Anyone have answers (Foods and supplements that should or shouldn't be taken) ?

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Viranani
Viranani Member Posts: 9
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi, everyone,
I'm getting confused by what I'm reading and hearing about food and useful supplements!

The messages are very mixed: Soy is OK for BC...soy is NOT OK.
CoQ10 is a great complementary supplement (NIH)...no it's actually dangerous (I found a paper published last year that said it actually causes cancer to spread.)
Same with several antioxidants, and vitamin C.
Flaxseed seems OK across the board, likewise, melatonin and vitamin E.

I've never been much of a vitamin taker, but want to support the body as much as possible through this...and perhaps minimize the likelihood of metastases.

sooooo...what has worked for you??? (my tumor is ER/PR+ and HER-neu -)

Comments

  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #2
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    I did go into the soy thing.
    I did get into the soy thing with my oncologist.Making soy candles is OK.Eating alot of food HIGH in soy isn't.I didn't know that to do.Everything I read had soy in it.Some things didn't/some did.Like a cake mix, doughnuts etc.Finally I went back to her (next appt).I had been desperate to gain 10 lbs.I was drinking Ensure.I knew it had soy BUT it was more than she wanted me to have.She said that isn't OK but granola bars etc you buy in a package doesn't have a large amount.

    I am not a good eater I found FUSION(a fruit/veggie drink).High in vitamins and minerals.And just a couple glasses gives you all you need daily for fruits and vegetables. I love broccoli and brussel sprouts.Those are my main vegetables but fusion is my back up.

    I wonder about vitamins.Seems I read something about them.I want to check that too because when I took vitamins I was able to gain a little weight.So with my fusion and vitamis I may get that 10 lbs back.

    You've got me thinking about Vitamin C now????

    NO ENSURE even though it's a healthy drink but isn't for us.

    One more thing.FUSION is a antioxident.Another reason I drink it.

    I was dx with Non Invasive DCIS Stage0 1/2 centimeter tumor.Won't spread to other organs but can get other types of cancer.No chemo or radiation but take tamox.

    My mom was a 60 year survivor.Dx in 1941. My 36 year old niece is a 6 year survivor.Family History. I've had benign tumors since I was 20 years old. dx at 62 (2 years ago)

    Lynn Smith
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #3
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    Lynn Smith said:

    I did go into the soy thing.
    I did get into the soy thing with my oncologist.Making soy candles is OK.Eating alot of food HIGH in soy isn't.I didn't know that to do.Everything I read had soy in it.Some things didn't/some did.Like a cake mix, doughnuts etc.Finally I went back to her (next appt).I had been desperate to gain 10 lbs.I was drinking Ensure.I knew it had soy BUT it was more than she wanted me to have.She said that isn't OK but granola bars etc you buy in a package doesn't have a large amount.

    I am not a good eater I found FUSION(a fruit/veggie drink).High in vitamins and minerals.And just a couple glasses gives you all you need daily for fruits and vegetables. I love broccoli and brussel sprouts.Those are my main vegetables but fusion is my back up.

    I wonder about vitamins.Seems I read something about them.I want to check that too because when I took vitamins I was able to gain a little weight.So with my fusion and vitamis I may get that 10 lbs back.

    You've got me thinking about Vitamin C now????

    NO ENSURE even though it's a healthy drink but isn't for us.

    One more thing.FUSION is a antioxident.Another reason I drink it.

    I was dx with Non Invasive DCIS Stage0 1/2 centimeter tumor.Won't spread to other organs but can get other types of cancer.No chemo or radiation but take tamox.

    My mom was a 60 year survivor.Dx in 1941. My 36 year old niece is a 6 year survivor.Family History. I've had benign tumors since I was 20 years old. dx at 62 (2 years ago)

    Lynn Smith

    My onc. is big on some things
    He insists that all his patients eat a red-skinned apple every day. Lots of fruit and veggies - the more color the better. Cut back or cut out soda and cut back on sugar. He's also big on fiber! Whole grain foods and fiber suppliments. He also has me taking One-a-Day MENS 'cause they have the good stuff like anti-oxidants but not the stuff that promotes estrogen. (I was E+) There really wasn't much change for me except teh vitamins, adding the fiber suppliment, and the daily apple. I went from taking no meds to 4 pills a day. That's a big change!
  • mollyz
    mollyz Member Posts: 756 Member
    #4
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    skipper54 said:

    My onc. is big on some things
    He insists that all his patients eat a red-skinned apple every day. Lots of fruit and veggies - the more color the better. Cut back or cut out soda and cut back on sugar. He's also big on fiber! Whole grain foods and fiber suppliments. He also has me taking One-a-Day MENS 'cause they have the good stuff like anti-oxidants but not the stuff that promotes estrogen. (I was E+) There really wasn't much change for me except teh vitamins, adding the fiber suppliment, and the daily apple. I went from taking no meds to 4 pills a day. That's a big change!

    I was estrogen +
    And it's different from other breast cancers so do your own homework not just read what some else takes unless it's the same dx you where. I read no diary,no sweets and no soy for estrogen + and a little soy is in just about every thing you eat. a lot of us pink sisters have read a book call Anti-Cancer and i can't remember the author but it tells you a lot of things to eat and not to eat. good luck MOLLYZ
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #5
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    It's true, there is a study
    It's true, there is a study out there for everything food/nutrition related and it's impact on cancer. And they often contradict each other. For me, as I research more, I'm starting to see some consistency here and there...mostly in the anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory foods. And I'm triple negative so I don't worry about the soy, because my cancer doesn't respond to the plant estrogen in soy. For everything else, I use the "all things in moderation" theory.

    Some resources you might consider to further your research so you can come to a decision...

    A nutritionist at your cancer center.
    Anti Cancer by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, MD, Phd (a two time cancer survivor)
    Life Over Cancer by Keith I Block, MD
    The Cancer Project.org (part of the Physicians for Responsible Medicine website)
    Forks Over Knives (I don't know much about this one yet, it was just recommended to me.)
    Crazy Sexy Cancer (books and website by a cancer survivor)

    Please talk with your docs before you make any changes to your diet. There is a theory that "feeding the cancer" (with supplements, etc.) can make your chemo and radiation less effective. Regardless, your docs should know about any supplements and alternative treatments (massage, acupuncture) you are using. For instance, my doc was ok with a massage about 5 days before each chemo, but was not ok with acupuncture because of the risk of infection.

    I hope this helps.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #6
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    Advice I received
    My oncologist said that I could eat soy foods like tofu in dishes up to twice a week. I was to stay clear of all soy pills, powders, supplements and such. He said the amount of soy in soy sauce, oil, and cake mixes wasn't a concern. The thing that he said we need to avoid are those soy concentrated manufactured "foods". My tumor was E+ too.
  • stayingstrongfortoday
    stayingstrongfortoday Member Posts: 116
    #7
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    cabbott said:

    Advice I received
    My oncologist said that I could eat soy foods like tofu in dishes up to twice a week. I was to stay clear of all soy pills, powders, supplements and such. He said the amount of soy in soy sauce, oil, and cake mixes wasn't a concern. The thing that he said we need to avoid are those soy concentrated manufactured "foods". My tumor was E+ too.

    Iron
    My hemoglobin is always a litte low. I take a multi vitamin but wondered about an iron supplement? Anyone take that?
  • Punkindo
    Punkindo Member Posts: 113
    #8
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    My doctor said a lot of the things already mentioned, but also that I should avoid red meat. I am estrogen Poss.... It is hard for me because I was raised in a beef eating family. I still eat some red meat, but not as much. I try to avoid sugars, but I have found that is also hard for me. Especially chocolate and sweet tea.....My favorite comfort foods :)
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #9
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    Punkindo said:

    My doctor said a lot of the things already mentioned, but also that I should avoid red meat. I am estrogen Poss.... It is hard for me because I was raised in a beef eating family. I still eat some red meat, but not as much. I try to avoid sugars, but I have found that is also hard for me. Especially chocolate and sweet tea.....My favorite comfort foods :)

    back to Dr.'s advice
    My oncologist didn't mention no dairy. Actually lots of protein is good for chemo brain so I'm keeping my milk drinking habit, also cheese and yogurt. He did say not to eat a lot of processed lunch meat and to reduce sugar, especially soda. I don't drink soda so that's not an issue. Lots of fruit & veggies! The more color the better. I think I did mention the red-skinned apple every day.

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