can hear they are excellent, its just the waiting lists that are causing the problems, but we are checking out alternative opinions.  The treatment I think I will have will be lumpectomy (hookwire) and then radiation, but I suppose this could change if things inside me have changed - I just want them to cure me so that I can look after my kids.  I am getting very confused by it all though as I am told its a slow growing cancer, but then read that if there is NECROSIS then its aggressive.  Is this what you had?, I think my report shows that.  May I ask you, how do you cope?: I feel like I have totally gone insane.
Best wishes,
Hazel

[HazelLynn]

Hi Shelley, many thanks for your post, things are looking a little bit better at the moment as I heard that my operation may be a month away instead of the two.  We are still trying to get that pushed forward.  What a trauma this all is, I am running round like a hysterical headless chicken.  I do not know what route I am to take as I dont have all the facts, I got part of my report yesterday and it said Interductal carcinoma and I think it said also with Necrosis - after checking that one out on the computer I think thats the aggressive type.  I can also feel activity in my breast and am thinking the worse.  Anyway, we are going to try and push forward.  I am sorry that you have been through such a hard time and I appreciate your telling me what you have been through, I feel I would rather go through a mastectomy and have done.  What did you have at the beginning? were you early stage or later? how did you cope? I am not doing a good job at all.
Best wishes,
Hazel

[shelley50]

Try and not be too upset about the wait, I have been told many times and also read that breast cancer is not considered an emergency. It has taken many months or years to grow so another 2 months is no reason for concern. Second opinions are always a good idea. It really does give you another perspective and time to think about options. If you rush into a decision about what type of surgery to have you may regret it. I went with lumpectomy in July of 2002 and regretted it almost from the get go. It was the one thing I left undone after having gone through chemo and radiation, sure enough the cancer returned in Jan of 2006  and I had to have a mastectomy anyway and do chemo again. The 2 months will give you time to really think things through, it may be a blessing afterall. The best to you, Michele      PS As far as a diet goes, maybe you can research what it would take to build up your immune system, I know mine must have taken a hit somewhere along the way and I am trying to build it up again, just a suggestion.

[alarson]

When I found out that I had Invasive DC it was almost 2 months until I had surgery - double mast.  If you are able to get to another doctor you might see if they can do it sooner?  You want to make sure that you are taken care of you!

Have you decided to go with lumpectomy, bi-lat or double mast?  Will you have chemo/rad?

[HazelLynn]

Hi,  Further to my last post where I said that I didnt have cancer - they told me wrong - I do have DCIS and was told on the 9th January, seems they had lost my notes also for a month.  I was also told on the 9th January that my tumour is so tiny that they will do an operation in two months time due to a long waiting list, it seems that I lost my place on their list due to their having lost my notes - how can I have any confidence?????? We called in again to speak to the doctor to suggest I went private and was told I am in the best place!.  and do not need to go anywhere else.  I have four young children, a husband with a chronic kidney disease and have no idea what to do and am totally wrought with worry.  Any advice please?

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,
No diets or food patterns can help to prevent breast cancer. You still need to mainatin a healthy diet plan including fresh fruits, vegetables and plenty of water for a general healthy lifestyle.
It is important to avoid processed food, smoking, alcohol and saturated fats. Obesity is a high risk factor for breast cancer.
Otherwise no absolute diet has been known to prevent breast cancer, and nor has any food been helpful in treatment.
Your initiative to spread awareness and hope in breast cancer patients is a noble initiative.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
There are no special diets to prevent breast cancer.  Studies did not show association between breast cancer and intake of dietary fat and dietary fiber.
However, it is very important in any individual to eat a balanced diet and do regular exercise.  Obesity, increased alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyle are associated with breast cancer.