Nutritional Support in Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in US women, aside from skin cancers. The current average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer at some point in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer.
This isn’t to scare you, I am simply pointing out the statistics. We have all been affected by breast cancer one way or another. Too many of us have had a close relative or friend diagnosed with breast cancer or you may have had the crushing diagnosis yourself.
I put this together for a dear friend of mine who was diagnosed last year that underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. Combined with a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a positive attitude, and continued support from her family and friends she persevered. She made it through treatment with flying colors and is still kicking ass today!!
The suggestions I made were on diet and supplementation to support her during and after treatment. Chemotherapy and other related treatments can deplete certain nutrients. Therefore, in addition to a healthy diet and exercise, I recommend a handful of vitamins and other supplements to support immunity, bone, and heart health.
What I lay out before you is NOT a substitution for medical treatment and/or chemotherapy. Proper nutrition and supplementation can offer SUPPORT during treatment and beyond. It’s simply a healthy diet and lifestyle we should all be following for optimal health.
To reduce levels of estrogen and inflammation that are commonly associated with breast cancer… Think a diet low in saturated, trans, omega-6 fats (found in processed foods and vegetables oils) and one high in fiber from whole grains (think leafy greens and other vegetables vs. grains from processed foods).
We all know we need to eat more fruits and vegetables, but I can’t emphasize this enough with a cancer diagnosis. A diet dense in fruit and vegetables have been associated with a better survival rate in breast cancer. How about that?! I recommend organic produce, avoid conventional that have been treated with pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
Chemotherapy may cause a loss of lean body mass and an increase in fat mass. It is important to maintain adequate protein in the diet to maintain muscle mass. Fats both modulate the hormones and contribute to the inflammatory potential of the diet. This is primarily seen with saturated fats, those found in red meat, butter, and processed foods. Whereas, low saturated-fat diets may suppress estrogenic stimulation of breast cancer growth as seen in some studies. Now not all fats are bad. An exception to ‘Bad’ fats is ‘Good’ fats such as omega-3’s (found in walnuts, flaxseed, fish oil, and wild caught salmon). Some studies found breast cancer patients who had higher intakes of omega-3 fatty acids EPA/DHA from food had significantly reduced breast cancer recurrences and all-cause mortality!!!!
Dietary Recommendations
•First and foremost a diet low in saturated fat, emphasizing monounsaturated and omega-3 fats, fiber-rich whole grains, with adequate vegetable and fruit consumption (especially cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts). Rich protein sources such as lean meats, organic pasture raised chicken with no added hormones or treated with antibiotics, grass-fed pasture raised beef (in moderation), wild caught fish, and pasture raised egg whites.
•Fiber intake of approximately 30 g/day should be considered, (this will aid in the excretion/elimination of excess estrogen).
•Should minimize or eliminate refined flours and sugars, low-fiber or high-fat prepared foods.
Here’s a list of some foods and additives/ingredients to avoid.
Foods to Avoid
•MEAT – commercially farmed meats; limit red meat – grass-fed, pasture raised is fine!!!
•DAIRY PRODUCTS – Processed and imitation butter, ice cream, all dyed and pasteurized milk and cheese
•GRAINS – No white or refined flour, processed grains and seeds white rice, refined cereal products, refined flour pasta
•Smoked or processed meats
•Canned or bottled foods
•Excess Salt
•Hydrogenated Fats or oils
•Processed junk food snacks
•Artificial colored or flavored
•NUTS – roasted and salted nuts and seeds (now this being said, I believe raw nuts are fine)
Possible carcinogens in the Food Industry (ingredients to look out for and avoid in foods)
•Food Dyes
–triphenylmethane
–Napthylamine AZO Benzol
Artificial sweeteners such as, aspartame and saccharine
•Stabilizers
–Synthetic Mucilage Carboxymethyl Cellulose (processed cheese, French dressing, dairy products, syrups, canned fruits)
•Residual Pesticides
–Animal feed additives
–Pesticidal Arsenicals
•Estrogenic Chemicals
–diethylstilbesterol
•Food Wrapping and Coating Material
–polymerized carbon and silicon
•Fruit & Cheese Wrapping
–insufficiently refined paraffins and mineral oils
•Nitrites
–in bacon, hams, lunch meats, sausages
–will cause cancer in 100% of lab animals at 2ppm
–Some foods contain 11- 48ppm!
Antioxidant Support
Meta-analyses of trials on single antioxidants show that single vitamins or phytochemicals do not improve cancer mortality or recurrence, although a cohort study of breast cancer patients found that patients using vitamins C and E had lower recurrence rates, while those using vitamin E had lower all-cause mortality; patients using combination carotenoids, however, had higher breast cancer mortality.
A review of antioxidants given concurrently with such chemotherapy agents did not find evidence for diminished tumor response or an adverse impact on survival, although the trials involved were small and of lower quality. Antioxidants also appeared to diminish a variety of side effects, suggesting that evidence to date leans toward the use of antioxidants with chemotherapy. – This has been controversial, and some oncologists would say that antioxidants may interact with chemotherapy treatment rendering them less effective, but I would recommend supplementing with antioxidants as it helps protect your healthy non-cancerous cells.
Here is my recommendation on vitamin and supplement support during and after chemotherapy.
Supplementation approach should target metabolic needs based upon testing when possible.
- High quality Multivitamin – Pure Encapsulations O.N.E. Multivitamin 1-2 capsules daily.
- Buffered C 500mg (Vitamin C) to help maintain the immune system and antioxidant support – 2 capsules twice daily.
- Vitamin E (with mixed tocopherols) antioxidant support – 1 capsule daily, with a meal.
- Vitamin D – ideally levels should be between 50-80 ng/dL. Taking anywhere between 1000 – 5000 IU daily – *there is 2000 IU in the O.N.E multivitamin listed above.
- Calcium citrate 1500mg/day (5 tablets daily) can be taken all at one time (taken 2-3 hours away from iron and other minerals). Calcium citrate is readily absorbed and supports bone health, as chemotherapy can cause resorption (i.e. taking away) of calcium from bone.
Optional supplements to aid in detoxification and reduce inflammation
- HM Complex (Citrus Pectin) + N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) enhances detoxification – 3 capsules in between meals (up to 2 times daily).
- Theracurmin HP (Curcumin) to reduce inflammation – 1-2 capsules daily in between meals on an empty stomach.
All the above vitamins and supplements are available in my dispensary on Full Script. You can access it with the link below and they are listed under ‘Breast Cancer Supplement Support’.
Other Lifestyle Factors
*Experimental studies of diet in breast cancer suggest that controlling weight may improve breast cancer prognosis. As mentioned earlier chemotherapy may provoke loss of lean body mass and an increase in fat mass. Maintaining muscle mass is so important, not only in cancer but as we age, so any form of exercise ranging from walking to strength training is vital to cancer survival and overall health.
Take Away
A healthy whole food diet with exercise and the primary supplements I listed above should offer support during and after chemotherapy treatment.
References
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html
Kohlstadt I, ed. Advancing Medicine with Food and Nutrients. 2nd Ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2012.
Jurgelewicz M. Breast Cancer. [PDF]. Bridgeport, CT: UB Nutrition Institute; 2017.
Jurgelewicz M. Nutritional Support for Cancer. [PDF]. Bridgeport, CT: UB Nutrition Institute; 2017.
Disclaimer: The information provided is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. None of my services shall be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. I cannot and do not provide medical advice. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before altering your diet. The information provided should not be used in place of a consultation with your physician or other health care provider. I do not recommend the self-management of health problems. Should you have any healthcare-related questions, please consult your physician or other health care provider promptly. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the information provided from outside sources.
Marci Farmacy
© Marcella Saeva 2020