| 217;s true, women who survive breast cancer and | | | | explanation for inconsistent study results regarding |
| load up on nutritious fruits and veggies as part of a | | | | fruits and veggies and reduction in recurrence of |
| breast cancer diet (a whole lot more than the current | | | | breast cancer tumors - some studies said they |
| U.S. dietary guidelines) might just slash their risk of a | | | | helped, others showed they didn’t. It may be |
| tumor recurring by nearly one third. This according to | | | | that differing estrogen levels in the individual that |
| a just released U.S. study to appear in the Journal of | | | | offers another clue to this discrepancy. |
| Clinical Oncology. | | | | The team found that only 16% of subjects, without |
| The researchers took another look at data from | | | | hot flashes, who had doubled up on the fruits and |
| almost 3,000 breast cancer patients (average age 53) | | | | veggies had their tumors return after a seven year |
| who were part of research that focused on diet and | | | | period. |
| preventing breast cancer recurrence. | | | | Of those given only diet advice and information on |
| Half the participants were told to double their fruit | | | | guidelines, the tumors returned in 23% of the |
| and veggie intake to 10 servings per day, eat more | | | | subjects. Women who had been through menopause |
| fiber and lower their daily fat intake to levels under | | | | lowered their risk by a whopping 47%. |
| the government recommendations, a type of healthy | | | | The amount or fruits or vegetables you need to eat |
| eating that’s been shown to lower the risks | | | | per day is well over what the U.S. recommended |
| of developing breast cancer in the first place. | | | | daily allowance of 2 cups of fruits or 2½ cups |
| The other group was merely given information about | | | | of veggies. You’ll want to choose a variety |
| the U.S. food guidelines. | | | | of these healthy options, and look for foods grown |
| An important distinction of this latest study was that | | | | as close to home as possible. |
| it found the reduced risk of tumor recurrence came | | | | Be sure that when you bring these good-for-you |
| only for women who didn’t have hot flashes | | | | treats home, you wash them well (with warm, soapy |
| (a common side effect) after their cancer treatment. | | | | water), rinse and dry them carefully to remove |
| Women who did cope with hot flashes after | | | | pesticides, herbicides or mold. |
| treatment were found to have lower estrogen levels. | | | | Breast cancer is the most common condition, |
| “Women with early stage breast cancer who | | | | affecting women in both North America and Europe, |
| have hot flashes have better survival and lower | | | | and it is the second leading cause of death, after lung |
| recurrence rates than women who | | | | cancer, of American women. |
| don’t,” said Ellen Gold of the | | | | Your lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is |
| University of California Davis, who was a leader of | | | | estimated to be 1 in 8, but thanks to today’s |
| the research. Earlier work supports the theory | | | | treatment and detection options, your chance of |
| regarding hot flashes and rates of tumor returns. | | | | dying from breast cancer is much lower at 1 in 28. |
| Researchers noted that vegetables and fruits act on | | | | Now, with this research revealing useful breast |
| suppressing estrogen (suspected in driving the most | | | | cancer diet tips, even these numbers can be |
| common form of breast cancer). They point to | | | | improved with the addition of a whole lot of |
| individual levels of the hormone as a possible | | | | good-for-you fruits and tasty veggies! |