Environmental oestrogens and breast cancer prevention

Can limiting exposure to environmental estrogens help prevent breast cancer?


This is a breast cancer prevention study from The University of Reading. This study discusses environmental compounds with estrogenic activity. The researchers state that environmental estrogens can cause estrogenic responses even at very low concentrations such as those found in the breast.

Terms used in this study: environmental estrogens, assayable estrogenic responses, upper outer quadrant of the breast.

The authors conclude that if estrogenic chemicals in consumer products increase the risk of breast cancer then prevention is possible

Environmental oestrogens and breast cancer: evidence for combined involvement of dietary, household and cosmetic xenoestrogens. - Anticancer Res. 2010 Mar;30(3):815-27.

Breast Cancer and Fat Intake

Does fat cause breast cancer?


This is a study from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. This study evaluated role of fat intake in the risk of breast cancer. The researchers based their finding on Women's Health Initiative Fat Reduction Trial.

Terms used in this study: dietary intervention, postmenopausal breast cancer.

The authors conclude that the minimizing weight gain during midlife or weight loss after menopause reduces the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.
The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial: a post-mortem. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Mar;114(1):1-6.

Vegetarian diet or fish diet and the risk of breast cancer

Does a vegetarian diet or a fish diet reduce the risk of breast cancer?

In this study from the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, four common dietary patterns were assessed at baseline by using a 217-item food frequency questionnaire. The included 35,372 women aged between 35 and 69 years.

Terms mentioned in this study: postmenopausal, dietary pattern, UK Women's Cohort Study (UKWCS).

The authors conclude that a fish diet was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women; but not for a vegetarian diet.

Common dietary patterns and risk of breast cancer: analysis from the United Kingdom Women's Cohort Study.
Nutr Cancer. 2010 Apr;62(3):300-6.

Flaxseed and Estrogens

Flax is also known as linseed.

Effect of flaxseed consumption on urinary levels of estrogen metabolites in postmenopausal women.
Nutr Cancer. 2010;62(2):175-80.

Breast Cancer and Terpenoids

Terpenoids in the diet may decrease the risk of hormone related diseases such as breast cancer. Terpenoids are naturally occuring lipids found in some fruits and vegetables.

Targeting Apoptosis Pathway with Natural Terpenoids: Implications for Treatment of Breast and Prostate Cancer
Curr Drug Targets. 2010 Mar 18.

Ginger and human breast cancer cells

Can ginger kill breast cancer cells?

[6]-Gingerol inhibits metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells

"In conclusion, we have shown that [6]-gingerol inhibits cell adhesion, invasion, motility and activities of ... human breast cancer cell lines."

J Nutr Biochem. 2008 May;19(5):313-9

Fiber, nuts and proliferative benign breast disease

Can a diet of nuts and fiber decrease the incidence of proliferative benign breast disease?
Benign proliferative breast disease may increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Intake of fiber and nuts during adolescence and incidence of proliferative benign breast disease.

This study showed that  a diet with fiber and nuts consumned during adolescence reduced the subsequent risk of breast disease .

Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Mar 14


Related Link:
Fibrocystic Breast Disease Video

Breast cancer risk and dietary patterns

What healthy dietary patterns are associated with a lower breast cancer risk and breast cancer prevention?

Dietary patterns and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Exercise and mammographic breast density

Does exercise affect breast density?

This Italian study showed that physical activity was associated with lower mammographic breast densities.

Physical activity and mammographic breast density in a Mediterranean population: the EPIC Florence longitudinal study.

Int J Cancer. 2009 Apr 1;124(7):1654-61.

Breast Biopsy

What is a breast biopsy?
If you have a breast lump, your doctor may want to perform a breast biopsy. This procedure involves taking sample tissue from the suspicious area to determine whether the breast lump is cancerous.