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Low Fat Diet May Improve Survival in Breast Cancer PDF Print E-mail
A fairly stringent  low-fat diet in women with early-stage breast Cancer resulted in a very impressive 42% risk reduction in cancer recurrence or death in women with hormone receptor-negative tumors, according to the second follow-up data analysis from the Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) presented at the December 2006  29th Annual Breast Cancer Symposium held in San Antonio.

The study was started in 1994 and is the first large scale randomized clinical trial which, so far, shows that dietary changes can strongly affect outcomes in women with breast cancer who also receive conventional treatment. The findings are very exciting, and are holding up through a second interim analysis, but plans call for three more years of follow-up to confirm the results. The next planned re-analysis of the data is scheduled towards the end of 2007.  In addition, another confirmatory study is planned to start in early 2007 by the Canadian National Cancer Institute.  

WINS was a multi-center trial involving almost 2500 women, ages 48–79, who were randomized either to a dietary intervention arm or a control group who ate their usual diet. The randomization was performed after patients underwent standard treatment for early-stage breast cancer. The intervention arm was closely directed by physicians and dieticians, and involved reducing fat consumption from about 57 grams per day in the regular diet control group to an average of 24 grams per day in the intervention arm.  The intervention arm resulted in an average 6 pound weight loss after 5 years.  Follow-up for this study is now approaching 6 years. 

The recurrence and death rate amongst the entire group reached only borderline statistical significance with an approximate 15% risk reduction. However, among the 362 patients who had hormone receptor (estrogen and progesterone) negative breast cancer, the overall mortality was 6% in the intervention arm and 17% in the control group.  Similarly, the combined death or recurrence rate was 9.8% in the intervention arm, compared to 24% in the control group. This represents a 42% risk reduction of recurrence or death.   

Although the mechanism by which this occurs is not clear, the most likely reason is an effect on insulin, insulin-like growth factors and moderation of the inflammatory cascade.  In other words, it is likely related to how sugars are processed and inflammation is handled by your body.  

At this time, although confirmation of these results is pending, a motivated woman could consider following the WINS diet as published in J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 2004;104:551–9. It is not clear if partial benefit is derived from a low fat diet that is not quite as stringent as the one tested.  Therefore, in order to approach the reported results, one has to be very committed to a very significant dietary modification.

If these results are confirmed in breast cancer, it is very tempting to speculate that this effect may be true in other cancers as well, especially hormonally related or mediated cancers like endometrial and ovarian cancer.





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Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 February 2008 )
 
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  • Removing ovaries to be safe - good idea???? 19:00 - 20.11.2008

    Dear AllA while ago I posted asking if US could DX ovca at early stage, and got SO MANY wonderful replies, for which I was extremely grateful.I've now gone on to have some investigative work done, and a detailed TVS has shown that I have a cyst on my right ovary which is not functional, but is almost 50:50 either benign or borderline.There doesn't seem to be any invasion of the ovary tissue from the cyst, and it is poorly vascularised, both of which I believe are optimistic signs. I read (on an Internet search) that around 7% of borderline cysts progress to becoming malignant. However, because my husband has Stage IV kidney cancer and 'staying alive' is, right now, our main concern (!!!!), I am thinking of simply having a double oophrenectomy (sp?!) (I'm 55, and my bloods show I'm now perimenopausal, so my ovaries are due for retirement anyway!), and being done with it (I hope....!)  I'm not clear whether suregery would include the fallopian tubes as well. Everything else in my pelvis is showing OK, so far as I understand. (Plus, no family history of ovca etc)Has anyone else been in a similar situation, and what was your decision, and your experience? My husband is worried at the thought of me having surgery (he had his kidney out this year, so knows abdominal surgery isn't a walk in the park!), though the TVS gynae says it could be done with keyhole.However, I also wonder whether it's best NOT to do keyhole, as is there not a risk that the ovary will rupture during removal, and then, if there IS any malignancy (or even proto-malignancy) in the cyst, that may get loose into my body and nest somewhere else!All information on this will be MOST gratefully received.I am very glad I did go ahead and get all this further checked out. I know US has its limitations, but even so, I think it's paid off this time by spotting 'something'.All the very, very best to all of you fighting ovca, and I hope, hope you win your battles.Julie.       

  • Abnormal cells after LEEP 19:00 - 19.11.2008

    I had the leep procedure done in the end of march and I recently had an abnormal pap.Before i had this procedure I was told I could have some difficulties with having children in the future. Well I went in for a pap and she told me everything looks great and now I recieved my results back and it came back abnormal. For once in for all i thought maybe i could have children without worring..but now im going back in on monday and im 24 and i almost want to be selfish and have a child now before its to late and things just get worse. Has anyone experienced a leep and abnormal paps and have had children after?I never thought i would have to think about this at my age but not having  children in the future years and waiting for it will kill me. someone please help me with a story of their own.Danny

  • Cone Biopsy 19:00 - 16.11.2008

    So the background info is that I had an abnormal pap in 2006, was diagnosed with HPV, and had a colposcopy in 2006 that showed low grade dysplasia.  They wanted me to have 6 month paps and would watch and wait I suppose.  From there, I wasn't impressed with my doctor and switched to a different clinic.  I had my records from the previous clinic sent to this one so there wouldn't be any confusion as to what was going on or why I was so persistent to have a repap right then which was 6 months after my previous one.  So, afterwards I recieved a lovely letter in the mail stating that the results were normal for my condition.  I probably should have asked what exactly that meant.  But, I was thrilled with the thought of not having another colpo.  Six months later I was back again for another pap.  Thinking the last one was "normal for my condition" I didn't freak out at all until I got the call saying I needed to schedule a colposcopy because there had been changes.  I'm not really thrilled at this point where I have a month to anxiously wait to have my colpo.  I had the colpo last week and it really wasn't as bad as the first.  Not really any pain except when she took the biopsy.  My Dr. was really good at explaining what she was doing etc. and drew me a picture of what she saw.  So I freak out for a week waiting for the results.  For some reason they didn't have my records from the previous clinic I went to and my Dr. wanted to look at them to make comparisons I suppose.  I was able to track down my records but found out she didn't really need them at this point.  I talked to the Dr. Friday night at around 6pm while I was driving in the rain and couldn't see a thing.  Not the best time to chat since I was a little preoccupied with not driving off the road.  What I got out of the conversation was that my results came back high grade and something about glands.  She wants to do a cone biopsy and I have the option of either doing it in the office with the LEEP or the operating room with the laser.  She did explain the difference between the two but I was so distracted with the rain and driving and the high grade and glands part that I can't remember the difference between the two.  I talked to her nurse today which was no help at all.  She said she was new and didn't have answers to any of my questions but would have someone call me tomorrow.  So I guess my question is...what is the difference?  What does high grade and glands mean?  Do I have cancer?  Will I ever be able to have children?  I don't do well with things that aren't in my control and at this point I'm seriously freaking out.  Any answers or suggestions?  Sorry for the lengthy detail.

  • mouth sores from Doxil 19:00 - 15.11.2008

    I was just wondering if anyone has any cures that have worked for mouth sores from Doxil.  My mom has them very bad.  Her oncologist has given her varies treatments but nothing seems to work, not even the "magic mouthwash"  My mom is a fighter, but this is really kicking her but.  She started getting them with her 3rd treatment, were they were so bad that they even ran down her throat.  Now on her 4th treatment she has them again, luckly not down her throat, but has them really bad, that she can barely even speak.  Please help, she will pretty much try anything just to get rid of them.Sandra  

  • need advice 19:00 - 14.11.2008

    I am recovering from a cone biopsy and scraping of cervix. I am 1 week post op. My wonderful MD called me on thursday 11-13-08 to let me know that my results from the biopsy came back and did show severe displasia of the cervix, which i knew, that was why we did the procedure. He also told me that the scraping that was done further inside my cervix also came back with displasia.  So i am left with not many options. Eaither go for another cone, or have a hysterectomy. I think this has put me in a depression. I feel down, tired, and dont want to talk to anyone. I have one child and probably would not have had anymore, but it is tearing me up to have this taken away from me. I know i have to have it done. I feel like i am not worth anything anymore.                thanks  dancie

  • Radiation or not 19:00 - 13.11.2008

    I am post-op, a month ago I had a hysterectomy  for cervical cancer 1a2, for my two week fallow up my doctor said that the tumor that was removed was bigger than what they thought and I might need radiation if it was bigger than 1/5 of an inch.  My tumor was 3mm by 3.2mm before the surgery. I can not Imagine being much more. Does anyone know what is the cut off mesurement for not reciving anymore treatment after a hysterectomy?

  • after chemo radiation 19:00 - 12.11.2008

    hi! I had treatment of chemo radiation in July. Some side effects i am experiencing still are swelling of the abdomen/ lower back ache/ some spotting - i also started HRT but wonder if anyone else experienced these things ? i am due back to cancer agency next week for check up.

  • Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma 19:00 - 12.11.2008

    Hi, Any information on Signet Ring Abenocarcinoma ?  

  • scared 19:00 - 11.11.2008

    Hi, I am a 23 year old female. Over the past month or so I've developed some symptoms that are concerning me...For the past 2 years or so, I've had very painful intercourse upon deep penetration - I get a shooting pain throughout my pelvis....then about 1 month go, I started to experience burning upon urination & increased frequency...I made an appointment to go see my family doctor (to rule out infection, etc) & get a pap, in between the time of scheduling my appointment & going to see my doctor, I developed a dull aching in my pelvis, mostly in the lower right quadrant. I tell him this informtion, he does a urine test, pregnancy test - all negative. during my pelvic examination, he presses down on my lower right quadrant, & it just about sends me off the bed, I had pushed down on my pelvis on my own standing up & didn't really have much discomfort. Over the next few days I've been experiencing lower back pain & shooting pain into my right groin area. The doctor's next suggestion is to go for a pelvic ultrasound....however, I have to wait until January for an appointment- in the meantime I am beside myself worrying I have cancer! I will note that my periods have remained normal, & I have had no abnormal bleeding

  • Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma/Ovarian Cancer 19:00 - 11.11.2008

    My BFF is 39 and was just diagnosed with Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma/Ovarian Cancer. Her first Chemo treatment is today.Does anyone have any experience with this type of Cancer or any suggestions that can help us better understand it?Any information would be really appreciated!Thanks,Juli