natural girls
Comments
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Simvog - Congrats on finishing chemo! I celebrated 4 times... finishing chemo, removal of tumor, removal of port and finishing rads! Celebrate all you want - you deserve it!
Rosemary - From all the research I have read, soy is actually really good for most people - protecting AGAINST cancer and with many more healthful benefits. It is only for us BC gals with estrogen receptor positive cancers that it is bad. Even then, the research is mixed. I would never keep my children from eating soy!
Deanna - inflammation is indeed considered a cause of cancer. Inflammation is a reaction by the body whenever the immune system is called into effect to fight off infection or in the presence of foreign matter of any type. This includes cholesterol deposits on the arteries, yeast infections (especially those chronic mild ones that never really go away), acne, fungal infections (athletes foot, funky toenails),arthritis. Inflammation also occurs when the body's natural functions are not working smoothly or are interrupted in some way - such as, IBS, indigestion or gas reflux, and chronic stress. Kinda tough to get away from, huh.
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Oh, one more thing...
About chocolate... soy lecithin is an emulsifier that is used in many foods that contain fat. It allows the milk fat and cocoa butter to stay mixed evenly and is what makes the chocolate taste smooth and creamy. Milk chocolate has higher fat levels than dark chocolate does, so I would imagine that you would have a better chance of finding a dark chocolate without lecithin in it. I really don't know what other ingredients can be used as an emulsifier instead of lecithin. That would be interesting to find out.
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Hi Lorraine, good to see you on here too! What is metanx and where do you get it.? Libido and arousal problems are my most distressing symptoms. Do you notice a big difference from before you started taking it? I wouldn't even mind the hot flashes if I could just fix this problem and get back my MOJO!.
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Hi Rose! I am not sure if its the Metanx or just all the other supplements kicking in....I am taking DIM too. Here is a description of Metanx
Metanx
Metanx is a vitamin used to treat patients who have too much homocysteine in their blood, especially patients who have certain blood vessel problems or decreased vitamin B12 levels. Metanx may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor. I think its B6, B12 and Folic acid, its prescription and the naturopathic MD that I am seeing suggested it as my homocysteine was a little high and I am low in B12. So my increased energy and the other stuff
could just be a fortunate side effect! Yipee! a good side effect for once!0 -
Hey, Lorraine where do I get that stuff? Sounds like just the thing for DH! LOL
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Any one on 5-Htp? I just found this
"5-HTP should be avoided by pregnant women, nursing mothers and those with significant cardiovascular disease. It is also contraindicated in those with carcinoid tumors."
Here is the source: http://www.5-htp.net/safety.asp
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Munchy,
The difference is the soy we process here in the good 'ol U.S. of A. So I hope you can import the stuff from Japan. There they leave the hexane, pesticides and drano out of the mix. Hellmann's mayo, first ingredient listed--- soybean oil.
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Deanna,
I'm glad it's working for you. I cannot believe the amount of potassium we need to take on a daily basis. I don't come close. That's the second time I read about a potassium citrate pill. I'm going to look for it. Mine is potassium gluconate whatever that is.
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munchy ~ Good info' on inflammation. The odd thing is, I never had it (if that's what it is; still not sure) before I had chemo. But, come to think of it, I was on HRT, and I'll bet the estrogen was keeping my body running a lot better. The problem is, it was also feeding my bc!
The only inflammation causing factors I can relate to on your list is the arthritis (which I guess the aching fingers -- which I've never had before -- are?), and maybe the chronic stress, which I'd say my body has been through in the past year. I blame it all on the chemo getting my body totally out of whack, but I'm determined to fix it, and the potassium seems to be helping.
Ivorymom ~ Thanks for all the great information on potassium. Wow, 4700 mg. a day is a lot! I don't think I was consuming even half of that. I was also going to compliment you on your beautiful avatar, but I see you've already taken it down for some reason.
Lorraine ~ Yes, I'm very happy with the Metanx. I just feel better all around, although, as you said, it could also be the cumulative effect of everything we're doing. As far as libido goes, I'll let you know when DH finishes the bathroom remodel project from hell that he's been at all week. Deanna
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Breast Cancer Prevention
by InnaT In this blog, I would like to focus on the topic of breast cancer. I won't be addressing the things you probably already know about breast cancer but will focus on some new studies along with a recently developed Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Test from Metametrix Laboratories called the Extronex 2/16 Assay.
There is a growing body of research showing that it is not simply the amount of total estrogen circulating in your body that is critical to your health. How estrogen is broken down, or metabolized in the body may also play an important role in the cause of a variety of estrogen-dependent conditions such as osteoporosis, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. The metabolism of estrogen can change as a person ages and goes through natural changes in cycle etc. Estrogen is metabolized in your body through two major pathways. One involving 2- hydroxyestrone and one involving 16-hydroxyestrone.
2-hydroxyestrone is sometimes called the "good" estrogen. It does NOT stimulate your cells to divide which can cause damage to your DNA and tumor growth. Furthermore, by latching onto available estrogen cell receptors, 2-hydroxyestrone may exhibit a blocking action that prevents stronger estrogen products from gaining a foothold in your cells. Therefore, 2-hydroxyestrone is suggested to be anti- cancerous. The other major pathway whereby estrogen is metabolized is 16-hydroxyestrone. This metabolite is much more active and powerful. It has a strong stimulatory effect. 16-hydroxyestrone binds strongly to special receptors inside your cells that can increase the rate of DNA synthesis and cell multiplication. Consequently, 16-hydroxyestrone is associated with a higher rate of cancer.
Therefore, if you metabolize a larger proportion of estrogen through the 16-hydroxy pathway you may be at a higher risk for breast cancer than if you breakdown more estrogen through the 2- hydroxy pathway. A recent study of postmenopausal women who went on to develop breast cancer showed that they had a 15% lower 2/16 hydroxy estrogen ratio than those in control groups. Likewise, in women who already have breast cancer, the survival rate is greater than in women with higher ratios.
It is very important to know the levels of 2-hydroxy and 16-hydroxyestrone as well as the ratio between these two metabolites and the goal is to normalize your estrogen metabolism. You can measure your urinary metabolites through the newly developed Extronex test by Metametrix. And ladies this is not just for older women! Even if you are in your 20's, 30's or 40's you should have your hydroxyestrone levels measured to see if you are at risk so that you can modify your diet and supplement regiment accordingly.
Below are some things that can raise your good (2- hydroxyestrone) estrogen levels:- Moderate exercise
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Flaxseed
- Kudzu
- DIM (Dindolylmethane)
- High protein diet
- Omega 3 fatty Acids
- B6, B12, and folic acid
One important factor on how your body metabolizes estrogen is your weight. Body fat, particularly belly fat, has a significant effect on estrogen production and storage. Being overweight increases the action of estrogens in three ways:- Estrogen production and storage occurs in your fat cells.
- Concentrations of sex hormone binding globulin are decreased if you are heavy. This increases the amount of unbound estrogen available for usage by your body.
- Being overweight, decreases 2- hydroxyestrone and increases 16-hydroxyestrone production.
- Pesticides
- Synthetic hormones fed to animals
- Plastics
- Additives in cosmetics
In order for estrogen to be produced through the 2- hydroxyestrone pathway (the "good" estrogen), your body uses indole-3-carbinol which is present in cruciferous vegetables. Vegetables that contain indole- 3-carbinol are:- Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Rutabaga and Turnip
- Collard
- Bock Choy and Watercress
- Horseradish
- Kale
- Mustard Seed
- Radishes
- Studies have shown that people given indole-3- carbinol demonstrated a 50 to 75% elevation in the good metabolism of estrogen.
- If you overcook your vegetables, it destroys the indole-3-carbinol. Therefore, it is best to eat them raw or lightly steamed.
- Antacids interfere with the absorption of indole-3- carbinol. Consequently, I do not recommend the long term use of ANY antacid.
Drinking alcohol significantly increases the risk of breast cancer, according to most research. However, among women who drink alcohol, those who consume relatively high amounts of folate in their diet have reduced risk of breast cancer compared with women who drink alcohol but consume less folate. In a similar report, consumption of folic acid containing supplements was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in women who drank alcohol, compared with women who drank alcohol but did not take such supplements. The association between both dietary folate and folic acid supplements and protection against breast cancer in women who drink alcohol fits with our understanding of the opposite effects of these substances. As a result, nutritionally oriented doctors now recommend that women who wish to reduce their risk of breast cancer but are unwilling to totally avoid alcohol should supplement with 400-800mcg of folic acid.
A western diet has also been implicated in greater incidence or breast cancer. Our unlimited access to countless varieties of food, from meats to rich desserts, has long been considered a privilege, but new research indicates that some of those indulgences create dietary patterns that increase the risk of breast cancer. A new study suggests the more Western your diet is, meaning heavy in meat, starch and sugar, the higher your risk for cancer may be.
The study followed older Asian women who had been placed on two separate diets: traditional cuisine rich in vegetables and fish and a Westernized diet heavy on red meat and sugar. Women who adopted the Western diet had higher rates of breast cancer. "Our study shows a Western-style diet seems to increase the risk of cancer in Chinese women, which traditionally is a low-risk population for breast cancer," said Marilyn Tseng, a study researcher at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Breast cancer rates in China are a quarter of those in the United States. That is slowly changing however, as menus around the world, especially in urban areas are moving toward more Westernized foods.
Eating right and the above prevention techniques are great for reducing your chances of getting breast cancer but it is hard to know how much each person needs as we are all so different. Thus I am also very excited about the new Extronex 2/16 Assay Urine Test. This test is important for women of all ages, even women who have previously had breast cancer. Some people may be more prone to bad estrogen metabolism and if that is the case there is a lot we can do to change it! Please pass this information to all the women that are close to you and I would be happy to order the test kit for everyone that is interested.
Inna Topiler
Complete Nutrition And Wellness
info@CompleteNutritionAndWellness.com
201-238-2720
Posted 5/23/2009 1:34:43 PM
About the Author
Inna Topiler
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Hoboken, NJ
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I typed up this banana bread recipe for Mandy, so thought I would post to share.
Banana Bread with dates and nuts. (Sugar free, Fat free).
2 1/2 cup flour (I use organic, wheat, etc)
1 cup Agave nectar
1 egg
3 1/2 Teaspoons of baking powder
1 tea salt
3 tablespoons veg. or olive oil, or melted butter, or applesauce (use applesauce for fat free!) Can also add Flax seed as "oil" in addition. Have not tried "instead".
2 cups mashed bananas
Optional: 1 cup dates, 1 cup Walnuts, 1 cup granola,etc. (I often use all three).
350 oven. grease 3 loaf pans (9x5x3). Mix ingredients, pour into pans. Bake for 60-70 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 min, then wrap to keep moist. Can freeze!
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seaotter--GREAT article! thank you. I just ordered some vitamins and one supplement has folate acid and B6 & 12. And I have some cabbage I have been meaning to make...I use it in a saute but also want to make some cole slaw...
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I talk to my cousin today and she told me about problems with her liver a few years ago. Her doctor told her she would give her another two months but if the liver enzymes did not improve they would biopsy. She had read about and used Milk Thistle ( I use this three times a day) and V8 juice twice a day for two months and redid her test....and the liver was back to normal.
Just a FYI. This is something you could do while in treatment.
Flalady
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Milk Thistle? Who knew!
Milk thistles are thistles of the genus Silybum Adans., flowering plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae). They are native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The name "milk thistle" derives from two features of the leaves: they are mottled with splashes of white and they contain a milky sap.[1] However, it is the seeds of milk thistle that herbalists have used for 2000 years to treat chronic liver disease and protect the liver against toxins.[2][3] Increasing research is being undertaken on the physiological effects, therapeutic properties and possible medical uses of milk thistle. [4]
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I was taking milk thistle for a while. I started itching like crazy. Since it was the last thing I had added, I deduced it was probably the culprit. So I stopped. In a couple of days the itching went away. So obviously, it did not agree with me. Plus, I heard it is a phytoestrogen. Anyway, I realized it is important to add one thing at a time. That way, if we have any adverse reaction, we know what caused it.
The banana bread recipe looks great. I always add cinnamon and nutmeg, and dried cranberries to mine too.
seaotter, thanks for the link. It looks really interesting.
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I'm sitting here sipping on my first taste of the first spring pickings of organic sencha tea. It is perfect. Even the water turns green while its brewing. I brew it in a small glass teapot. It's so new, it only needs to be steeped for a minute, 30 seconds. I wish we all could be tasting it together.
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Deanna, The swelling in my foot isn't lymphedema. It isn't a fracture or a blood clot. I've had all the xrays and scans. My onc thinks it's still the Taxotere but I'm 10 weeks out from chemo. I really don't know what else to do about it. I'm going back to the onc tomorrow to see what else he can come up with. Maybe some potassium will help. I'm sure I'm not getting enough.
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I am probably not on the right thread but hopefully someone can guide me in the right direction. I had a mastectomy on 2/09/09. In Dec of 08 I was diagnosed with DCIS ER/PR positive. I was told to stop hormone therapy immediately and have not taken it since. I am now cancer free and do not have to have any further treatment. I had immediate reconstruction that went very well. Now, on the other hand, things are not going well for me. I NEED some sort of HRT. I have 10 or more hot flashes day and night. I am irritable. I am very fatigued and have absolutely no libido. I really think that if I do not get something done soon my marriage may end in divorce. I have only been married 5 years and have never had a problem like this before. Does anyone have any advice as to what I can do to correct these problems? I am miserable and really need something to help me feel like a women again.
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Golfing,
I'd start with freshly ground flaxseed in your cereal.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Menopause/6542
And dosing from the Mayo clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/AN01749
I'm sure others here will have thoughts. My second thought was Black cohosh, they use it in Germany with success, but here there is controversy of some kind.
Maybe the controversy is over. They're testing it on women, even those who had BC:
http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/15565808?queryText=black%20cohosh
.
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Golfing, black cohosh is very popular for relieving hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, as are many of the other phytoestrogens, such as soy, and flaxseed. I took phytoestrogen pills which contained soy, black cohosh, evening primrose, and vitamins and minerals for a couple of months before finding out about breast cancer and they helped me with all the same problems that you mentioned. So I was not happy when told by my doctors that I could no longer take them due to being ER+.
Now with tamoxifen, the symtoms have gotten so much worse and I want to go back on my pills. I've been researching this a lot and I'm finding just as many studies that show phytoestrogens to be protective against breast cancer as those saying not to take them. My Med Onc said flaxseed was fine and soy foods in small amounts. .So I have these in my diet, but still hot flashes and sexual problems {except for vaginal dryness} have not improved. . I added a multivitamin and Med Onc then prescribed Wellbutrin to help the libido and mood swings. Funny thing is it really worked on the physical sensations down below within only a few days, was still waiting for it to help my moods, but now it's giving me bad heart palpitations, so I'm weaning off it. I'm hoping to get lucky and find that maybe it was really the multivitamin that was kicking in and helping and not the wellbutrin after all.
If not, once again, I may soon be looking for another solution to help the sex life and the hot flashes which are just relentless lately. I'm thinking I may add black cohosh to see if that does the trick. I realize that this is considered risky because herbals have not been studied in the US the way that drugs like tamoxifen have, but for my quality of life, I need to do something. And I have made lifestyle changes to lower my risk, like regular exercise,decreasing alcohol to almost nothing, and very healthy diet with Omega 3s, hardly any red meat or dairy products, lots of fruits and veggies, especially the cruciferous ones, nuts and legumes, and drinking green tea and lots more water..
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here's a very informative article about milk thistle from the american cancer society:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Milk_Thistle.asp
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ddlatt--great link, thank you. I know there is a liver connection with ER+ breast cancer as I read the liver helps stabilize estrogen in the blood...is anyone else taking it?
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Allie ~ I used a liver detox product (main ingredient was milk thistle) for awhile right after I finished chemo, and I think it helped get a lot of the leftover chemo junk out of my system. But when I finished the bottle, I didn't replenish it because I kind of thought of it as a once or twice a year cleanse. But after reading the link ddlatt provided (thanks, Deborah!), I think I'll use it more frequently. I didn't realize it has cancer fighting properties. Deborah, are you using it? Deanna
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i'm not using it because it isn't recommended during chemo or radiation, and i'm today i am on radiation treatment #11 out of 35. i'm not a big fan of supplements, especially those not approved by the FDA (although i've just about lost all faith in the FDA anyway). i take Calcium 600mg/Vitamin D500mg twice every day, and B6 complex every day, and that's all. i was taking vitamin supplements before chemo but stopped because my dietician told me not to have any extra antioxidants during treatment. but now that i'm on a super healthy diet and will continue it, i'm not going to go back to vitamin supplements. i feel like i've had enough foreign substances in my body during treatment, i want to take more "natural" care of my body from now on.
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Vivre, Thanks for the reminder.... Banana bread recipe - I also add Cinnomon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Ginger and cloves! You can start with 1 tea of each and adjust. I like mine pretty spicey, but it's always a judgement call! (I am a disaster at conveying recipes!!)
golfingb, I don't know if you also have vaginal dryness, but I have needed help on that front. Replense and "astroglide" and "Yours and mine" seem to help.
Why is this making me blush?? :O
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http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/July05/herbs.breast.cancer.ssl.html
Cornell breast cancer educator cautions women against using herbal supplements By Susan S. Lang
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Women who take soy or herbal supplements, such as black cohosh, red clover and ginseng, should do so with care, says a Cornell University expert affiliated with the Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors (BCERF) at Cornell, the land-grant institution of New York state.
"Although there is no direct evidence that any herbal medicines can increase or decrease breast cancer risk, some herbs can have estrogen-like actions and thus raise concern about their long-term use," said Barbour Warren, a research associate with BCERF and the co-author of the fact sheet "Herbal Medicines and Breast Cancer Risk," which is available free on BCERF's Web site at http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/.
"Some of these substances may prove to have beneficial effects -- and, in fact, may become part of conventional medicine in the future -- but for now, the lack of any regulatory oversight has set up a marketplace for herbal supplements, which is such a mess that women should have lots of reservations in taking these supplements," Warren said.
He points to not only a lack of well-designed clinical trials but also to a lack of any regulations regarding effectiveness or quality control in formulating these supplements and says that women with a high risk of breast cancer should be particularly cautious.
According to Warren, 23 percent of middle-aged women in the United States use herbal medicines, often to treat premenstrual or menopausal symptoms and premenstrual syndrome, to aid in breastfeeding or to decrease breast cancer risk.
Warren reviewed the literature on herbal supplements and breast cancer risk for his report, which was reviewed by two international experts in the field as well as the five scientists on the BCERF staff.
"Just because herbal medicines are 'natural' products does not mean that they are safer than conventional medicines," he said. "The ingredients in herbal medicines can also have adverse effects and lead to health problems. Yet, there is no focused safety testing of herbal medicines or even reporting system for adverse effects, so when people do have adverse effects, there's no mechanism to pool that data."
Warren said that researchers used to think that estrogen-like compounds from plants, called phytoestrogens, could possibly block the effect of estrogen in the body and perhaps reduce breast cancer risk. However, recent clinical studies have shown that women on diets high in soy phytoestrogens experience greater cell multiplication in the breast. There is concern over this effect since it could be a preliminary step in cancer formation by leading to the outgrowth of latent cancer cells.
In looking at studies on the use of supplements for menopause, Warren reports that the seven clinical trials using black cohosh were largely flawed but might suggest some effectiveness. However, little evidence exists for beneficial effects of red clover, and no benefit was reported for ginseng, evening primrose oil or dong quai. In the 16 studies that looked at soy supplements, twice as many studies reported no effect as those that reported a beneficial effect, and although kava kava has been reported to have some benefit, reports of serious side effects have led to it being banned for sale in the United States and elsewhere.
For premenstrual syndrome, several studies found some benefit in about half the women studied for evening primrose oil, but two of the best designed studies found no effect; ginkgo biloba extract was found to have no effect, while a beneficial response from chaste tree berry extracts was found in about half the women studied. For menstrual pain, two clinical trials have examined the Japanese herbal preparations toki-shakuyakusan and toki-shakuyakusan with shakuyaku-kanzoto; neither found a beneficial effect.
"Some herbal medicines show promise for the treatment of problems with menstruation and menopause and other conditions that affect women," said Warren. "It is unfortunate that their quality and safety are not better controlled. Such an environment has set up a situation where there are potentially many accidents waiting to happen."
However, he said, if women choose to use herbal medicines, they should do so cautiously because the quality of these medicines varies, and the safety, especially with long-term use, is uncertain. He said that women should choose only high-quality products from reputable sources and to be sure to inform their health-care providers about their herbal medication use, because many herbal supplements can interact with other treatments.
The mission of the Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors is to lower the risk and incidence of cancer by promoting methods of sound decision-making at personal and public levels. Its staff of scientists and educators translate basic research into forms that can be used by the public, medical professionals, educators, activists, other scientists, the regulatory community and policy makers. The program offers more than 50 fact sheets on topics related to breast cancer risk, a free newsletter and numerous other resources. For more information, see BCERF's Web site, call (607) 254-2893 or e-mail breastcancer@cornell.edu.
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Thanks for posting this, Simvog. There are so many questions, and not enough answers! I took evening primrose oil for 15 years to relieve PMS, and get me through menopause. I'll never know whether this contributed to my bc dx, but I do know that it did help me emotionally (PMS gave me some really disturbing "down in the dumps" days).
On reading this, I suspect some of us will start to think "OMG, I caused my own cancer -- by taking x, y or z." Well, DON'T!! Feeling guilty for doing something you didn't know "might" harm you is just taking up precious emotional space you need for feeling good!
Linda
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I have taken Milk Thistle through out all my treatments. Leading cause of death for stage IV cancer ladies...your liver is so toxic you can not process the drugs. I'm big on keeping the liver healthy. I will start chemo number 51 this week...my liver is completely normal so is my lung, heart and kidneys. I take it three times a day. I still do liver detox when I'm not on chemo...a rare thing for me.
Flalady
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Hi Everyone.
Flalady ~ I searched for info re:Bentonite here on bc.org and the only hit I got was yours. Can you tell me more about your experience with it? My Doc suggested it. I was using it but d/c'da couple of days ago due to upcoming surgery. Thank you in advance.
As always,
Grace,
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it."
Anonymous
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I was told to use this as part of a detox program a couple of years ago. I forgot the protocol now... I will try and find my notes on it. There were two parts to a drink I mixed together. I know this will pull toxins and metal from your body but I can't remember what I used it with??
Flalady
I remember...mixed with Psyllium but I don't remember the quality you mixed together.
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