I used to give flaxseeds to my horse. Boiled then cooled, they turned into gelatinous frogspawn. HOrses loved them. I grind mine then add to muesli with extra ‘milk’ and leave for ten minutes. They absorb the ‘milk’ and are really very good like this. I also grind them up and then make a smoothie if I can’t face solids.
Finty/Elinda – I am pleased that I have been able to contribute, I usually only have questions!
OAL – I did not know about free range issues until you mentioned them on here, thanks for the heads up. It is a sobering thought that we have been paying extra for “free range” chicken and eggs when there has probably been little benefit either to the chicken or us. I am looking to source my stuff from your supplier or one locally that I can visit
Sarahlouise – I am HR+ 7/8 and so oestrogen is a big issue for me too. Regarding soya, having looked at the research I personally am OK with it from a phyto-oestrogen point of view but limit it to organic and approx 300mls per day, no soya supplements. Still ruminating over the IGF-I aspects though and need to do some more reading before I make a decision. I am also going to see if there is anything out there on oestrogen levels in chickens fed on soya, if anyone had already done some research on this I would love to see it!
Mekala – I have a couple of recipes for sweet potato which you might find OK, I will dig them out and post them on the recipe thread
Elinda – I drink jasmine green tea leaves which I really enjoy, a bit expensive but you can use the leaves twice so it does spread the cost. I have also drunk Rooibos Earl Grey tea bags which are caffeine free for years, both are available from Dragonfly Tea. I do still have the odd cup of fresh brewed coffee with dairy milk but now I feel very naughty when I do!
Haven’t got beyond buying the flax seeds yet and washing out the coffee grinder but is next on the list along with homemade muesli, I already have to have a gluten free diet so I am used to making all my own stuff!
I love this thread
DaisyGirl xx
Lots of great info - thanks to you all. Will take a while to catch up on it all. But briefly:
Frances - yes, your understanding re carbs is the same as mine - let’s hope we’re both right! Very interesting re the glucose at night issue - were they saying make sure you don’t have a carb heavy meal in the evening or a carb snack before bed? Incidentally, I think you are doing absolutely the right thing to take any measures you can to help your liver and not put it under any additional stress. Does your onc give you regular liver function tests? If so, I’m wondering if your diet changes would show up? It’s another reason I cut alcohol down to the bare minimum - it’s very likely my cancer will finish up there too, and I want to be in the post possible shape when it does.
I have one question about the soy in animal feed. It’s my understanding that animals fed on phyto-oestrogens then become a source of animal oestrogen, which is almost identical to human oestrogen and dangerous for us ER+ve types. So whilst phyto-oestrogens in their natural state seem to be good for us to eat (subject to the limitations we have discussed previously), they are not once they have been fed to an animal. Have I got this right?
finty x
“it is a hassle grating ginger”
I use a Microplane. It’s like a very fine, sharp grater, available from cookware shops like Lakeland. It’s marvellous.
Oooh Lakeland, my guilty pleasure. So many storage solutions!
Ninja,
I think my little grater is like a microplane it has two sides and is enclosed to catch the gratings - trouble with grating ginger is you end up with a half inch or more of hairy fibres that you have to shave off with a sharp knife before you can continue grating.
More evidence of the link between Vit D and breast cancer - this time in the form of sun exposure reducing bc risk. Now if only there was some sun to get out into …
finty x
Finty – I had not picked up on any issues with soy in animal feed, do you have any links that I can look at? I will bear this in mind when I search further for oestrogen levels in organic meat… you can tell I am new at this!
Re Vit D3 – it came up in my meeting yesterday. I will at some point move to an Aromatase inhibitor which may cause low vit D levels. Onc advised vit D3 is prescribed if this occurs but is for osteoporosis reasons rather than because it is beneficial to bc patients, this lack of awareness is disheartening.
On a positive note, he did acknowledge that there was growing evidence that the type of diet you have plays a role in bc, woo hoo! Although this was qualified by “it needs to be balanced to ensure calcium and protein levels are maintained” 
DaisyGirl xx
Woo HOO Daisy Girl - a serious response from a medic about diet issues!! A real success.
Re glucose and liver etc - the advice was to have a late evening snack of carbo/veg/fruit combination - maybe oat cracker, humous and veg to have this a source of slow release carbo rather than the liver getting over active making glucose to compensate and therefore creating too much glucose - it’s about intake through diet maintaining balance so the liver does not become overactive.
Thanks Flinty for ideas of a liver function test - I don’t know if I’ve had one (another question for next out-patient appt!!) - would it be part of blood test pre-chemo or is is usually separate?
Like you I’ve cut out alcohol - since my liver is involved that seemed sensible.
Further caring for liver idea that I’m working on through the Rau Swiss Diet book ideas- evidently he feels strongly that cooked fruit in the evening is more gentle on the digestive system - so that means compotes, crumbles etc are better. I’m a real fan of fruit crumble with an oatmeal topping - and that’s good for mixing fruit and slow release carbos.
Hoping for the sun and Vit D dosing!
i have oestoporosis. I looked into vitamin d produced by sunlight and bone streghth versus cancer risk And decided the sunbed treatment would be good for me. I looked into which wavelenght it is that produces vatiamin D( its one particular uv ray) and chose a salon that uses a tube with a high proportion of that one. I also wanted a salon that maintained the tubes properly and replaced them regularly.
I read that it was important not to burn so built up the exposure gradually. I now have a constant slight blush which is quite flattering and my bone density reading improved over 4 years.
I feel great after the 6 minutes treatment i have, especially if i think i might be coming down with a cold.
The herbal lady at the Haven did encourage me to sit out in the sun, although it hasn’t really been warm enough to so do since she said that, that as I feel the cold very acutely while on chemo.
She said that getting vitamin D was very important but she really could not recommend taking an artificial ‘supplement’ tablet while I was on the chemo and that I should do it naturally.
She said not to use a sun block if it was safe not to do so.
Thats interesting Daisygirl … so do the ladies having treatment that may lower Vit D automatically get tested if so thats great. I had my blood test done this morning I had to pay £150 for it but the local clinic nurse did it for me so I could get it in the 1st post. Im taking Vit D3 much to my GP’s horror & he told me to stop until id got it tested, I was a bit reluctant with him & he didn’t want to hear about what id researched regarding the subject or look at any of the print offs Id got … Shame as I think he is a great GP I said to him its a shame the NHS dont do this as soon as your diagnosed as they do in the states… the women ive had contact with in the states with my type had levels as low as 19 ! none were above 30. 85% of the population are Vit D difficent for us to get the right amount of Vit D we’d need to be in the sun alot more than is stated & every day, normal levels are meant to be 80 is what I read on the latest report I think it use to be 60 that was thought to be the right amount
Thank you Daisygirl I look forward to seeing them 
xxx
Hi Daisy Girl - re the soy and oestrogen in meat connection. I couldn’t remember if we’ve seen proof - but it’s suggested here:
fintyx
Lots on here today.
Surfie - I’m glad that you found my flaxseed intake funny. Probably even funnier if you’d seen my face!
I decided to get something called a Spice Boy. I hope he meets expectations!
Mekalar - didn’t even know you could get the Vit D test in England! So that’s useful info.
Soy in animal feeds - that’s a real concern that I didn’t know about before. Apart from anything else it’s just not their natural diet.
Ninja - I would say take care going out in the sun while you’re on chemo. I tan very easily but during chemo my skin seemed to both burn and tan ever more easily. They say that 15 - 20 minutes is optimum but not at midday.
Mind due it’s raining so heavily today and I even had to put the heating on for a bit today as I had a friend over and we were getting chilly. Hope we get some more sun!
Elinda x
Hi Elinda, yeah, that’s what they said. I have 50% Mediterranean skin; it normally doesn’t burn in the UK but I’m aware that I’m extra sun-sensitive at the mo so I’m being very careful.
Herbals lady said to avoid a total sun block.
Hey snap, I’m 50% Mediterranean too! Elinda x
Hi Elinda oh yeah you can but not on NHS
Oh wow funny that you both say Im always being mistaken as Mediterranean been asked if im Italian spanish my mum always was teased as to whom I belonged to LOL ive dark olive skin jet black hair
Re Vit D testing, I think he may have mentioned this because I have been labeled a bit of a trouble maker (probably have a big red file!), always arrive with a list of questions, am questioning the need to take tamoxifen, complained about the previous Onc and will ring up their Sec if I think things are not happening quickly enough!
He He, it is nice to get your own back sometimes!
DaisyGirl xx