Is soy products have higher risk of breast cancer?
I was reading from other website that soy contains phytoestrogen and said that prevent cancer. However, another website said that soy produce estrogen and have higher risk of breast cancer. I Dont really understand. I know that some fruits also contain estrogen, such as apple.
Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
There is no actual scientific evidence that any food - including soya - causes, prevents, contributes to or affects the progress of any cancer (the exception being high consumption of red and processed meat, which is a major risk factor for colorectal cancers). This is as true of oestrogen positive breast cancer as of any other cancer (not all breast cancers are oestrogen positive). Soya proteins contain isoflavones that can mimic a weak oestrogen effect. It's not the same as the oestrogen your own body makes though - it is 1,000 times weaker than your own body's oestrogen, but it's this that has led to concerns (and rumour) about oestrogen dependent cancer . There are those in the field who argue that isoflavones may be of help in preventing breast cancer or be beneficial to women who have had breast cancer. There is current research into whether increasing phyto oestrogens in the diet helps to prevent breast or prostate cancer, and a study in 2002 found that women with the highest levels of soya products in their diets had the lowest breast density - higher breast density being associated with higher breast cancer risk. Women with the highest levels of isoflavones in their diet are reported to have significant risk reductions for uterine cancer. I have had oestrogen dependent breast cancer, and have never been warned against soya. Check with any reputable breast cancer information service or charity - go to their wegsites and do a search for 'breast cancer risk factors'; you won't find soya consumption listed anywhere. Breakthrough Breast Cancer addresses the issue of soya quite thoroughly. It says: ''Because phyto-oestrogens can act like oestrogen they can have similar effects to oestrogen, but at high doses they may actually block the effects of oestrogen. '' and ''Some studies found that regularly eating foods that contain phyto-oestrogens might lower the risk of breast cancer, whereas others found that they have no effect.'' You can download their factsheet on breast cancer and soya: http://breakthrough.org.uk/breast_cancer/breast_cancer_facts/publications/
2 :
This is a good question that I am concerned about also. I started eating/drinking soy 5 years ago, and in January I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Did I contribute to my own cancer? I have no idea. All I know is that they told me my diet should only include one serving of soy (Which is impossible, because I have way too many food allergies) and it's in everything I eat. I am ER/PR Positive. There has always been a debate about Soy, and I wish someone for once would get it right.
3 :
Actually both websites are correct – here’s why: There are many different types of breast cancers. Some get worse and grow faster because of estrogen, whereas other types seem to get better with phytoestrogens. There is a breast cancer that thrives with abundant estrogen. These types of cancers tend to run in the family, tend to occur early, and there are genetic markers. Your mother, maternal grandmother, maternal aunts and sisters may have had breast, ovarian or uterine cancer. In that event your doctor would recommend that you be screened for this gene. You really need to know what kind of breast cancer you have and if it runs in your family. If there is a genetic link, then you may want to limit your intake of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogen just means it’s an estrogen-like substance from a plant (phyto). They seem to act like estrogen in the body. Some believe that evidence is accruing that phytoestrogens may have protective action against breast cancers – I did a quick check of research studies dating back to 1990 and didn’t find any that would support this belief. However, when there is enough anecdotal evidence, it usually seems to point the way to finding out why people believe in something. This may eventually be the case with phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are found in many types of beans: yellow split pea, black turtle beans, Lima beans, red kidney beans, red lentils, soybeans, black-eyed peas, pinto beans, mung beans, azuki beans, fava beans, and great northern beans. Hope this helps
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