After I gave my presentation at Gilda’s Club in New York City, I had several people ask me about soy. Could they eat soybeans or tofu if they were breast cancer survivors? Could they use skin care products with soy in them?
Soy and it’s potential link to breast cancer has been studied and debated for years. But I have a new study to tell you about that may somewhat ease your fears.
Soy’s Past Link with Breast Cancer
People have been concerned about soy because it contains “phytoestrogens”-natural plant compounds that can behave as weak estrogens in the body.
Researchers have been concerned that it could trigger estrogenic cancers like breast cancer and prostate cancer. Studies so far, however, have been confusing. Some showed that women could reduce their risk of cancer recurrence by eating more soy, and men could reduce their risk of prostate cancer the same way. Other studies, however found that phytoestrogens might actually increase the risk of tumors and stimulate breast cancer cell growth.
With all the confusion, I’ve been recommending that those concerned about estrogen-driven cancers avoid soy foods, soy supplements, and soy ingredients in personal care products. A new study, however, shows that we may be able to relax our concern a bit.
Study Shows Eating Soy May Reduce Recurrence of Disease
Researchers analyzed data from four large studies encompassing over 18,000 women. All had a history of breast cancer diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 83. They found that eating soy foods did not increase risk of recurrence, even among women who ate a lot of soy. (Note: The study looked only at foods, not supplements, so the conclusions apply only to soy foods.)
What’s more, the study found what seemed to be a health benefit for those eating more soy. Women who ate the most had a 9 percent lower risk of dying from any cause, and a 15 percent lower risk of breast cancer recurrence, compared to women who ate very little. The researchers cautioned against taking these percentages too seriously, however, as they were not statistically significant and could be due to chance.
“This is quite reassuring for women who were concerned that they might have to eliminate healthy soy foods from their diets,” said Leif Ellisen, M.D., Ph.D. of the Gilette Center for Breast Cancer.
My New Recommendation on Soy Intake
Though I still strongly recommend caution on soy supplements, I feel like after this study I can relax a little bit on soy foods. If a woman came up to me today wanting advice, I’d tell her that the evidence seems to show that eating soy foods is beneficial. I would still caution her, however, to read labels on her skin care products, and avoid the ones that contain soy, as we don’t have enough studies yet on how soy ingredients in personal care products may affect breast cancer recurrence.
Does this study put your mind more at ease concerning soy foods? Share your thoughts.
Photo courtesy FotoosVanRobin via Flickr.com.
