Soy and Breast Cancer

Boy have I been busy.  I’m trying to find that happy balance where I have time to do what I like (like writing this blog) and keeping my clients happy.  Lately the clients have been winning out.  But, we’re Cancun bound for Spring break with the kids, so there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.  I promise I’ll post pictures.

Found this article about Soy and breast cancer from the LA Times – click to read the entire article here.    The article is about a recent study which shows that there may not be any negative effects from soy, for women with ER positive bc, like myself.  The study included over 18,000 women diagnosed with invasive bc who showed no statistical difference with regard to recurrence of the cancer, or death, when they ate a lot of soy and soy based products.  Since I’m now on Tamoxifen, and it causes the craziest of hot flashes, I have been trying all sorts of homeopathic things to help manage them, but NOT soy because my oncologist told me it “mimics” estrogen and there is no real definitive understanding of how it impacts bc in women who are ER positive.  Soy is supposed to be very beneficial in reducing hot flashes.  This study seems to indicate that there might not be any downside, so when I see my oncologist this Friday (for my 2nd visit back since I finished my chemo in August), I’ll ask him about it.  In the meantime, I’ll stick to my black cohosh.

I’m trying to come up with something wonderful to bring to the nurses at the cancer center.  They were so amazing and compassionate.  I actually find myself missing them.  So odd, considering the fact that they were sticking me with needles and infusing me with toxic chemicals each time I saw them.  But they were great – funny, warm, serious when they needed to be and just generally focused on making the whole process as easy for me and all the rest of us, as they could.

Maybe I’ll bring them food.  I’m open to suggestions, if any of you have any good ideas please share!  There are a lot of them – about 10 in total.  They’re all trying to stay in shape, so cake and chocolates (my personal faves) aren’t at the top of the list.  Maybe I’ll get ambitious and bake them something healthy.

Hope everyone’s doing well.  We had a sunny day on Tuesday and I hear it might be sunny tomorrow.  I am craving Spring.