Does anyone know if it is safe to eat linseeds whilst taking Arimidex?
Christiane X
I used to eat linseeds, but stopped a while ago because I wasn’t sure if they were safe or not. I, too, would like to know if anyone has the answer to this.
Gwyn X
Hello,
No one can give you a definitive answer to your question about is it safe to take Linseeds when on Arimidex simply because it has not been tested in a clinical trial.
At Breast Cancer Care we always suggest it is best to check with the medical team that is looking after you before you start taking any dietary supplement.
In addition to this we have written a factsheet about diet and breast cancer that you may find useful. The direct weblink is;
www.breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/diet_and_breast_cancer_dec_06_0.pdf
BW’s
Tara
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Hi,
My aunt in Canada has been instructed by her onc to eat 2 tablespoons of ground linseed (not preprepared, you have to grind it yourself in a coffee grinder) every day. Apparently they have done tests there and believe that it is very beneficial for cancer sufferers. She makes it up into a sort of bready thing she eats every day as just by itself or in a drink it is very gloopy. She is on her sixth year of Arimidex.
I tried it for some months but ongoing sore mouth (two years now, will it never end) post chemo made it too hard to carry on. Would if I could though. Maybe you could look up cancer treatments in Canada and see if there’s anything on the web.
The concern for those of us on hormone therapy (tamoxifen, Arimidex, Femara/letrozole) is about eating foods containing phytoestrogens, compounds that resemble oestrogen - it is not yet known whether these compounds act like oestrogen and help cancer cells to multiply, or whether they “compete” with oestrogen in our bodies, to block the oestrogen receptors in our tumour cells.
There are two main types of phytoestrogens found in foods: isoflavones (particularly in soya), and lignans (in linseed, also known as flaxseed). Hope this helps. All highly confusing! Personally I avoid soya (used to eat a lot of it before my bc) and eat things with linseed (e.g. seed bread, cereals) though I wouldn’t take it as a supplement.
Just bumping this up.
Hi all.
When I read about the possible danger of having linseed in this forum,I mailed the question to my onc. She took my question very seriously, ( as she always does, she’s marvellous) and discussed it with a colleague. Today she mailed me back and told me that she would advise me NOT to have any substantional lot of linseed or any other things containing ligans whilst on AI.
I wish I had known earlier, I have had 1-2 tablespoons daily for the last year. NOW I’m worried.
Ca-va
Interesting, I work in food science and have a strongly ER+ bc. Regarding lignans, I’m not aware of any research suggesting that these are a problem. Our oncologists *should* always be up to date with the latest research… let’s hope they are… it’s our lives that are being affected!
That said, my personal view is that the effect of the drug that I am taking to stop the cancer cells multiplying is more important than which *foods* I eat, or don’t eat, while on hormone therapy. Dietary supplements are another matter.
HI mrsblue.
My onc is the head of the Research Department of the Cancer Clinic in one of the leading cancer hosp in my country and her doctorate is on bc. I would trust her with my life (As I may have to some day…)
Anyway, she says that there is no definite research that concludes that lignans are not good for ER+ bc patients, but the uncertainty gives her reason to advice against linseed etc.
I asked the question last week. She answered promtply that she had never heard that linseed would have a bad effect on bc er+ patients, but that she would check it out. She has obviously spent some time and effort on finding out about this.
So I will probably settle for prune yoghurt and hole grain bread (without linseed) instead.
take care
Ca-va
Mmmm, prune yoghurt and wholegrain bread, I enjoy these too! And plenty of home-grown vegetables and fruit: despite all the rain we’ve had, it’s a good growing year.
Cavabien - and all of you who have helped me in this.
Now I am not sure about taking bran. I have been taking a bit with my cereal each morning to help as a laxative. Now I am not sure whether to continue.
Christiane