DearPharmacist » Cancer

Flax Seed for Breast and Prostate Protection

suzy — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:22:36 +0000

Dear Pharmacist,
My sister has breast cancer and is taking tamoxifen. She would like to take flax seed supplements (or eat the ground up seeds/oil) but she doesn’t know if it will help or interfere with her treatment. Her doctor said it was fine, but wanted her to double check with you, since they both read you in the local paper in Florida. Thanks for your help. –T.R. Albany, New York

Answer: Lots of women have asked me if flax seed is safe to take if they have a history of breast cancer because they are a form of estrogen. First off, you should know that flax seed is a natural plant-based estrogen that is considered beneficial to the breast and prostate. It helps process estrogen to safer by products in the body.

Regarding your sister, the final approval to use flax must come from her physician, but since he has asked me to weigh in, I say yes. Flax protects the breasts, and studies today show that it enhances the activity of tamoxifen.

Flax seed is full of nutrients your body needs to be healthy, such as omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans, and fiber. It reduces the risk of various types of cancer, as well as lung and heart disease. One 2007 study even showed that menopausal women noticed fewer hot flashes after adding the seed to their diet!

How exactly does the magic happen? It’s due to lignans, which are complex carbohydrates found in plants. When digested, they offer us natural plant-based estrogens (termed phytoestrogens) and antioxidant power, so they have the ability to replace dangerous estrogens,with safer ones as well as sweep away toxins. Lignans are well known to reduce risk of breast and prostate cancer. Flax seed contains hundreds of times more lignans than most other plant-based foods, making these tiny seeds a gigantic resource for your health. We know that seeds create life on Earth, and they can do the same inside your body.

A recent eight week trial, published in the Molecular Nutrition & Food Resource journal, just got to the nitty gritty of it all. Researchers were trying to flesh out which part of the flax seed it is that makes tamoxifen so effective and as it turns out, it’s the oils within that help the most.

Another recent study in May 2010 of Nutrition and Cancer just found that key compounds in the naturally occurring oils of flax seed (such as secoisolariciresinol diglucoside) could slow the growth of established breast tumors. By the way guys, that same compound is known to prevent balding.

That’s not the first study to prove the power of flax seed in protecting the breasts though. In 2005, a study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that flax seed halted growth of developing breast cancer cells, and therefore slowed the spreading (metastasis) of it.

Did You Know?
Protein supplements help you lose weight by boosting metabolism and preserving muscle mass.

You Can Protect Yourself From Breast Cancer

suzy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:16:25 +0000

Dear Pharmacist,

I had a mastectomy this summer and I am scared to lose my other breast too. I recently found out about you and bought your “24-Hour” book and it has some information, but I want more guidance, specifically as it pertains to breast cancer. What else can you tell me?

–N.L. Seattle, Washington

Answer: When it comes to breast health, two important factors are your weight and your hormone balance. Let’s start with weight. Studies prove that estrogen promotes cell proliferation in breast tumors. Those flabby abs can increase production of cancer-causing hormones, including a dangerous form of estrogen. This could be summarized: Fat causes cancer.

Now, about the hormones. The important ones like DHEA, testosterone, progesterone and estrogen have to remain in balance like a see-saw. Progesterone is useful to women who have excessive amounts of estrogen because it offers hormonal balance, but it has to be used with caution.

Estrogen breakdown is even more crucial than the total amount of estrogen you have! When estrogen breaks down in the human body, it can form several smaller molecules. The safest by-product is called “2-methoxyestradiol.” Other estrogen by-products are not as friendly in the body, and may increase your risk for cancer. I’ll call those ‘bad’ forms 4 and 16 estrogen to keep things simple.

Your body probably makes a larger amount of the cancer-causing 4 and 16 estrogens, relative to the anti-cancer 2 estrogen. My hypothesis can be verified if take a urine test offered by Genova Diagnostics called the “Complete Hormones” test which measures levels of the 2, 4 and 16 estrogens.

I interviewed one of the nation’s leading experts on natural hormone replacement, Dr. Douglas Hall, M.D. of Ocala, Florida. This OB/GYN is also a functional medicine physician, and uses his impressive educational background to treat men and women with hormone imbalances and protect them from prostate/breast cancer.

Dr. Hall explained, “Many factors affect how a hormone is altered BEFORE it enters your cells and alters the cell’s activity. For example, the estrogen levels in breast tissue may be 27 times greater than what is in the blood stream, and it may be a relatively unsafe metabolite.”

Here’s a secret: You can affect the way you break down estrogen and reduce your risk for cancer with inexpensive supplements or foods. You can increase your production of 2 estrogens with broccoli and rosemary extract, flax seed, folic acid and a few others. I fully explain this, mammography, herbs, vitamins and dozens of natural ways to protect against breast/prostate cancer, in my new e-book, “Breast Cancer Prevention,” available at my website, www.DearPharmacist.com.

Testing levels of estrogen by-products (rather than total levels) may be a better indicator of cancer risk. Unfortunately, most doctors only measure total hormones, so ask for this special urine test.

Did You Know?

Try natural “Tea Tree Oil” suppositories to treat a vaginal yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.

Six Ways To Help Protect Yourself From Pancreatic Cancer.

suzy — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:31:34 +0000

Six Ways to Protect Yourself from Pancreatic Cancer

Dear Pharmacist,
Two people in my neighborhood have pancreatic cancer, and my favorite actor Patrick Swayze died of it. What is going on? What do you know about this and how can we protect ourself?

–E.D. New York City

Answer: It’s among the top 5 leading cancers in the United States, it’s extremely aggressive and surprisingly, more than 250,000 people die of it worldwide. I was very sad when Dirty Dancing star, Patrick Swayze died from it recently.

With cancer, there are many factors at play, but no single smoking gun. If you have diabetes, gallbladder disease, Celiac disease or liver damage, your risk of pancreatic cancer is higher. There are also many household items and foods that increase your risk for pancreatic disease, so here are 6 things I want you to get rid of:

Hard liquor and alcohol. It’s a liquid bullet aimed for your liver and pancreas. Alcohol causes free radical damage which increases risk for pancreatitis, which often precedes cancer of the pancreas. Don’t trade in your pancreas for your heart by drinking alcohol every night.

Cigarettes. Just like alcohol, cigarettes spark loose cannons in your body that destroy healthy cells and promote the growth of cancerous ones. A 2004 study in Cancer proved that tobacco was an environmental trigger for pancreatic cancer in predisposed patients.

Soda and Foods that contain HCFS: ‘High fructose corn syrup’ is a very concentrated sweetener that forces your pancreas to secrete a truckload of insulin in order to neutralize the blood sugar spike that occurs after consumption. High insulin blood levels increase your risk of many diseases, including pancreatic cancer. In fact, there is an undeniable link between high insulin (as well as insulin-resistance) with pancreatic cancer according to a 2005 JAMA study.
Several weeks ago, I wrote a detailed column diseases caused by high insulin, which is posted at www.DearPharmacist.com. The second reason I want you to get rid of items containing HCFS is because it causes obesity. Obesity affects levels of two other hormones called leptin and adiponectin. When those two hormones fall out of balance, it appears that your risk for pancreatic cancer increases. Besides, obesity is an absolute risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Non-stick pots. Animal studies show that a chemical called PFOA is tied to cancer. Studies conflict, however some experts feel that non-stick pots are a source of this chemical. Until we are sure, it’s safer to cook with stainless steel.

Soft plastics that contain phthalates (like teething rings, water bottles): There are numerous research articles that link phthalates to cancer, including prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer.

Animal and trans fats. A study in the June 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found a direct relationship between pancreatic cancer and dairy or red meat-derived fats.

Did You Know?
The herb curcumin may benefit people with pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.