ER Positive PR Positive: How much SOY is too much?

XO143XO
XO143XO Member Posts: 23
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I keep asking some questions that I should have thought to ask my doctors but I am so happy that I can come here and receive some guidance. I went grocery shopping yesterday to get healthy foods and for the first time I noticed how much food has Soy in it, even my vitamins. Are we supposed to avoid soy like we are allergic to it since our cancer feeds on it?

Comments

  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #2
    I asked my doc
    because I had the same question as you, but she said I didn't need to worry about avoiding soy altogether. She said to not take any soy supplements, but even occasional edamame or tofu would be OK for me to have, just not to overdo it.

    I'm sure there will be other doctors with differing opinions about it, and ultimately you need to decide for yourself. For now at least, I'm following my doctor's advice and hoping the Tamoxifen does the trick. I may feel differently after I stop taking any estrogen blockers.

    Good luck,
    Cindy
  • XO143XO
    XO143XO Member Posts: 23
    #3
    cindycflynn said:

    I asked my doc
    because I had the same question as you, but she said I didn't need to worry about avoiding soy altogether. She said to not take any soy supplements, but even occasional edamame or tofu would be OK for me to have, just not to overdo it.

    I'm sure there will be other doctors with differing opinions about it, and ultimately you need to decide for yourself. For now at least, I'm following my doctor's advice and hoping the Tamoxifen does the trick. I may feel differently after I stop taking any estrogen blockers.

    Good luck,
    Cindy

    Thanks Cindy
    I'm going to go with that for now. I start the Tamoxifen Wednesday.

    Kristi xoxo
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #4
    cindycflynn said:

    I asked my doc
    because I had the same question as you, but she said I didn't need to worry about avoiding soy altogether. She said to not take any soy supplements, but even occasional edamame or tofu would be OK for me to have, just not to overdo it.

    I'm sure there will be other doctors with differing opinions about it, and ultimately you need to decide for yourself. For now at least, I'm following my doctor's advice and hoping the Tamoxifen does the trick. I may feel differently after I stop taking any estrogen blockers.

    Good luck,
    Cindy

    My doc's opinion similar to Cindy's
    I'm also ER+, and I also asked two oncologists -- one a breast cancer specialist -- the Big Soy Question last year when I was first diagnosed. Both told me there's no need (and you'd make yourself crazy trying) to avoid all soy -- it's in everything!

    They both recommended that I mostly avoid soy-BASED foods -- soy milk, tofu, soy meat, edamame, etc. And definitely stay away from soy supplements.

    But my regular oncologist ended his answer with: "If you have a little soy sauce on your Chinese food once in awhile, don't let it stress you out."

    Traci
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #5
    XO143XO said:

    Thanks Cindy
    I'm going to go with that for now. I start the Tamoxifen Wednesday.

    Kristi xoxo

    No soy products
    as they have bioidentical estogen-like compounds. One latter a day my nutritionist said. I excluded soy products, of course processed food does have it.
    Talk to your doc
  • jbug
    jbug Member Posts: 285
    #6
    I got the same advice
    I got the same advice w/regard to soy...don't stress out about it but don't start an all soy diet either...I've also started tamoxifen (Jan 10). I posted on another string about the soy question that I feel robbed by even having breast cancer, i'm not willing to give up anything else to the beast! I eat healthy, exercise...don't smoke, drink rarely these days....and I still got cancer!

    That being said, others have posted and feel very strongly that they will avoid all soy products if at all possible. Just gather all the info you need and make the decision that's right for you.

    Blessings...
    Julie
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #7
    jbug said:

    I got the same advice
    I got the same advice w/regard to soy...don't stress out about it but don't start an all soy diet either...I've also started tamoxifen (Jan 10). I posted on another string about the soy question that I feel robbed by even having breast cancer, i'm not willing to give up anything else to the beast! I eat healthy, exercise...don't smoke, drink rarely these days....and I still got cancer!

    That being said, others have posted and feel very strongly that they will avoid all soy products if at all possible. Just gather all the info you need and make the decision that's right for you.

    Blessings...
    Julie

    My oncologist told me to
    My oncologist told me to avoid soy when possible. Even he realized that soy is hidden in foods and even vitamins. So, you can't totally avoid it, but, just do the best that you can.
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #8
    DianeBC said:

    My oncologist told me to
    My oncologist told me to avoid soy when possible. Even he realized that soy is hidden in foods and even vitamins. So, you can't totally avoid it, but, just do the best that you can.

    I was told the same a traci.
    I was told the same a traci. Not to go crazy with it, but a little is ok.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #9
    XO143XO said:

    Thanks Cindy
    I'm going to go with that for now. I start the Tamoxifen Wednesday.

    Kristi xoxo

    I try to avoid soy, but, I
    I try to avoid soy, but, I am sure I still get some. I don't worry about it. I don't think we can ever have no soy at all.

    Good luck with tamox!


    Sue :)
  • XO143XO
    XO143XO Member Posts: 23
    #10
    XO143XO said:

    Thanks Cindy
    I'm going to go with that for now. I start the Tamoxifen Wednesday.

    Kristi xoxo

    You are all awesome women with whom I am grateful...
    I am so new to this that I tend to take it to the extreme mentally (soy sauce will kill me kind of thinking)and then I research and ask questions which educates me (sometimes makes things more confusing too).

    A sidenote: I don't think I have even gotten angry at having cancer. I have been too busy trying to get my "medical degree" so I can make the right treatment choices for myself that I can live with without regrets. I hope that makes sense. I've spent most of my time since being diagnosed trying to get insurance paperwork filled out, FMLA and Leave of Absense at work, answering my very large family's questions and concerns, fielding phone calls, trying to hide, etc. I not even sure I like the word survivor...it sounds passive to me; I feel more like a fighter... Okay, me rambling.

    I really just wanted to say that finding all of you here has been my God Send. You are my go-to for support and answers. God bless us all. I just feel love. xoxo
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #11
    TraciInLA said:

    My doc's opinion similar to Cindy's
    I'm also ER+, and I also asked two oncologists -- one a breast cancer specialist -- the Big Soy Question last year when I was first diagnosed. Both told me there's no need (and you'd make yourself crazy trying) to avoid all soy -- it's in everything!

    They both recommended that I mostly avoid soy-BASED foods -- soy milk, tofu, soy meat, edamame, etc. And definitely stay away from soy supplements.

    But my regular oncologist ended his answer with: "If you have a little soy sauce on your Chinese food once in awhile, don't let it stress you out."

    Traci

    Just like Traci described...
    My own med onc, a BC specialist, advised the same - avoid soy based foods. Almost impossible to completely eliminate trace amounts from one's diet.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #12
    Christmas Girl said:

    Just like Traci described...
    My own med onc, a BC specialist, advised the same - avoid soy based foods. Almost impossible to completely eliminate trace amounts from one's diet.

    Kind regards, Susan

    No soy
    My oncologist said the same as most everyone else's has here. It is impossible to not get some soy. Read labels if you want and just "try" to avoid it when you can.

    Lex♥

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