Natural therapies vs hormone therapy

I've done a lot of reading about this. Primarily because taking Tamoxifen was only going to improve my 10 year out come by less than 2% at best. Yet, given I've currently got long term sleep and joint issues the chances of me lasting long on Tamoxifen was low. So, what I do know is my vitamin D levels have been low for years. Plus, I'm off to my GP in a few weeks to get bloods done on exactly how out of wack my estrogen levels are, as well as what is happening with Vitamin D, and whatever else. I want to get them better than 'normal'. I want to get them at optimal. I've also started adding flaxseed to my breakfast. Whilst I'm trim, my fitness isn't great. So, I'm going to work on improving that too. Good luck everyone with whatever journey you choose. xx

Vitamin D may increase survival for breast cancer patients

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314017.php

Published Thursday 10 November 2016

High vitamin D levels have been associated with higher survival rates.

Some studies have suggested that the active metabolite of vitamin D - known as calcitriol - may be anticancerous. Administering calcitriol in mice has been shown to stop the proliferation and growth of cancer cells, reduce tumor blood vessel formation, and stimulate cell death.

Although there are not yet enough clinical trials in humans to prove this, some clinical and preclinical studies indicate that avoiding vitamin D deficiency and taking vitamin D supplements might be a cost-effective and safe way to prevent cancer and improve prognosis in patients already diagnosed with the illness.

"Our findings provide compelling observational evidence for inverse associations between vitamin D levels and risk of breast cancer progression and death," the authors conclude.

A feasibility study revealed that 84.4 percent of recently diagnosed breast cancer patients had already started taking vitamin D supplements.

Association between Vitamin D deficiency and Breast Cancer

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5510119/

2017 May-June

Findings of this study show that vitamin D deficiency is associated with risk of breast cancer.

Treating Cancer Naturally: 11 Strategies That Work

https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/treating-cancer-naturally/

2016

#5. Vitamin D

Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, it is important to take the supplement with a fatty based meal for optimal absorption

One of the key functions of vitamin D is its ability to balance inflammatory pathways linked to cancer and promote the production of proteins such as GcMAF which regulate cancer cells.

GcMAF requires vitamin D in order to be created and fulfill its vital functions to maintaining the health of all cells and tissues. GcMAF has been shown to reverse breast cancer by preventing cancer cells from multiplying.

The Effect of Flaxseed in Breast Cancer: A Literature Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5808339/

7 February 2018

Some studies have shown that the intake of omega-3 fatty acids is related to the reduction of breast cancer risk. In animal studies, α-linolenic acids have been shown to be able to suppress growth, size, and proliferation of cancer cells and also to promote breast cancer cell death.

It also works as an antiestrogenic because its structure is very similar to the main form of estrogen, which allows its binding to the cell’s receptors, thus inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.

Observational studies indicate that flaxseed consumption (approximately 32 g/daily) can reduce breast cancer risk.

Ingestion of flaxseed or bread containing this ingredient is associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of breast cancer, in accordance with the protective effect observed in lignans from other vegetables. 

Both the monthly and weekly/daily consumption of flaxseed (approximately 32.5 g) and flax bread (1 unit, roughly 2.5 − 5 g of flaxseed) were associated with a significant reduction from 18 to 24% in the risk of breast cancer in all women. It was also showed that flaxseed only reduced breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, while flax bread reduced breast cancer risk in both postmenopausal and premenopausal women (52).

In another clinical trial, researchers selected about 45 premenopausal women with a high risk of developing breast cancer (either with suspicious breast biopsies or former breast cancer survivors) and they gave them 50 mg of SDG lignan daily, or the equivalent of two spoons of powdered flaxseed. The researchers conducted needle biopsies on the breast tissue, both before and after the study, which lasted a year. Results showed that, on average, women had less breast precancerous changes after a 1 year period of taking daily flaxseed lignans, than they had before they started being studied and also that 80% (36 out of 45) had a decrease in the Ki-67 levels––a biomarker that signals the increase of cell proliferation. According to this clinical trial, SDG lignan can reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer; Making the Case for Lignan Flaxseed Oil

https://bionatures.com/blogs/news/18674607-breast-cancer-making-the-case-for-lignan-flaxseed-oil

We suggest that every woman take at least one tablespoon of lignan-rich flaxseed oil daily to reduce her risk of breast cancer and minimize the potential for it to spread, should it occur.

Lignan-rich flaxseed oil is unique. Unlike regular flaxseed oil, the lignan-rich flax particulate from flaxseeds is retained in the oil, delivering powerful cancer fighting lignan precursors.

Once consumed, lignans found in flaxseed are converted to mammalian lignans. These mammalian lignans bind with estrogen receptors, where studies suggest they may induce the production of a special sex hormone binding compound. This compound, known as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), regulates estrogen levels by removing excess estrogen from the body. Lignans are thought to be estrogen modulators, helping to balance estrogen activity within the body.

Thompson learned flaxseed lignans had been shown to be protective at the early promotional stage when cancers have not quite formed. She then wanted to determine whether supplementation with flaxseed, beginning 13 weeks after carcinogen administration, would reduce the size of already established mammary tumors present at the start of treatment, as well as appearance of new tumors. After seven weeks of treatment, established tumor volume was over 50 percent smaller in all treatment groups while there was no change in the placebo group. This study demonstrated that reduction in tumor size was due in part to the lignans derived from flaxseed.

In a case-control study from the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Center, Perth, Western Australia, women with newly-diagnosed, early breast cancer were interviewed by means of questionnaires, and a 72 hour urine collection and blood sample were taken. The urine samples were assayed for various plant constituents including lignans. It was determined that there is a substantial reduction in breast-cancer risk among women with a high intake of phyto-oestrogens, particularly the isoflavonic phyto-oestrogen equol and the lignan enterolactone.

To appreciate the dual protective effect of lignans and flaxseed oil, it is imperative that consumers recognize and purchase the right products. Look for flaxseed oil products that are labeled as high-lignan. Flaxseed oil should be gently expeller pressed without filtration or refinement.

Case-control study of phyto-oestrogens and breast cancer.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9329514

October 1997

There is a substantial reduction in breast-cancer risk among women with a high intake (as measured by excretion) of phyto-oestrogens-particularly the isoflavonic phyto-oestrogen equol and the lignan enterolactone. These findings could be important in the prevention of breast cancer.