Dietary changes are often made after a diagnosis of cancer, and a macrobiotic diet has been touted as being able to promote health and fight disease, although there are no scientific findings to confirm this. Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive cancer, and some individuals with the disease may want to try a macrobiotic diet. Before adopting a macrobiotic diet, check with your oncologist to make sure it is safe and appropriate for you.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC, is a rare kind of breast cancer that makes up 1 to 5 percent of breast cancer diagnoses in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Although IBC may cause breast lumps, this cancer typically causes inflammation, redness, swelling and warmth in the breast. The skin may also develop a pitted appearance or an inverted nipple. IBC is diagnosed more often in African Americans than in Whites, and it tends to be diagnosed at younger ages. This cancer is more likely to have metastasized by the time of diagnosis as opposed to other types of breast cancers. The five-year survival rate is between 20 and 50 percent, states the National Cancer Institute.
What Is a Macrobiotic Diet?
According to the American Cancer Society, a macrobiotic diet combines parts of Buddhism with a simple diet that avoids toxins thought to come from dairy, meats and oils. This kind of diet aims to balance the two kinds of energy known as yin and yang; it is believed that balancing these energies brings health. A modern macrobiotic diet is composed of 50 to 60 percent whole grains, 20 to 25 percent of locally grown organic fruits and vegetables and 5 to 10 percent soups. The food should also be cooked in pots and pans made of certain materials.
Macrobiotics and Cancer
A macrobiotic diet has been thought to promote health and have a therapeutic effect on cancers. According to a 2010 article by RH Lerman,published in "Nutrition in Clinical Practice," although anecdotes touted beneficial effects of macrobiotics on malignancies, more research is needed. It is not known whether this diet provides enough nutrients for ill individuals or whether the strict guidelines of this diet are easily adhered to. Breastcancer.org adds that a macrobiotic diet will not likely provide enough protein, iron, calcium and other nutrients for you to stay healthy and strong, especially while going through treatment for IBC.
Considerations
Although diet and lifestyle changes can be helpful when fighting cancer and undergoing treatment, it should not be used as the main tool to fight your disease. IBC is an aggressive type of breast cancer, and your doctor and treatment team will develop a treatment plan for your situation. Before making any major dietary changes, talk with your health care providers about whether it is safe for you to do so.
