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Pearl's avatar
Pearl
Member
9 years ago

Dairy products query??

Hi..I'm new to this site, so please excuse any mistakes!! I'm 62 and  I was diagnosed with Hormone Receptive Breast Cancer last July, had 2 surgeries which included nipple removal and lymph gland removal on my right side. Following that, I had 6 rounds of Chemo and 30 zaps of radiation. What I want to know is ....opinions on Dairy products being possible causes of hormone receptive cancer. I seem to see a lot about this in news lately. Currently I have replaced Dairy with soy, not a problem for me as I am in a family that has 2 vegans so I get used to their recipes etc. Now I also read that soy can cause breast cancer too. Does anyone actually know some real facts about this subject, and can help me with my query? 

37 Replies

  • There are no special dietary restrictions but to just try and fillow a healthy diet as recommended to all Australians. There was a recent research paper on soy specifically that found no increase risk with women with estrogen + cancer and actual benefits of those tnbc. Will try to find the research again. 
  • Hello @Pearl, Welcome! 

    Ive never been a fan of dairy, I'll have it sometimes but only if there isnt anything else. I switched about a year ago to Coconut Milk, thing is I only have it on my oats in the morning, so I dont have milk in any other way. I drink alot of Green Tea, lost the taste for coffee through Chemo!!! OMG thats weird I never would have thought! even alcohol is rarely now and I used to enjoy a social wine! so everything in moderation. I love chocolate though LOL! and Im not about to stop living :) 

    I need to get more disciplined like Nikki! and probably go organic, I do however eat alot of steamed vegetables and lately gotten right into fish. 

    There is actually no one thing statistically that they can say you should avoid in terms of Breast Cancer, I did a rehab course through the Epworth and the day the Dietician did her presentation she said, all the things we hear are ALL minority studies only, that its about just eating a healthy balanced diet she said. Makes sense as Nikki said, otherwise how else can we explain that people who dont eat or drink the things they say not to still get it? and fit healthy people? it doesnt discriminate. So its just about eating and exercising to the point YOU feel good, nothing more. No right or wrongs. Hugs Melinda xo
  • @Pearl here we go again. I remembered speaking to a breast care nurse at a boutique hospital where I see my surgeon. I asked her what to do what to eat etc. She replied that over many years, many patients some who do everything ,strict dietary control still some get  cancer back. There is no answer.
    I am not saying do not do anything .I know a diet high in fats sugars and carbs is not a good idea. Equally eating too much protien not recommended.
    In my family circle (we all have diary) my mother is 100 years and six months lives with my sister and husband. My sister and brother no cancer. I recently after a year of treatment cancer free. Was it Dairy? Was IT gluten? Is that why I got cancer noooo I do not think so. Who knows?

  • Hey @Pearl - I avoid soy (but only because it makes me gag!) - I feed my boys organic produce (meat and chicken) and try to eat as healthily as possible. I'm not a big fan of dairy as it doesn't really agree with me.

    I see my naturopath pretty regularly and he stresses to avoid gluten as much as possible as he thinks that's just bad for the digestive system. Lots of fresh vegetables seems to be the way...the ol' Mediterranean diet (altho I do so without meat :)

    Nx
  • Thanks Nikki. Do you eat soy products? I feel personally that soy would be a better alternative than dairy and, of course, meat, both of which seem to be laced with hormone chemicals...but I may be quite wrong about that!!  Yes, I agree that it is the way we deal with it, not how we got it, that matters!! I just desperately want to stay clear of it now...haha!!                         Cheers,                                                                                                                                                                                            Pearl


  • Hi @Pearl - welcome to the site. Interesting question!

    I have been a vegetarian since I was 14 years old (and not huge on consuming dairy products), enjoy cooking, don't eat much processed food, don't smoke, pretty fit and don't really drink...and still got BC. I'm not sure it's as cut and dry as some of the media might suggest. It doesn't discriminate. Tall, fat, short, thin, vegan, carnivore...IMO, it just happens. :)

    But it's how we deal with it that, to me, matters most.

    Nikki