4 Easy Dietary Additions For Breast Health
GUEST POST BY YVETTE LUCIANO.
Speaking as someone who has been on the other side of Pink October, I completely agree with everything Jess mentioned HERE.
When I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer at 29 years-old two years ago, I was posted big packages of information, a hot pink diary for my doctors appointments and a newsletter full of (much, much older women’s) stories and their tales of husbands leaving them after breast cancer surgery. It was hell in a post-pack.
That was my welcome to the pink club from one of the major breast cancer charity organisations. This initiation pack made me feel like a sad little victim, who had no responsibility for my current health or control over my future outcome. Yep folks, aren’t you glad you bought that pink cupcake.
Oh and that’s far from the worst. One of the most so-bad-it’s-hilarious breast cancer organisations frequently uses social media to sing the praises of their corporate partners including major soft drink and fast food giants. See – hilarious!
Although honestly, they aren’t all bad. One in particular is funding some impressive research and prevention studies. I love those guys. Definitely a rare gem.
Thinking back to that package I was first sent, maybe we can rally to get them to send some kale, information about juicers and some Louise Hay books. Oh I know, I know, that would be craaaaazy. A hot pink diary is a much better use of pink dollars.
As a breast cancer thriver and holistic health coach, my new hope is that everyone has reached ‘awareness’ overload and that we have nowhere else to go except prevention.
The most exciting breast cancer studies are showing that environment has much more impact than your genetics, so despite what you are being told by the media and some dinosaur doctors – your diet and lifestyle can (and will) make a world of difference. Best bit is it’s never too late.
So c’mon get up off your chair, get outside in the sunshine and fresh air and enjoy these yummy breast health boosters:
1. Flaxseed
Most people are aware that obesity can be linked to increased risk of breast cancer, although don’t let that stop you from getting your essential good fats.
Flaxseeds are the very best vego source of omega-3, which has some awesome anti-inflammatory properties. Flax is also very high in lignans (a phytoestrogen which prevents breast cancer). They are generally inexpensive and easy to add into your diet.
2. Cruciferous Vegetables
You can’t go wrong with veggies. They are rich in folate and packed with antioxidants beneficial for beautiful breast health.
In particular, the cruciferous family (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, Brussell sprouts) all contain potent anti-cancer compounds. When I was first diagnosed back in 2010, even my oncologist told me to get stuck into these guys!
3. Berries
Blueberries are so delicious and are rich in antioxidant activist’s pterosibene and anthocyanins.
Strawberries and raspberries are not only a potent antioxidant, but they also help your liver detox carcinogenic chemicals and have been shown to slow down breast cancer cell growth.
4. Spices
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
Also onions and garlic have been shown to decrease estrogen receptor activity, a major contributor in the growth of hormonally charged breast cancers.
Author bio: Yvette Luciano is an Australian Health + Life Coach, working with women to create awesome health and lives. Yvette is a proud cancer thriver and former music-industry-professional-party-girl. When not coaching or green juicing, Yvette loves using her entertainment, events and PR talents in the lifestyle and wellbeing industries, including here on The Wellness Warrior team.
Positive affirmation for the day: Today I will do more of what makes me happy.
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POSTED IN: breast cancer, diet, nutrition, wellness
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I hear there is a lot of controversy surrounding flax seed oil for men:
Dr Mercola on flax seed oil: “It is clear that only a very small percentage of the omega-3 in flax is converted to EPA and DHA. It is actually EPA and DHA that do the heavy lifting for cancer protection, not ALA. … It is also important to realise that cod liver oil is the ideal source of EPA and DHA for prostate cancer prevention, as it is loaded with vitamin D, and vitamin D may be even more important that EPA and DHA in prevention of prostate cancer.”
Would this be the same for women?
I recently saw part of a breast cancer pack as well and wondered if that’s where the pink dollars are going!
Hi Yvette, this sounds like my story, I had just turned 30 – two years ago and was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is great advise, I love all these foods:) Omega 3 was something my oncologist recommended I load up on, great to see some doctors getting interested in something other than just pumping you full of chemo! He also told me to read Anticancer: A new way of life by Dr David Servan-Schreiber, the best advise I’ve had from a doctor!
It’s so awesome and encouraging that some oncologists are open to a more integrative approach. Most of them still have lots of room for improvement in that area 
Hi Yvette I read that book a few years back when I was recovering from breast cancer. It’s a terrific book and encouraging that a traditional doctor and researcher opened his eyes when he became a cancer patient himself. Just recently I pulled out the book out for a friend recently diagnosed with brain cancer. I originally gave her the Gerson book and after all these months of treatment she has not picked it up despite my gentle nudges. It saddens me but some people just aren’t ready to look at alternative ways. However, when I told her about this book and this doctor’s brain cancer journey – she wants to read it. As the book is heavily evidence based she might take on board that and managing diet and stress might actually heal her. It’s so good to hear that some oncologists are recommending some awesome books to patients. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day xx
Sorry advice not advise
Oh I’m so with you Yvette (& Jess) – I am also a breast cancer thriver and got the pink pack in the mail when I was diagnosed 2 years ago at 32…And yes I felt like a victim with the ‘oh now your one of us’ attitude and ‘you had better do exactly as your told by your doctor – or you’ll die’ message I was getting from everywhere..
One of the other things I find amusing is the Look good Feel good programme they run for all the ladies loosing their hair and their power when undergoing chemo & radiation. Yay you get a wig and $300 worth of products – but the products are all full of parabens and the other nasties that are carcinogens…Where is the organic natural products??
I would love for it to be a programme that teaches how to juice & meditate & detox & be happy & empower women to take control of their own health & lives..
Thanks so much ladies for posting such empowering topics and help spread the word that there is another way of handling a cancer diagnoses…
Love your work
Kellee x
Kerrie-Anne is behind that program. I agree with your thoughts about it.
Congrats on also being a thriver!
How awesome would it be if we all had instant access to free juicing, meditation and detoxing programs when we’re diagnosed?!
Oh and regarding LGFB, I think their intention is beautiful although the products are definitely a worry. Although they are only using products that are donated from the beauty industry, so maybe we can all encourage the organic beauty product lines to donate their beautiful products? Hmmm I think you’ve just given me my next big project
I look forward to seeing your next big project then, Yvette.
I used to volunteer for Look Good Feel Better as a Beauty Therapist many years ago and could not agree with you more, It’s all seems so ridiculous looking back after a few years and a good amount of Knowledge about the “REAL” cancer cures and prevention that I feel I cannot support these “causes” any more. It sadden’s me to know of all the people effected by Cancer yet know they are not being told the entire truth .. SICKNESS = MONEY Awareness is key , so we who are aware must plant a seed in everyone as Jess does..
Hi Yvette
What about soy milk, that also has phytoestrogens in it, does that mean its also beneficial? I had heard it can put your hormones a little out of kilter. I only buy organic soy milk so there’s def no GM in it.
Aso what juicer would you recommend? I’m keen to buy a masticating one and happy to spend up, but want some advice! (also if you have advice on a blender and processor would be fab)
Thanks!
Buffy
Hi Buffy,
Great question! Soy is a tricky one. There is so much conflicting info about soy, so I personally choose to avoid it. Have you tried almond milk? So yummy.
Blenders – I’m currently using a Power Mill blender. Hope to get a Vitamix soon.
Juicers – Below are great tips from Jess that I agree with x
Best: The Norwalk
Great: The Angel
Good: Oscar, Green Star, Juicespresso,
Best of the centrifugal: Breville Juice Fountain or Philips ‘Quick Clean’ HR1871
Thanks yvette!
Hi Yvette
What about soy milk, that also has phytoestrogens in it, does that mean its also beneficial? I had heard it can put your hormones a little out of kilter. I only buy organic soy milk so there’s def no GM in it.
Aso what juicer would you recommend? I’m keen to buy a masticating one and happy to spend up a little, but want some advice on the best one! (also if you have advice on a blender and food processor would be fab)
Thanks!
Buffy
I am not someone who has had Cancer but Pink Washing etc really frustrates me. I HATE the way things currently are with all the Cancer campaigns. The Cancer Council don’t sell Natural beauty/sun products either. It is all just growing into a giant monster & where are the cures? I would love to see a Cancer campaign in Australia set up by those of you who have had Cancer & see the truth behind all this. It needs to go beyond blog posts by frustrated people.
AGREED!!!!
What a terrific idea Claire! A real Cancer Truth in Treatment Campaign…now THAT would be empowering.
I have read both yours and Jess’ posts about BC month – I agree and disagree with various components. I do all of the things that your mention and more and I still have very aggressive, advanced disease (I am now 40) I don’t believe that we have the issues with Pink Washing to the same degree in Australia and most of our organisations use the money raised wisely and for research.
I just thought I would let you know also that the pack you are likely to be referring to has been updated and relaunched with many stories of younger women including myself and a number younger than me dealing with the disease and using a variety of ways to cope with and heal from the disease. I was involved in the team that helped review the information and while I don’t think it is perfect it is way improved. We have a long way to go to change the establishment with regard to the language used with this disease.
I feel very frustrated that there is not a more integrative response to dealing with BC – it is not one disease, there are many different types of BC and there is no one cure fits all. I get frustrated as much by posts that insist the science is all wrong as I do with those that focus on awareness and buy a cupcake to save someone’s life. Metastatic disease is an entirely different beast and requires commitment to healing and well being. Unfortunately, I am beyond prevention now so I will continue with my chosen path of integrative therapy to heal my body – I wish everyone well in making informed choices.
Hi Amanda, thank you so much for your honest and balanced response. I have to admit that I have been feeling somewhat troubled ever since Jess’ first post regarding breast cancer and the pink ribbon. I have contemplated writing a response; however I could not put into words what I was feeling. I will attempt to do this now.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 42, almost 5 years ago. I had the usual treatment for stage 3C: mastectomy and auxiliary node clearance, chemo, and radiation, followed by a reconstruction. However, I also complimented this with a vegan diet, juices and supplements. I did not come across the Gerson Therapy through my own research, but I certainly understood the value of an alkaline body!
Self-healing therapies require a huge financial and emotional commitment, as documented by Jess over the past 2-years. I would guess that a large number of women certainly could not afford it. Also, young women may have children they need to look after, and so self-healing is not an option. In addition, many women would not have the support structures required to commit to such an intensive therapy. For example, I am a deputy principal for a high school in a low socio-economic suburb of outer Sydney…women living in these communities struggle with day-to-day living. To really understand what I mean, watch the recent episode of 4-Corners which screened on the ABC on Mon 24 Sep. This episode focussed on my local school community, Claymore. I believe the episode is now on YouTube also.
In any case, the point is this: research is a necessary part of breast cancer, because alternatives are not feasible for a large number of women. Mainstream medicine, whether we like it or not, is what is keeping these women alive. Yes, it would be nice to think education and prevention is the key…but for the moment, a diagnosis requires immediate action. It might be the “quick fix”…but it still keeps women alive.
I have given great consideration to what my actions would be if I was subsequently diagnosed with a secondary cancer. While at the time of my original diagnosis I could not have left work for 2 years to complete the therapy, the irony is that with a stage-4 diagnosis, I would then be entitled to medically retire and receive a healthy superannuation payout. This would then give me the financial freedom to apply what I have learnt and self-heal.
And so back to the pink ribbon; the pink ribbon is a symbol of MY personal journey with breast cancer. I even had it tattooed on my wrist along with my daughter. But I am open. Maybe if we put our collective heads together, we can come up with our own unique symbol. A wellness warrior symbol. I will have it tattooed on my other wrist. Thoughts?
Hi Kerrie,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and views. You and others may have received emotional support and friendship from various members of the pink ribbon groups and that is great, however I strongly disapprove of the pink ribbon ‘movement’. I’m aiming not to be insensitive in any way. I have a wife and daughters, and I pray they will never contract breast cancer, or any type of cancer. The whole pink ribbon ‘thing’, Cancer Council Australia etc. etc. are all tentacles of the corporate cancer industry with their agenda to make profits at the expense of sick people, and to use and deceive unsuspecting well-meaning people who want to assist those in need of emotional support and friendship.
In a very small number of cases, surgery may be helpful for other types of cancer, but I won’t go into that here. The only type of chemo treatment which is even worth considering is targeted integrative chemo, but then there are far better natural therapies such as the Gerson Therapy, the Bill Henderson Protocol, the Rebecca Carley Protocol etc. etc.
Mainstream medicine is not keeping these women alive as you say. The 5 year survival rates as quoted by Cancer Council Australia, or quoted by oncologists who look up a table in a medical technical paper are totally false.
The values quoted are actually the 5 year relative survival ratios taken from statistical calculations. The hierarchy have changed the word ‘ratio’ to ‘rate’, and dropped the adjective ‘relative’ to come up with their deceptive term ‘5 year survival rate’, which is far far higher than the actual 5 year survival rate.
Also there are a number of obvious signs of corruption in the medical establishments. Just look at Cancer Council’s ‘own’ Active-SPF30+ Sunscreen Finger Spray. Most of the ingredients are toxic.
And look at the dangerous mammograms which are being ‘pushed’ onto so many unsuspecting women.
I strongly disagree with your statement that alternatives are not feasible for a large number of women. Anything alternative that works and is safe is feasible in light of the highly unsuccessful and poisonous chemo route.
There are cheaper natural alternatives than the Gerson Therapy, however the Gerson Therapy is one of the better ones.
Kind regards, Lyall
.
A bit more on the dismal failure of chemotherapy –
I have the full report of the 2004 ‘Contribution of Cytotoxic Chemotherapy to the 5-year Survival in Adult Malignancies’, attributable solely to chemo, by the Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital.
Other sources also reveal extremely low rates of 5 year survival for chemo.
Cytotoxic means to kill cells, and unfortunately chemo kills ‘good’ cells too.
There is a short reference at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15630849 .
“ AIMS: The debate on the funding and availability of cytotoxic drugs raises questions about the contribution of curative or adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy to survival in adult cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a literature search for randomised clinical trials reporting a 5-year survival benefit attributable solely to cytotoxic chemotherapy in adult malignancies. The total number of newly diagnosed cancer patients for 22 major adult malignancies was determined from cancer registry data in Australia and from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results data in the USA for 1998. For each malignancy, the absolute number to benefit was the product of (a) the total number of persons with that malignancy; (b) the proportion or subgroup(s) of that malignancy showing a benefit; and (c) the percentage increase in 5-year survival due solely to cytotoxic chemotherapy. The overall contribution was the sum total of the absolute numbers showing a 5-year survival benefit expressed as a percentage of the total number for the 22 malignancies. RESULTS: The overall contribution of curative and adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adults was estimated to be 2.3% in Australia and 2.1% in the USA. CONCLUSION: As the 5-year relative survival rate for cancer in Australia is now over 60%, it is clear that cytotoxic chemotherapy only makes a minor contribution to cancer survival. To justify the continued funding and availability of drugs used in cytotoxic chemotherapy, a rigorous evaluation of the cost-effectiveness and impact on quality of life is urgently required. ”
Note there is a huge difference between 2.3% for the actual average 5 yr survival rate, and the value of over 60% for their term ’5-year relative survival rate’ (‘ratio’ really) (from their statistics) which is deceptively published as the 5-year survival rate.
I hope this is helpful Kerrie.
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
I’m a big supporter of research into metastatic disease and know too well that yes, it’s an entirely different challenge. I always encourage my friends and clients at this stage to embrace a truly integrative approach, just as I personally chose to myself with a team of (open minded) oncologists and natural therapy practitioners (you can read my healing journal at http://www.yvetteluciano.com)
I do really appreciate and understand your feelings and I’m stoked to hear you had some input into updating those kits – a much needed overhaul
Sending you big love and healing vibes xx
If I can add something about soy and flaxseed? I’m sorry — this is long, and it will seem at first like it has nothing to do with this discussion.
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor; I’ve just had to do a lot of reading about soy and flaxseed over the past several months due to another (non-cancer) health problem.
Without getting too personal, last year I started having major issues with a bizarre skin infection. It took many months, but eventually we got it to the point where it was flaring up only a few times each month. In February I realized it was flaring up in tune with my estrogen cycles. There’s more detail I’m not telling you because it would take things off on a tangent, so please bear with me.
I decided to drink some soy milk every day to see if that would smooth things out. You know, there’s all that research about how plant phytoestrogens might glom onto estrogen receptors in place of those stronger body estrogens. I thought that might make things die down. Instead, I started having major flareups.
When I went the opposite direction and cut out all soy, and I mean all, even soy lecithin and soy oil, the rash got 90% better. In the past month I’ve done other things like add in flaxseed, eat yogurt with live cultures, and so on, and last month was the first time since May 2011 that I did not have a rash.
So I can’t predict how others will react to soy, but in my case, it was adding onto my estrogen levels. So for people asking about soy, I can’t tell you definitively if it will be good or bad for you, but in my case, it added estrogen to my system, rather than leveling things out. How that will affect cancer chances is anyone’s guess.
Flaxseed — the seed, not the oil — has been shown to possibly remove estrogen from your bloodstream (that’s why it’s come under so much scrutiny in cancer research because estrogen might be a factor in cancer). Whether that worked for me or not, I don’t know, because I tried a bunch of remedies at once. It didn’t seem to hurt.
Again, I can’t tell anyone how it will work for them; I can only say that soy had the effect of raising my estrogen levels, and flax apparently either did nothing or lowered them. It’s a major pain to cut out so much soy (and I still eat things with “natural flavors” if they don’t specify they’re from soy), but for me it is worth it. YMMV.
(As for pinkwashing, I dislike it and tend to avoid products that have it, though I do buy this one brand of pinkwashed razor because it is the only one I can find that doesn’t have those moisturizing strips.)
Thanks for putting up with my superlong post.
That’s all so interesting and helps confirm I’ve made the right choices by eliminating soy and increasing flax.
Like a lot of women with breast cancer, mine was estrogen receptive, so this is all very important info.
Thanks for sharing Jessica x
Thanks for this info and the dietary tips. xxoo
This post resonates so strongly with me. I too was amazed at all the pink stuff they sent me when first diagnosed but absolutely nothing about diet. This is a huge failing on the part of doctors and cancer societies. Despite constantly asking what I should and shouldn’t eat I was only ever told “just keep eating a healthy diet”.
I was diagnosed exactly 12 months ago. Had a mastectomy, axillary clearance, chemo and radiation – still waiting for a reconstruction. In hindsight I’m not so sure I should have gone down that path. I finally feel better than ever, but that’s due to the juicing and vegan wholefood diet I follow – all from my own research, and sadly not from the pink materials.
Just one final note, I absolutely agree about the importance of research – but not based on animals. Data extrapolated from a different species is rarely applicable to human cancer and is therefore a huge waste of funding resources.
I honestly had no idea that is where the money goes towards! I’m actually horrified and appalled.
It is so contradicting with the look good feel better campaign and the diaries.
I wonder if many people have complained to the organization?
I too tried phytoestrogens to combat fibroids using flaxseed and soy at different times only to find that they both feed the fibroids. So I believe that mine are able to utilise both estrogen and phytoestrogens 
The endocrine system is extremely complex and any interference may cause (likely to cause) problems. I am not a doctor either – but reading through mountains of material I have concluded that messing up with the endocrine system in any shape or form – from birth control stuff to cosmetics to food is a big no no. Eventually you may be asked to pay the price…