The Zoomer Report: Soy and Breast Cancer

Zoomer | June 25th, 2012

If you’ve had breast-cancer, you may have been told not to eat soy foods. The concern: isoflavones in soybeans, natural compounds that act like very weak forms of estrogen, could increase the chance of a recurrence. But according to the largest ever study on soy and breast cancer, a regular intake of soy actually reduces the risk of the cancer returning.

The study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, followed 9,514 breast-cancer survivors from the United States and China for eight years. Women whose daily diets provided 10 milligrams or more of soy isoflavones had a 25-per-cent lower risk of recurrence compared to those who consumed less than four milligrams daily.

Some experts have also worried that soy foods might diminish the effectiveness of tamoxifen, a drug used to prevent breast-cancer recurrence in women with certain types of the disease.

However, the researchers found that tamoxifen users with higher soy-isoflavone intakes had a lower risk of breast-cancer recurrence than women who did not take the drug and who consumed the lowest amount of isoflavones.

So how do you get those 10 milligrams a day? Two tablespoons of soybeans, two teaspoons of soy nuts, ¼ cup firm tofu, and ½ cup of soy beverage all have about that amount.

By the way, these findings apply soy foods, not isoflavone supplements. There’s no data how safe those are.

About The Zoomer Report
Libby Znaimer, a prominent Canadian journalist specializing in business, politics, and lifestyle issues, is producer and host of The Zoomer Report, a special feature on topics of interest to baby boomers and the 50+. It covers everything from health and wealth to leisure and volunteerism, from the special vantage point of the generation that has changed society in its wake.
Ms. Znaimer is also Vice-President of News and Information for Classical 96.3FM and AM740. Her first book, “In Cancerland – Living Well Is The Best Revenge” – was published in October 2007 by Key Porter.