I have started this thread for new user Janice.
Emma, Moderator
With the festive season finally over my thoughts are now turning to issues of diet. My understanding is that it is probably best to at least reduce the intake of dairy products and I am therefore trying to find a milk substitute which I can use for my breakfast cereal. Soya products don’t seem to be a option as I’m taking tamoxifen - I’ve tried a light cocunut milk in my porridge which wasn’t too bad but has anyone any ideas - I need a good breakfast to bribe myself to get out of bed each morning!
Hello Janice,
I was using Soya until I realised I shouldn’t so now on goats milk, don’t really know if this would be classified as dairy. Rice milk is nice and I have put that on porridge and it was okay. I make my porridge with water, put it in the microwave for nearly 2 minutesand then put goats milk(semi-skimmed) and honey, it is really nice I have spoken to both my consultants re diet and they say to eat a balanced diet and didn’t mention cutting out anything. My husband has heart disease and we try to eat healthily anyway. I refuse to give up dairy altogether and still have a cappucino at work every morning.
Hazel
Hi
I also am going to reduce, can’t cut out altogether, as love some of my dairy, but suppose every little helps. I found rice milk too watery but Oat milk isn’t too bad and worth a try. I would have thought that goat milk would be the same as cow milk as still from an animal but I’m no expert. Even though when I asked my OH to bring me some Oat milk in he did get Goats milk, bless him.
Would be good to know of any other options as well though as the Oat Milk is expensive.
Anyway, Happy New Year to you,
JulieL
xx
Keep it balanced. As long as you are using small amounts, milk is not likely to cause much harm. One pint of milk last me for a week [unless someone is staying]. Fruit juice on cereal is more to my taste than pseudo-milk, and maybe a smoothie like Innocent would also be an alternative.
Cheese should be reduced to a minimum - very high fat levels and cholesterol.
It interests me that people feel the need for a replacement substance - rather like “chicken-flavour veggie burger”. If you want to avoid dairy, then cut it out altogether!
I don’t think there is enough evidence to say that dairy is bad although I have changed to organic milk because of the hormones in ordinary milk. A nutritionist at a BCC living with cancer course advised against soya if you ar ER+ apart from miso and tofu - I think. Cutting out dairy would mean you’d find it far more difficult to maintain adequate calcium. As i eat little meat it is also a good source of protein for me. Despite always having quite a lot of dairy in my diet, and being very active, i was found to have thinning of the bone when tested before i changed from Tamoxifen to Aromasin.I now have to have calcium and Vit D supplements. I would think carefully before trying to cut out dairy.
Regards
Kelley
I would be interested myself to know what milk people use on a dairy free diet.
I am very sceptical about all these recommened diets. Sometimes i think its people making money out of their books and ideas.
However my friend who had liver mets at DX with her BC lived for 3 years and was quite well for almost all that time. she lost weight, maybe it was her illness but i dont think it was i think it was the diet.
My big concern about dairy free is our bones. If we are on tamoxifen and like myself nearly 2 years since a period thats not good for my bones. cutting out dairy i wont be having the calcium i would have eating cheese, yoguhurt and milk products.
I think if you enjoy the diet and strongly believe it will benefit you go for it, but i am loathe to go on a dairy free diet. Imagine hating it depriving yourself and getting a re-occurrance. Its like drinking, why should i deprive myself of something i enjoy when nothing is proven about moderate drinking being damaging.
In the new year i intend to exercise a bit more, i already eat a well balanced diet.
Rx
I had no idea you shoould not have soya milk if on Tamoxifen.Why?
No one at hospital, BCN etc have said anything about this. I feel a bit worried now as have started Tamox. 6 weeks ago & been on soya milk since diagnosis in June. Is there anything else I should be avoiding?
Mand x
In the current state of knowledge I do not feel that there is enough evidence to state that either soya or dairy products are particularly harmful in moderation. What a number of experts do warn against, however, is taking supplements containing soya isoflavones which they suggest could promote the growth of tumours. I did read that one recent study, using laboratory animals, suggested that small amounts of dietary soya cancel out the protection supplied by Tamoxifen, although other studies do not show this. My view is moderation in all things; I haven’t given up dairy products and I also eat some soya products, but not too much of anything. It is all very confusing which is why I think that no dietary advice is generally given apart from the usual eat five portions of fruit and veg and avoid obesity.
Gwyn
It’s difficult to know what to do for the best with this one, isn’t it.I did talk to my onc about it, as my local cancer help centre had recommended a dairy free diet and I’ve been tucking into soya since dx in 2005. He said that replacing dairy with soya and therefore increasing your levels of phyto-oestrogens would probably make no difference if you were on tamoxifen, as the drug is very powerful and would block any effects from the soya. It would be different though, if you’re taking something like Arimedex which works in a different way.
Chatta x