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Should
women with ER+ breast cancer avoid flaxseeds and flax oil that contain
the phytoestrogens called lignans?
There
is a recent preliminary small human study showing that ingestion of
25 grams of ground flaxmeal per day in women with newly diagnosed post-menopausal
ER+ breast cancer decreases biological markers of tumor growth the same
amount as the anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen during the time period between
diagnosis and surgery. Tamoxifen treatment was not compared directly
to flaxmeal in this study. The data are compared from two separate studies.
In addition, this is such as small and early study that no recommendations
for treatment with flaxmeal can be made based on these data. Much larger
and longer head-to-head clinical trial studies in women would need to
be done to offer this as a treatment option. However, these data look
very promising that flaxmeal is not only safe but also potentially effective
as a nutritional means for helping to treat ER+ breast cancer.
Please
thoroughly discuss the pros and cons of ingesting flaxseeds as part
of your dietary intake with your Oncologist and Registered Dietitian
at your cancer center. Feel free to share the following reference for
this data:
"Biological Effects of Dietary Flaxseed in Patients with Breast
Cancer." Abstract from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
- December 2000, Thompson LU, Li T, Chen J, Goss PE Nutritional Sciences,
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Medical Oncology, Princess
Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
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These questions and answers
are intended to be of a general informative nature. Please consult with
the Registered Dietitian in your cancer center or your health care provider
for nutritional advice that can be individualized to your specific medical
condition.
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