Tofu

Rewriter
Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member
Should women who have had a cancer that contains both UPSC cells and endometriod adenocarcinoma avoid soy? That's my diagnosis, and for almost four years I have been diligent about cutting out foods like tofu. However, after going from a mostly vegetarian diet to eating chicken and occasional meat, I want to return to a plant-based diet that includes tofu a couple of times a week. Would that be safe? I make a wonderful and simple dish that includes curried chick peas (lots of curry powder and extra turmeric), caramelized onions, chopped fresh kale, chopped cherry tomatoes, cubed tofu, and srirracha sauce. What do you think? Any advice is appreciated.
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Comments

  • bea-mil
    bea-mil Member Posts: 108
    Tofu
    Wow, it is almost the same dish like mine. I love it. The only difference is that I use a bok choi instead of kale and I don’t use srirracha sauce, instead I add some ginger and cayenne pepper. If you buy this sauce check the ingredients, most of them contain sugar and distilled vinegar (good only for cleaning). I try to avoid processed foods as much as possible. Soy and tofu I eat once a week at least .
  • california_artist
    california_artist Member Posts: 816 Member
    Jill
    Sounds lovely.

    Two things come to mind. First, of the three forms of estrogen, only one tends to promote cancer, and as the way of things, the lowly cabbage is able to effect a change in that cancer promoting form of estrogen and make it transform to one of the less harmful forms. So, have some cabbage either before of with the meal, would assume with the tofuy meal.

    Secondly, when having something with estrogens, i would tend to avoid xenoestrogens, such as coffee.

    But, for the most part, having tofu in moderation --I would tend to not worry. It's the overall bent of what you eat and how those foods work together to fight cancer that matters.

    Monday will be four years for me since my official diagnosis. While I do want to have a party, I don't want the cancer cells to think I am gloating and let me have it, so my joy will be low key, in case they are listening. Now all the new girls probably think I am nuts and not just a girl from New York with a very bizarre outlook on life.

    Love, hope, kind thoughts and a successful anti cancer journey to us all,

    Claudia
  • Rewriter
    Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member

    Jill
    Sounds lovely.

    Two things come to mind. First, of the three forms of estrogen, only one tends to promote cancer, and as the way of things, the lowly cabbage is able to effect a change in that cancer promoting form of estrogen and make it transform to one of the less harmful forms. So, have some cabbage either before of with the meal, would assume with the tofuy meal.

    Secondly, when having something with estrogens, i would tend to avoid xenoestrogens, such as coffee.

    But, for the most part, having tofu in moderation --I would tend to not worry. It's the overall bent of what you eat and how those foods work together to fight cancer that matters.

    Monday will be four years for me since my official diagnosis. While I do want to have a party, I don't want the cancer cells to think I am gloating and let me have it, so my joy will be low key, in case they are listening. Now all the new girls probably think I am nuts and not just a girl from New York with a very bizarre outlook on life.

    Love, hope, kind thoughts and a successful anti cancer journey to us all,

    Claudia

    Congrats, Claudia!
    Let's have a virtual low-key celebration: I'll saute some cabbage with turmeric, pepper, and olive oil and make Karen's curried chickpea and yam dish. I am just a couple of months away from my own four-year mark. Although I am in no way going to give up my anti-cancer diet, I am hoping my efforts will be permanently successful. I give you lots of credit for getting me on the right track.

    With hope and love to everyone.

    Jill
  • Rewriter
    Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member
    bea-mil said:

    Tofu
    Wow, it is almost the same dish like mine. I love it. The only difference is that I use a bok choi instead of kale and I don’t use srirracha sauce, instead I add some ginger and cayenne pepper. If you buy this sauce check the ingredients, most of them contain sugar and distilled vinegar (good only for cleaning). I try to avoid processed foods as much as possible. Soy and tofu I eat once a week at least .

    Srirracha sauce
    I have used this sauce only once, having recently bought what looks to be a lifetime supply of the stuff. My intention was to duplicate some of the flavor of Ma Po Tofu, a Szechuan dish that I love but rarely eat now because of all of the fat. I always check ingredients, since I never eat processed food or sugar (slipping only rarely); but this time I read on the bottle that srirracha sauce is made from ground peppers and failed to notice the sugar and chemicals on the more complete ingredients list. I may give the sauce away and try to make my own pepper paste using Szechuan peppers, garlic, and a little olive oil. That may work, right?

    Thanks, bea-mil, for enlightening me.
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    Rewriter said:

    Congrats, Claudia!
    Let's have a virtual low-key celebration: I'll saute some cabbage with turmeric, pepper, and olive oil and make Karen's curried chickpea and yam dish. I am just a couple of months away from my own four-year mark. Although I am in no way going to give up my anti-cancer diet, I am hoping my efforts will be permanently successful. I give you lots of credit for getting me on the right track.

    With hope and love to everyone.

    Jill

    Soy
    I've got a similar cancer which is just as aggressive.....MMMT. My nutritionist, plus integrative doc suggested only 2 servings of whole soy in food per day. Note, avoid any soy listed with "isolates"...not good at all. The nutritionist who's a breast cancer survivor, recommended watching the soy I add to my diet, as the jury is still out on how soy affects one, especially with hormone type cancers.

    One question to you experts on food preparation, what type of "sauce" do you use with any of your vegie saute dishes?

    Jill, proud to read about your upcoming 4-year mark....whatever you're doing, keep it up. Love reading your posts.

    Hugs,
    Jan
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    jazzy1 said:

    Soy
    I've got a similar cancer which is just as aggressive.....MMMT. My nutritionist, plus integrative doc suggested only 2 servings of whole soy in food per day. Note, avoid any soy listed with "isolates"...not good at all. The nutritionist who's a breast cancer survivor, recommended watching the soy I add to my diet, as the jury is still out on how soy affects one, especially with hormone type cancers.

    One question to you experts on food preparation, what type of "sauce" do you use with any of your vegie saute dishes?

    Jill, proud to read about your upcoming 4-year mark....whatever you're doing, keep it up. Love reading your posts.

    Hugs,
    Jan

    CONGRATULATIONS, CLAUDIA AND JILL!


    So great to hear that you're approaching four-year NED status: fabulous!

    Of course you should celebrate.

    What I keep reading about soy is that it is always safe in fermented form (tempeh, miso, seitan) but controversial when not fermented. But even a little tofu now and then--as long as not daily--is safe.

    Jan, did your onc tell you that our kind of tumor is hormonally sensitive? When I asked mine, she said, "Not USUALLY."

    Leaving me in the lurch!

    Best
    Rosey
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    RoseyR said:

    CONGRATULATIONS, CLAUDIA AND JILL!


    So great to hear that you're approaching four-year NED status: fabulous!

    Of course you should celebrate.

    What I keep reading about soy is that it is always safe in fermented form (tempeh, miso, seitan) but controversial when not fermented. But even a little tofu now and then--as long as not daily--is safe.

    Jan, did your onc tell you that our kind of tumor is hormonally sensitive? When I asked mine, she said, "Not USUALLY."

    Leaving me in the lurch!

    Best
    Rosey

    Rosey
    I did ask my oncologist this question and he suggested I avoid anything with hormones. I'm just very weary of soy as happened to have been on some major powder supplements prior to cancer, which had soy isolates as main ingredient....boohoo! To this day, wonder if these supplements had a bearing on my start with the cancer journey. More reason to follow more nutrients from our food supply vs. adding lots of supplements.

    EVERYTHING IN MODERATION~

    Jan
  • culka
    culka Member Posts: 149 Member
    Rewriter said:

    Congrats, Claudia!
    Let's have a virtual low-key celebration: I'll saute some cabbage with turmeric, pepper, and olive oil and make Karen's curried chickpea and yam dish. I am just a couple of months away from my own four-year mark. Although I am in no way going to give up my anti-cancer diet, I am hoping my efforts will be permanently successful. I give you lots of credit for getting me on the right track.

    With hope and love to everyone.

    Jill

    Hi girls,
    Isn't that awesome. Almost 4 years and after spending an hour and a half with snow shovel today I feel pretty good.

    My celebration is big smile on my face, not calling myself survivor.

    But back to tofu. I can by tofu here (Edmonton) no-GMO and using that as eggs in scrambled eggs recipices. Onion, turmeric and tofu. Salt if you need it.
  • willbesurvivor
    willbesurvivor Member Posts: 48
    culka said:

    Hi girls,
    Isn't that awesome. Almost 4 years and after spending an hour and a half with snow shovel today I feel pretty good.

    My celebration is big smile on my face, not calling myself survivor.

    But back to tofu. I can by tofu here (Edmonton) no-GMO and using that as eggs in scrambled eggs recipices. Onion, turmeric and tofu. Salt if you need it.

    I would avoid it if I could,
    I would avoid it if I could, anything with hormones can't be good with this type of cancer - even our oncologist said that they can never know what effect foods, HRT etc do to our bodies.
  • Rewriter
    Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member

    I would avoid it if I could,
    I would avoid it if I could, anything with hormones can't be good with this type of cancer - even our oncologist said that they can never know what effect foods, HRT etc do to our bodies.

    Jan
    I start almost every vegetable dish that I make by sauteing onions in olive oil until they are translucent, then adding spices--which might include turmeric, curry, ginger, and a bit of tomato paste; or lemon and oregano; or chopped tomatoes and basil--and vegetables. If I am making an Indian dish, the vegetables might include kale, chickpeas, and yams; an Italian dish, zucchini, broccoli raab, or broccoli; a Greek dish, some feta cheese crumbles (just a little), cucumbers, peppers, red onions, oregano. I might serve the mixture on a whole grain like spelt or quinoa and often add a bean. I also make soups the same way: sauteed onions, often pureed red tomatoes or canned organic fire-roasted tomatoes, some type of bean, a whole grain pasta, and lots of fresh vegetables. One trick I sometimes use is to puree one quarter to one half of the ingredients and add the puree to the chunky vegetables. This is the basis for my lentil, minestrone, carrot and ginger, and mushroom soups.

    I find it empowering to share recipes and food ideas, and I would LOVE to hear what other women are eating.
  • Rewriter
    Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member

    I would avoid it if I could,
    I would avoid it if I could, anything with hormones can't be good with this type of cancer - even our oncologist said that they can never know what effect foods, HRT etc do to our bodies.

    Jan
    ...and thanks for your kind words about my four years of NED. I am too superstitious to feel really safe, but I do spend less time being numb with anxiety. I do believe in changing the way we lived pre-cancer.
  • JoAnnDK
    JoAnnDK Member Posts: 275
    Rewriter said:

    Jan
    ...and thanks for your kind words about my four years of NED. I am too superstitious to feel really safe, but I do spend less time being numb with anxiety. I do believe in changing the way we lived pre-cancer.

    NCCAM
    From the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

    About Phytoestrogens

    Some botanical products, such as soy and red clover, contain estrogen-like compounds called phytoestrogens. Plants rich in phytoestrogens may help relieve some symptoms of menopause. However, it is uncertain whether this relief comes from phytoestrogens or from other compounds in the plant. Much remains to be learned about these plant products, including exactly how they work in the human body. Doctors caution that certain women need to be particularly careful about using phytoestrogens, especially:

    * Women who have had or are at increased risk for diseases or conditions that are affected by hormones, such as breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer; endometriosis; or uterine fibroids

    * Women who are taking drugs that increase estrogen levels in the body, such as birth control pills; MHT; or a type of cancer drug called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as tamoxifen

    There are an awful lot of warnings and cautions on this website about CAM/herbs/botanicals. Hard to absorb it all.
  • HellieC
    HellieC Member Posts: 524 Member
    Rewriter said:

    Jan
    I start almost every vegetable dish that I make by sauteing onions in olive oil until they are translucent, then adding spices--which might include turmeric, curry, ginger, and a bit of tomato paste; or lemon and oregano; or chopped tomatoes and basil--and vegetables. If I am making an Indian dish, the vegetables might include kale, chickpeas, and yams; an Italian dish, zucchini, broccoli raab, or broccoli; a Greek dish, some feta cheese crumbles (just a little), cucumbers, peppers, red onions, oregano. I might serve the mixture on a whole grain like spelt or quinoa and often add a bean. I also make soups the same way: sauteed onions, often pureed red tomatoes or canned organic fire-roasted tomatoes, some type of bean, a whole grain pasta, and lots of fresh vegetables. One trick I sometimes use is to puree one quarter to one half of the ingredients and add the puree to the chunky vegetables. This is the basis for my lentil, minestrone, carrot and ginger, and mushroom soups.

    I find it empowering to share recipes and food ideas, and I would LOVE to hear what other women are eating.

    Your soups sound delicious Jill
    Like you, I like to make my own soups. And I always start with good old onions, too! I make all sorts, depending on which vegetables are in season, But I particularly like to use butternut squash which is lovely mixed with carrot, tomato and lentils, with tumeric, a little chilli powder and whatever else is to hand. Although the quantities vary each time, so it is difficult to give a proper recipe!
    I must try the "one quarter puree" idea, so that you get a lovely rich base but it feels more like a meal - great idea - why didn't I think of that?!
    All this food talk is making my hungry. I'm off to my diet club tonight, so eating will have to wait until my return.
    Kindest wishes
    Helen
  • Rewriter
    Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member
    JoAnnDK said:

    NCCAM
    From the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

    About Phytoestrogens

    Some botanical products, such as soy and red clover, contain estrogen-like compounds called phytoestrogens. Plants rich in phytoestrogens may help relieve some symptoms of menopause. However, it is uncertain whether this relief comes from phytoestrogens or from other compounds in the plant. Much remains to be learned about these plant products, including exactly how they work in the human body. Doctors caution that certain women need to be particularly careful about using phytoestrogens, especially:

    * Women who have had or are at increased risk for diseases or conditions that are affected by hormones, such as breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer; endometriosis; or uterine fibroids

    * Women who are taking drugs that increase estrogen levels in the body, such as birth control pills; MHT; or a type of cancer drug called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as tamoxifen

    There are an awful lot of warnings and cautions on this website about CAM/herbs/botanicals. Hard to absorb it all.

    Neither UPSC nor clear cell is hormone sensitive
    There is lots of information from respected sources saying that UPSC and clear cell are NOT affected by estrogen. That being said, I would still worry about eating too much tofu and other soy products. However, I wouldn't worry TOO much.
  • Rewriter
    Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member
    HellieC said:

    Your soups sound delicious Jill
    Like you, I like to make my own soups. And I always start with good old onions, too! I make all sorts, depending on which vegetables are in season, But I particularly like to use butternut squash which is lovely mixed with carrot, tomato and lentils, with tumeric, a little chilli powder and whatever else is to hand. Although the quantities vary each time, so it is difficult to give a proper recipe!
    I must try the "one quarter puree" idea, so that you get a lovely rich base but it feels more like a meal - great idea - why didn't I think of that?!
    All this food talk is making my hungry. I'm off to my diet club tonight, so eating will have to wait until my return.
    Kindest wishes
    Helen

    Intuitive Cooking?
    I don't use recipes either, Helen, but I try to create them so that I can post them here. My soups sound very much like yours, the only difference being that I thicken them a bit by pureeing a few spoonfuls.

    Soups are a delicious and flavorful way to eat all sorts of healthy, cancer-fighting vegetables and spices as well as take advantage of what local farms have in season. I can't wait for gazpacho season. Did you know that there is a version made with white grapes and avocado?

    Warm regards,

    Jill
  • california_artist
    california_artist Member Posts: 816 Member
    Rewriter said:

    Neither UPSC nor clear cell is hormone sensitive
    There is lots of information from respected sources saying that UPSC and clear cell are NOT affected by estrogen. That being said, I would still worry about eating too much tofu and other soy products. However, I wouldn't worry TOO much.

    Hey, Jill, you don't know everything!
    I'm sorry honey, you know I love ya, I'm just kidding around. At least you are trying to know everything and sharing, big time and I do love you for it.

    Totally agree with your conclusions.

    Kisses,

    Claudia
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member

    Hey, Jill, you don't know everything!
    I'm sorry honey, you know I love ya, I'm just kidding around. At least you are trying to know everything and sharing, big time and I do love you for it.

    Totally agree with your conclusions.

    Kisses,

    Claudia

    Jill, Hormone sensitive?
    I would be interested in that info about UPSC not being hormone sensitive. Mine is now - though it didn't used to be. Doc said that cancer unpredictable and can morph which mine obviously did.

    I don't think we can make global conclusions like that, though perhaps, in general these are not hormone sensitive. Each person's situation is different and obviously subject to change without our knowing this. Without that new testing this would not have come to light.

    The whole issue of hormones is a big one. Meat, dairy, and processed soy (eat edamame instead of tofu) encourage hormone growth which fuels cancer cells.

    Mary Ann
  • Rewriter
    Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member
    daisy366 said:

    Jill, Hormone sensitive?
    I would be interested in that info about UPSC not being hormone sensitive. Mine is now - though it didn't used to be. Doc said that cancer unpredictable and can morph which mine obviously did.

    I don't think we can make global conclusions like that, though perhaps, in general these are not hormone sensitive. Each person's situation is different and obviously subject to change without our knowing this. Without that new testing this would not have come to light.

    The whole issue of hormones is a big one. Meat, dairy, and processed soy (eat edamame instead of tofu) encourage hormone growth which fuels cancer cells.

    Mary Ann

    Excerpts of research saying that UPSC is not hormone sensitive
    • “…hormone therapy is not effective in the treatment of uterine papillary serous carcinoma because it is not hormone sensitive.”

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge-newspaper-2010/dec-03b.html

    • “Type II EC, which includes uterine serous cancer (USC), clear cell cancer and grade 3 endometrioid carcinoma, typically occurs in older, thinner patients and is not hormone dependent. “

    Schwartz PE. The management of serous papillary uterine cancer. Curr. Opin. Oncol. 18(5), 494–499 (2006). [In my opinion, Peter Schwartz is the leading expert on UPSC in the U.S.]
    Goff BA. Uterine papillary serous carcinoma: what have we learned over the past quarter century? Gynecol. Oncol. 98(3), 341–343

    • “Unlike the more common endometrioid adenocarcinoma, UPSC does not develop from endometrial hyperplasia and is not hormone-sensitive.”

    Gründker, C: Günthert, AR: Emons G. (2008). "Hormonal heterogeneity of endometrial cancer." Adv Exp Med Biol 630: 166–88

    • “Type II carcinomas include…serous histologies…and demonstrate no hormonal risk factors.

    Gynecologic Oncology article authored by Paola Gehrig among others—can’t copy line; it’s a PDF file that won’t “copy.”
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    Rewriter said:

    Excerpts of research saying that UPSC is not hormone sensitive
    • “…hormone therapy is not effective in the treatment of uterine papillary serous carcinoma because it is not hormone sensitive.”

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge-newspaper-2010/dec-03b.html

    • “Type II EC, which includes uterine serous cancer (USC), clear cell cancer and grade 3 endometrioid carcinoma, typically occurs in older, thinner patients and is not hormone dependent. “

    Schwartz PE. The management of serous papillary uterine cancer. Curr. Opin. Oncol. 18(5), 494–499 (2006). [In my opinion, Peter Schwartz is the leading expert on UPSC in the U.S.]
    Goff BA. Uterine papillary serous carcinoma: what have we learned over the past quarter century? Gynecol. Oncol. 98(3), 341–343

    • “Unlike the more common endometrioid adenocarcinoma, UPSC does not develop from endometrial hyperplasia and is not hormone-sensitive.”

    Gründker, C: Günthert, AR: Emons G. (2008). "Hormonal heterogeneity of endometrial cancer." Adv Exp Med Biol 630: 166–88

    • “Type II carcinomas include…serous histologies…and demonstrate no hormonal risk factors.

    Gynecologic Oncology article authored by Paola Gehrig among others—can’t copy line; it’s a PDF file that won’t “copy.”

    Ok and thanks Jill
    Thanks for taking time to share all that data. Interesting. Hope that Caris report is accurate!! I guess there are always exceptions to the rule.

    MA
  • Rewriter
    Rewriter Member Posts: 493 Member
    daisy366 said:

    Ok and thanks Jill
    Thanks for taking time to share all that data. Interesting. Hope that Caris report is accurate!! I guess there are always exceptions to the rule.

    MA

    Didn't mean to get you concerned, Mary Ann
    I would trust the Caris report and your doctor. Your UPSC obviously morphed into something else, and the hormone treatment WILL knock it back!

    Jill