A Diet Change Can Help Fight Breast Cancer

breast cancer
Be a bosom buddy
Tell your friends and family that changing your diet can help
in the battle against breast cancer. Dr Justine Butler launches
the VVF’s new campaign to do just that
Number crunching ‘predisposed’ women were 40 per cent more likely
Breast cancer is the UK’s most common cancer to get breast cancer than others – that figure is now
affecting women. Every year, over 44,000 women 70 per cent! This proves that something other than
are diagnosed with it and 12,000 die from it. A genes is responsible.
staggering one in nine will be affected by this
disease at some point in their lives. Men and breast cancer
Breast cancer affects men too, although the numbers are much
More likely to survive... more likely to get lower – one in 300 compared to one in nine women. Although
it too! rare, men tend to have larger tumours which have spread further
Thanks to improved diagnosis and treatment, the by the time they seek help.
chances of surviving breast cancer have greatly
improved. However, the chances of getting this
disease have rocketed up 80 per cent since 1971 In China and Japan, breast cancer rates are much
and continue to rise by one per cent a year. This is lower. However, when women from these countries
a public health crisis! move to the West, within one or two generations
their offspring become just as likely to develop it as
It’s in the genes the population into which they’ve moved. This
Contrary to popular belief, 10 per cent or less of again shows that the causes are more
breast cancers are caused by faulty genes. The vast environmental and lifestyle than genes.
majority are caused by environmental factors such
as chemical exposure or diet. So why did women in the 1940s have an
advantage? Why do women in Japan and China
Women who are genetically susceptible to breast have such low rates that rise when they move to the
cancer (with faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes) are West? The scientific evidence points an unequivocal
much more likely to get it – but that doesn’t mean finger of blame squarely at diet!
it is inevitable. In 1940, these genetically
A third due to diet?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that
poor diets account for around a third of all cancers
in the West. The World Cancer Research Fund
reckons that cancer rates throughout the world
could be reduced by up to 40 per cent simply by
making dietary and lifestyle changes. About 90 per
cent of breast cancer cases are linked to the
environment and lifestyle. So clearly, diet is
involved in cancer.
Diet and breast cancer

Having said that, there is a reluctance to
acknowledge the strong links between diet and
breast cancer. Despite this, many studies show that
diets rich in meat and dairy are linked to a higher
risk while plant-based vegetarian or vegan diets are
linked to a lower risk.
veggiehealth 7
Western diet – Western diseases per cent) of the oestrogen in the Western diet comes
In 2007, the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study found from cow’s milk and dairy products. Women who
that women who eat a Western-style diet based on eat a Western diet have higher levels of oestrogen
meat, dairy and processed foods have almost circulating in their blood, so do women with breast
double the risk of breast cancer. The traditional cancer. (Oestrogen sends signals through receptors
Chinese diet is largely plant-based which is why telling some breast cancer cells to grow).
some Chinese women refer to breast cancer as “rich
woman’s disease”. Damaging dairy
A typical glass of milk contains 35 hormones and
Red alert 11 growth factors! The amount has increased
In another study, researchers from Harvard hugely over the last 100 years as modern dairy
Medical School found that women who ate more farming methods have intensified. For example,
than one-and-a-half servings of red meat a day – two-thirds of retail milk in the UK is taken from
equivalent of a burger and a sausage – almost pregnant cows when levels of hormones and
doubled their risk of breast cancer. growth factors are sky high.
How meat is cooked has an influence. Those who Read more about it…
eat lots of grilled, barbequed and smoked meats In her best-selling book, Your Life in Your Hands,
have a whopping 47 per cent increased risk of Professor Jane Plant CBE, Anglo American Professor
breast cancer. If they also skimp on fruit and of Geochemistry at Imperial College, London,
vegetables the risk jumps to 74 per cent. describes her very personal and moving story of how
she overcame breast cancer by eliminating all dairy
Fat facts products. She also describes the research that backs
Another study from the Dunn Human Nutrition up her argument. You can buy Jane’s inspiring book
Unit in Cambridge showed that women who eat the from the VVF. For more information about how
most fat – mainly in whole milk, butter, meat, harmful dairy foods can be see our scientific report
cakes and biscuits – are almost twice as likely to White Lies, also available from the VVF.
develop breast cancer as those who eat the least.
Research from Harvard Medical School also Growth factors
confirmed that animal fat from red meat and high- Growth factors in cow’s milk – and human breast milk
fat dairy foods, such as whole milk, cream, ice- – send a message from the mother to new-born infant
cream, butter, cream cheese and cheese, increased saying “Grow Grow! Grow!” They are essential for
the risk of breast cancer. normal growth and development in the infant – but
the infant of that species! Those who continue to drink
Oestrogen milk (from another species) after weaning may be
Meat and eggs contain oestrogen but most (60-80 more likely to develop childhood cancers, lung,
pancreatic, prostate, gastrointestinal, melanoma
and breast cancer. A clue might be that
when the growth factor IGF-1 is added
to human breast cancer cells in the
laboratory they grow out of control!
What worries some scientists is

that IGF-1 can survive
pasteurisation so it may cross the
gut wall and enter the bloodstream.
IGF-1 levels are higher in people
who drink cow’s milk and lower in
vegans. And like oestrogen, women
with high levels of IGF-1 are more
likely to develop breast cancer than
those with normal or low levels.
How long are we going to ignore
such damning evidence?
8 veggiehealth
breast cancer
Think and eat positive The soya connection

There are many ways you can protect yourself Several studies show that eating soya foods when
against breast cancer and other diseases: stopping young reduces breast cancer later in life.
smoking, losing weight, exercising more and cutting
down on alcohol. However, changing the way you So there you have it – cow’s milk and dairy products
eat is vital – and under your control. and barbequed, smoked and red meats can all trigger
breast cancer whereas the fibre, folic acid,
Fruit and vegetables antioxidants and other goodies found in fruit and
There is strong evidence linking fruit and vegetables vegetables, wholegrains, pulses, nuts and seeds help
to a lower risk of breast cancer. Go for the dark fight it. It’s not about going without, it’s about gaining
and brightly coloured varieties. a long and healthy life. Do yourself a favour and
spread the word… going veggie could save your life.
Folic acid
Several studies show how the B vitamin folic acid The VVF are holding public talks on diet and breast cancer
can protect against breast cancer, particularly (speakers include Professor Jane Plant) in Bristol at Reynolds
among women who are heavy drinkers. Folic acid Lecture Theatre (G25), Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road,
is found in many foods including broccoli, Brussels Bristol on Friday November 30 at 5pm (free entry) and in London
sprouts, asparagus, peas, chick peas and brown at Lecture Theatre 1, New Hunt’s House, Guy’s Campus (off
rice. Other good sources include fortified breakfast Great Maze Pond and Newcomen Street), London SE1 on
cereals, wholegrain bread and fruits such as Wednesday February 27 at 6.45pm for a 7.15pm start. Tickets for
oranges and bananas. the London event cost £5 from VVF on 0117 970 5190 or online
at www.vegetarian.org.uk.
Fantastic fibre
Many studies link fibre – particularly from wholegrains
– with protection against breast cancer. Choose a high-
fibre breakfast cereal, switch from white bread and
pasta to wholegrain varieties and ensure you have at
least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Eat your greens!

Green (cruciferous) vegetables such as spring greens,
broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale can protect against
cancer. A powerful compound called sulphurophane
stops the growth of cancer cells but not normal cells.
Try to eat these types of vegetables every day.
Soya – the facts!

We receive more enquiries about soya than any And that is why the VVF are launching a new
other subject! Is it safe? Can it harm website that untangles the myths and finds the
children? Does it cause cancer? Will facts – all with sound science. Our fully-
it feminise boys? referenced fact sheet looks at the safety of soya,
analyses soya-based infant formulas and answers
There is a huge amount of the most frequently asked questions. You can
misinformation and daftness floating view it free online at www.safetyofsoya.com and
around about soya. Just last week, access some delicious recipes at the same time.
the owner of a health food shop
requested 20 copies of our new The Safety of Soya printed fact sheet costs 90p
soya fact sheet for staff training (inc p&p) from Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation,
after one of his employees was 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol, BS2 8QH.
overheard saying that TVP (textured Tel: 0117 970 5190 (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm).
vegetable protein – mock meat) can Email info@vegetarian.org.uk or visit our website
cause cancer! at www.vegetarian.org.uk.
veggiehealth 9

A Diet Change Can Help Fight Breast Cancer

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A Diet Change Can Help Fight Breast Cancer

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breast cancer

Diet and breast cancer

What worries some scientists is

Think and eat positive The soya connection

Eat your greens!

Soya – the facts!

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