Has anyone looked into refining/changing their diet in order to affect the amount of oestrogen thats feeding their tumor?
Is this even a thing?
Can anyone enlighten me?
Im just trying to occupy my brain with something more positive, other than panic, worry and imagining I have everything under the sun! 
Hey I changed my diet as soon as I got diagnosed with hormone positive IDC. I think it initially help me feel like I was helping myself/had abit of control but I feel so much healthier for it 4 months later! I increased my daily steps and added 2-3 strength training sessions into my week. Have you heard of the YUKKA app? You can scan food and hair/skin products etc and it shows you whatās in them etc including the additives and if theyāre endocrine disruptors (which can mess with your hormones). I cut out alot of the crap I was eating before and most processed goods but do still have the odd treat of course!
@foxgem may have some more tips for you 
BCN did one of their online sessions on nutrition. It was very informative, it may still be available. I also found this
https://youtu.be/UY3bDpGIQe0?si=1JhNyIs5QJfz0Pol
thereās another one with a dietician. I am sure you can ask them for the link.
Hi @kswar (my apologies for the incoming essay! I love this topic because it really helps me, even 4 months on from my diagnosis)
Unfortunately there isnt a huge amount we can do to slow or stop estrogen but there are small things that have an impact on our levels. From the hours and hours of holes ive dived into haha alcohol and sugar intake seem to be the easiest ones for me to control.
Alcoholā¦ for any cancer type you are better off cutting it out or cutting it right down. The reasons for this are the effects alcohol has on our livers. āAlcohol may affect the liverās ability to metabolize hormones, leading to higher estrogen levels in the bloodstream.ā Alcohol creates inflammation and stress in our bodies which will effect all our cells negatively. And your body cant repair itself as well as it needs to when it is busy processing alcohol. So during cancer treatment its best to avoid. Save that bottle of bubbly for the celebration when you finish active treatment 
Too much sugar in your diet will increase inflammation and the insulin spikes will mess up the hormones in our body. There is a lot of research on sugar feeding cancer and from what I can tell its just not as simple as that. I think its more that it creates an environment in our bodies that doesnt help the situation. So as little added sugar as you can manage will be super.
In my case after my diagnosis, and like Katie, I needed to take control of something and that was my diet. I convinced myself I could shrink my estrogen loving cancer (I didnt haha but I felt powerful for trying and it got me through those first weeks taking action and it still does)
I basically went plant based/keto. I had already cut alcohol out so that was easy to stick to. But my diet has calmed down a lot now and I realise I took things too far in the begining. But extra sugar and alcohol is a no for me now unless its an occasion. Birthday, Christmas etc.
Cakes, biscuits, chocolate they are treats and actually now they arent part of my daily diet its so much more enjoyable when I have them. Iām still going to eat birthday cake on birthdays! I will still need chocolate sometimes I am female! Just not everyday.
This is another important thing. As little processed foods as possible. If you canāt grow it or kill it, its been processed. Simple processing is fine but you want mostly real foods on your plate.
The best advice that keeps coming back diet wise is to feed our immune systems. This is especially important before/during and after chemotherapy. We have lots of white blood cells that need our help. All the research points to a Mediterranean diet.
Cutting out all seed oils completely when cooking at home, only use extra virgin oil. Lean meats, chicken/turkey in small amounts. Red meats eat only occasionally. Try not to eat meat every day. Fish of any kind is great but especially salmon. Lots of eggs for protein. And as much fruit, salad and vegetables as you can stomach. Beans are great, black beans/chickpeas.
It gets easier the more you practice. If I have pizza now, I have a huge salad on the side and veggies on the pizza. And the less sugar you have in your diet the better these foods will taste as well.
I follow a man called Dr William Li after reading thr book, Eat to Beat Disease. He makes you feel like you dont have to cut everything out. Instead the focus can be on adding things to your diet.
There is also a lot of new research on how you eat food. Apparently eating your veggies/salads first with every meal has a really great impact on your body. Save the carbs till last. This helps your bodies insulin levels. I donāt always remember but I figure thereās no harm in trying this.
One of the best things to add into your diet is nuts and berries. Especially walnuts and almonds (unsalted). If you need a snack, a handful of walnuts, almonds, blueberries and raspberries. Perfect. Sometimes for breakfast I have these with greek yoghurt. A sprinkle of mixed seeds on top and you are really winning apparently haha
I have also added herbal teas to my day and thoroughly enjoy them now. These have replaced juice for me. So I only drink water/tea/coffee now.
Thats a lot of typing and you might not like or agree with any of it. This is just one girls opinion based on the research sheās done that is helping me. I am more aware of what Iām eating now but I do enjoy it. Food is medicine
For me sugar/alcohol, from what I can tell these will effect your bodies hormones so limit them.
Hi foxgem, I totally agree with everything you have said. The only thing I would add is Letrozole can increase your cholesterol levels so for our cardiovascular health eating healthy is important. Presently I add milled flaxseeds to my organic porridge as that is supposed to lower cholesterol. Iām finding that when I do eat sweet processed food (often to be polite) it just tastes too sweet and I donāt really enjoy it. Like you my fluid intake consists of tea, coffee and water with a slice of fresh lemon in the water. I agree creating an environment in our body to support our immune system is very important to me.
I am guilty of trying to do a complete overhaul only for it to all fail miserably, usually by the end of the day!
So my absolute nos for a healthier lifestyle are alcohol and stress. These have a notably bad effect on me and often lead me to over consume the likes of caffeine and sugar, which Iām gradually reducing rather than drawing a hard line under. Iām also trying to change what I eat in terms of meat (less red, no processed) but I think this will be gradual also.
Sorry, itās worth me pointing out that Iām IDC triple negative so no hormones involved, but Iāve been struggling with the diet/lifestyle thing since diagnosis so appreciate the subject being brought up in general.
The best approach is definitely gradual. I would have put a lot of stress on my body by changing my diet so dramatically like I did and that can cause more harm. I really went into panic mode.
I suddenly felt starving and didnt have a lot of time so I just had a pitta bread with cheese. Not exactly a healthy plate but I added spinach and cucumber into the pita and had a side of cherry tomatoes and some dried dates. I try to make sure every time I eat, there is something my body will use. I donāt want to eat just to fill that hunger hole now. It has to mean something. Hopefully I am finding the right balance now
Thanks for this, appreciate knowing Iām not alone in this and I definitely think adding in is a good approach!
Another vote for āEat to Beat Disease ā. Really helpful and definitely focuses more on what to add in than what to cut out. I was a bit obsessed for a few months after diagnosis but have definitely calmed down. I do eat pretty well but allow myself small treats (square of dark choc every day!) and if I go out for a meal I wonāt feel guilty about having dessert. I eat a ton of broccoli, blueberries and walnuts! I havenāt gone tee total but did have 3 months completely booze free and I only have 1 or 2 when I do drink and with big gaps in between. I have had 2 1/2 glasses of wine this year. I used to have double that every weekend. I find the control helpsā¦but let yourself have the things you enjoy occasionally xxx
Thanks everyone for your advice so far! Ive ordered the book! A lot of this has taken my mind off things a little and I feel a little more productive!
Do any of you have any thoughts/opinions on milk/milk products and its affect? Iāve seen lots of different advice!
I love that feeling when I get productive and am taking things into my own hands a little bit. Thatās great to hear @kswar
I am not a huge fan of cows milk so for drinks/smoothies/cooking/baking I use soy milk (after reading the book youāll understand there are some benefits to this) almond milk is great also.
I still eat dairy cheese thoughā¦ too much probably. I have cut it down but itās difficult. We love our family pizza nights and grated cheese on our pastas!
I was always a healthy eater and thin, yoga-lover so the only thing I changed was removing alcohol. It has been almost 7 years since my ILC diagnosis, and thatās the only change I made to my diet. Wishing you the best!
Sameā¦. I feel i should give up booze now too. It is the only thing on the list. I feel all this ābad luckā , āwe donāt knowā isnāt enough when ones life is in their handsā¦
Not to throw a spanner in the alcohol works but Iāve never had alcohol for religious reasons and still got breast cancer! I wasnāt overweight, exercised regularly, had no underlying health issues, I barely ever got a cold, but the big C still got me at a reasonably young age. Iām absolutely on board with these diet and lifestyle changes and do agree there is a lot of benefit to be had with improved diet and exercise, I just donāt think it can be pinpointed to any one factor.
Yes, one great website I refer to is https://foodforbreastcancer.com/recommended-foods.php when you click on each type of food it gives you a full write up and links to the latest research. I hope you find it helpful too.
This reminds me of Samantha on Sex & the City when sheās looking for answers about why she got breast cancer. Her doctor throws up not having children as a possible contributing factor and she gets really offended, thinking heās judging her lifestyle choices, and flounces out of the room.
She then goes looking for a new doctor and gets chatting to a fellow patient in the waiting room, whoās been a nun her whole lifeā¦ 
Honestly no, Iāve been through enough and food is my go to. Iām not overweight and eat reasonably healthy, everything in moderation is my motto. Lifeās to short.
I actually breathed a sigh of relief reading this. Iām so so exhausted with the plotting and planning and worry and stress of what to eat and what not to eat. I ate literally whatever I wanted in the first week after surgery because I wasnāt in a position to be that picky and to be honest I felt great. Iām hitting up a ready meal and am off for an early night!
@foxgem very well said! Love it! Diet plays a huge role during chemo as well as exercise. These 2 are best friends. 