No need to avoid soy after breast cancer
Some say soy helps with breast cancer, some say its dangerous. But the latest research says eating soy-based foods is safe for women whove had breast cancer.
Products made from soy beans, such as soy sauce, tofu, and soy milk, contain naturally occurring hormones (isoflavones) that have similarities to the female hormone estrogen.
Because estrogen may be involved in the growth of some types of breast cancer, theres been concern about whether eating soy-based foods could increase the risk of breast cancer coming back for women whove already had it.
Studies so far suggest that, if anything, eating soy improves the outcome for women with breast cancer. A new review of more than 18,000 women who survived breast cancer helps us get a better answer. Eating more soy doesnt seem to make any difference to the chances of breast cancer coming back, or to the chances of living at least nine years after being diagnosed.
The study included U.S. US women, who typically had a low intake of soy, and women in China, who ate much more soy. There was a slight trend suggesting eating soy was beneficial, but this was so small that it may have been due down to chance.
We do have one word of caution. The study was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Florida this month, but it hasnt been published in a medical journal. That means we havent been able to check the paper as thoroughly as we otherwise would.
Similar Posts:
- How much can you cut your breast cancer risk?
- Lung cancer screening could save lives, at a cost
- Going nuts for lower cholesterol
- Women lagging behind men on retirement planning, saving
- New Efforts Eyed to Lower Obesity Rates
