With more women surviving breast cancer, diet and lifestyle changes are important to survival. While a healthy diet will not guarantee you a prevention of recurrence, it will help keep your body healthy and may reduce the risk of recurrence, or mortality. Talking with a health care provider about foods to avoid or include in the diet can be helpful, as can working with a dietitian specializing in cancer survival.
Fruits and Vegetables
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is part of a healthy diet and can help lower mortality after breast cancer. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a reduction in mortality was seen in those women who had a higher fruit and vegetable consumption, were physically active or had a body mass index that was neither extremely low weight nor obese. The women in whom the reduction in risk occurred ate five or more servings of fruits or vegetables daily, and this effect was seen even in women who were obese.
Fat Intake
A low-fat diet is part of a healthy lifestyle, and as a breast cancer survivor you may especially benefit from watching your fat intake. A study looking at postmenopausal women who were diagnosed with breast cancer found that those women who consumed lower-fat diets had a reduction in mortality, according to the journal Nutrition and Cancer. Not all fat is bad; omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats and may reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, although more research needs to be done, states the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Soy Intake
Consumption of soy has been a topic of much debate, and there is no definitive answer yet as to whether you should completely avoid soy or not. The concern about soy stems from substances called isoflavones found in soy, and whether isoflavones stimulate estrogen receptors on breast cancer cells, encouraging growth of cancer, says breastcancer.org. Some individuals believe the estrogenlike properties of isoflavones are weak, and that these substances can attach to estrogen receptors and inhibit cancer growth because the weaker isoflavones are taking the place of the body's stronger natural estrogens. Dr. Marisa Weiss writes on breastcancer.org that moderation with soy products is key, since there are no definitive studies either way on whether soy products are beneficial or harmful.
Alcohol
After breast cancer, alcohol consumption should be limited. The American Cancer Society suggests limiting your daily consumption to one to two drinks at most, if at all. According to a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, having approximately two or more drinks per day increases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women.
References
- American Society of Clinical Oncology: Journal of Clinical Oncology: Greater survival after breast cancer
- PubMed: Nutrition and Cancer:
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 fatty acids
- Breastcancer.org: Soy intake and breast cancer
- American Cancer Society: Lifestyle changes to consider during and after treatment
- PubMed: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention: Patterns of alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk
