Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence

Tamoxifen, Raloxifene, and Arimidex: The Anti-Oestrogens

Tamoxifen, the market leader, is potentially effective only for patients with oestrogen-positive breast cancer. It also does not appear to be effective when the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Trials have shown that, with oestrogen-positive breast cancer, the longer a woman takes tamoxifen, the more she reduces her risk of a recurrence. Reviews typically report that 10% more women survive longer than ten years when they take tamoxifen for five years. However, these reviews also indicate that tamoxifen significantly increases the incidence of endometrial cancer – quadrupling it after those same five years of use. This is because tamoxifen causes the uterus to quickly thicken in virtually all test subjects, doubling their risk of endometrial cancer in the first year or two of use. Because the drug has anti-oestrogenic properties in some parts of the body and potent oestrogenic effects on others, it is known, along with raloxifene, as a selective oestrogenOestrogen is one of the main female sex hormones…. receptor modulator.

Other side effects of tamoxifen include a tripling of the risk for potentially fatal blood clots in the lungs, increased risk of stroke, blindness and liver dysfunction. In consideration of these potential problems, tamoxifen’s overall reduction in risk of mortality is considerably less than 10%.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) admits that tamoxifen is indicated for preventive use only in women with increased risk of breast cancer, as determined primarily by family history. NCI estimates that only about 0.3% of women age 39 or younger would be candidates for tamoxifen treatment, yet it used to be common practice to put most women with breast cancer on the medication.

Raloxifene is the major rival for tamoxifen. It hasn’t been so extensively studied in long-term trials, but the general consensus is that it reduces recurrence in oestrogen-positive breast cancer only slightly better than tamoxifen, but with less risk for endometrial cancer and no real difference in risk for stroke or cardiovascular problems. Some have claimed that raloxifene might reduce cardiovascular risk because, like tamoxifen, it appears to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol. But a recent trial, which studied the effects of raloxifene in women who had a history of heart disease or who were at high risk for heart disease, showed that after more than five years of follow-up, participants experienced no real improvement in heart problems. [1] This trial also found that taking raloxifene put some women at greater risk for dangerous blood clots, though the risk of stroke was found to be the same in women taking raloxifene as those taking the placebo. However, among women who had strokes during the time of the study, more women in the raloxifene group had fatal strokes than in the placebo group.

A second rival to tamoxifen is Arimidex. Although the survival rates of patients taking Arimidex don’t appear to be any different from the survival rates of patients taking tamoxifen, there are quite a few studies that focus on symptoms affecting ‘quality of life’. For example, one study says that women who took Arimidex reported less vaginal bleeding and thromboembolic events than women taking tamoxifen, but more hot flushes and vaginal dryness. [2] Another reports more loss of libido with Arimidex, but less dizziness. [3]

Over-Hyped Herceptin

Herceptin works by targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) proteinProteins are large molecules consisting of chains of amino acids. Proteins are essential nutrients for the human body – they are a building block of…, which can fuel the growth of breast cancer tumours in women with HER2-positive breast cancer. However, this accounts for only 25% of breast cancer cases. Herceptin proponents tout clinical trials which show a 46% decrease in recurring breast cancer when the drug is prescribed to late-stage breast cancer patients. But one of the main studies cited in support of Herceptin, called the Hera trial [4], saw 34 deaths in the control group (2% of the participants) and 23 deaths (1.4%) in the group treated with Herceptin. This is a 0.6% absolute reduction in deaths. But there are problems. A study carried out by the University of Texas and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that a significant number of patients using Herceptin for at least a year suffered cardiac problems. [5] In this study of 173 patients, 28% of those treated with Herceptin experienced a cardiac event after taking the drug for an average of 21 months – and this included one cardiac-related death. At £30,000 a year, Herceptin hardly seems worth it when you think what you could do with that money by way of reducing your risk naturally.

Natural Ways To Reduce Your Risk

To put natural solutions in perspective, a survey of more than 44,000 twins determined that no more than 15% of breast cancer cases are the result of genetic predisposition. [6] Therefore, 85% of cases are likely a consequence of environmental factors, including diet and lifestyle. It makes sense to look at what these factors might be. One logical place to start is in China. According to research quoted by Dr Jane Plant, cancer survivor and author of The Plant Diet, a woman living in rural China has a 1 in 9,000 chance of developing breast cancer, compared to a 1 in 9 chance for a woman living in the United States. Because Chinese women living in the United States have a risk comparable to other women in the United States, the difference must lie in a quality or practice in China that doesn’t exist in the United States (or vice versa). Two things come immediately to mind: the Chinese don’t consume dairy products, and they eat phytoestrogen-rich beans every day.

Natural Anti-Growth Foods

The drugs I’ve discussed work by blocking growth signals to breast cancer cells. Two key growth hormones for cancer cells are oestrogen and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor). IGF-1 is made in the body, but it is also found in milk. A woman who drinks one pint of milk a day has substantially higher IGF-1 levels and a three times greater risk of breast cancer than a woman who drinks no milk. [7] This is because IGF-1 stops ‘apoptosis’, which is the suicidal self-destruction that cells are programmed to do when they overgrow. [8] So, in an IGF-1-rich environment, cancer cells will keep growing. There’s no easy way to quantify the risk reduction you would realise by avoiding all dairy products containing IGF-1. IGF-1 is likely to be concentrated in a high-protein dairy product, such as cheese. Hence, the odd bit of butter isn’t likely to stimulate cancer by itself, however, drinking milk and eating yoghurt and cheese on a regular basis might well do. My advice is to avoid all dairy products except for unavoidable butter, for example, when eating out in a restaurant.

Phytoestrogens in beans, especially the soya bean, as well as in chickpeas, lentils, nuts, seeds and rye, help block oestrogen receptors from powerful hormone-disrupting chemicals that mimmick oestrogen, such as PCBs, dioxins, and some pesticides. I wouldn’t rely only on soya, but generally make sure you eat at least some beans, lentils, raw nuts or seeds every day. When you do have soya, have fermented soya products such as natto or tempeh, as the protective components are more active. In terms of seeds, flax and pumpkin are the best anti-cancer varieties. Broccoli is especially rich in di-indolylmethane (DIM), which mops up excess oestrogens. All the cruciferous vegetables – including kale, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts – are good sources of this. You can also get DIM supplements via a nutritional therapist (due to their potency, they are not readily available to the public in the UK). One of the most potent anti-oestrogenic substances is the hormone progesteroneProgesterone is one of the main female sex hormones….. If your progesterone level is low, taking it in amounts equivalent to what your body would naturally produce, is likely to greatly reduce your risk of cancer recurrence. You can do this with a transdermal progesterone cream; however, I strongly recommend that you read Dr John Lee’s book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer (Warner, 2002), to explore this approach fully.

Antioxidants Keep Your Immune System Strong

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute of Canada have found that diet and vitamin intake are key factors in surviving breast cancer. [9] Their study analysed the dietary habits of 678 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between January 1982 and June 1992, 76 of whom died from the cancer during the study period. After reviewing the dietary habits of the women prior to their diagnosis, the researchers found that the women who had a relatively high intake of beta-carotene (greater than 4.6mg daily) had half the risk of dying from breast cancer compared to the women with a low intake of beta-carotene (less than 2.2mg daily). Similar results were found for vitamin CWhat it does: Strengthens immune system – fights infections. Makes collagen, keeping bones, skin and joints firm and strong. Antioxidant, detoxifying pollutants and protecting against…. Women who consumed more than 210mg daily had a 57% lower risk of dying from breast cancer than women consuming less than 110mg daily. Vitamin EWhat it does: Acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage, including against cancer. Helps body use oxygen, preventing blood clots, thrombosis, atherosclerosis. Improves wound… also showed a slight protective effect, despite the fact that the amounts consumed by the women were very small (24 IU per day or less). Vitamin C has tremendous cancer-fighting properties, but less so for breast cancer. Even so, I’d recommend 4 grams a day in divided doses. Garlic has similar properties.

Reducing Saturated Fat Reduces Risk

The researchers also concluded that the risk of dying from breast cancer increases by 50% for every 5% increase in saturated fatSaturated fats should be avoided wherever possible as they increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood and increase the risk of developing heart disease…. in overall calories. Other studies have found that omega 3 fats – and fish consumption in general – reduce risk, but I would urge that you be extremely careful about the source of fish. PCB contamination in the ocean is high. There’s less contamination in smaller fish from the Pacific, but I’d stick to, and possibly favour, supplementing purified fish oil instead and eating more protein from vegetables such as quinoa. Other studies clearly show that reducing your intake of fatThere are many different types of fats; polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, hydrogenated, saturated and trans fat. The body requires good fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) in order to… and increasing your intake of fibreFibre is an important part of a balanced diet. There are two type of fibre; soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fibre helps your bowel to pass… cause substantial positive changes in many measures known to increase breast cancer risk, including reductions in IGF-1 levels. Reducing your intake of sugar does the same thing. In reality, eating a low-GL (glycemic load) diet, which is the best way to lose fat, is also the best way to reduce your risk of breast cancer recurrence. One of the simple reasons for this is that oestrogen is not only made in the ovaries. It’s also made in fat cells. The fewer fat cells you have, the less oestrogen you tend to make. In post-menopausal women especially, losing weight and eating less sugar can make a big difference in cancer survival, as does taking regular exercise and staying relaxed. Reducing stress has a profound effect on surviving cancer, which is itself a very stressful experience. So, it’s extremely important to know your priorities and to take care of yourself. I would recommend working with a psychotherapist if sorting them out seems too overwhelming.

Check Out Your H levels

Stress raises a substance in your blood called homocysteineHomocysteine is an amino acid found in the blood. Elevated levels of homocysteine have been associated with narrowing and hardening of the arteries, an increased… – and this can promote cancer because high homocysteine is a marker of your inability to perform a vital biochemical process called methylationMethylation is what occurs when the body takes one substance and turns it into another, so that it can be detoxified and excreted from the…. One in four gene mutations is caused by faulty methylation. So, check your homocysteine level (see yorktest.com for a home test kit), and supplement a cocktail of homocysteine-lowering nutrients – including vitamins B2, B6 and B12, folic acidWhat it does: Critical during pregnancy for the development of a baby’s brain and nerves. Also essential for brain and nerve function. Needed for utilising…, a nutrient called TMG, zincWhat it does: Component of over 200 enzymes in the body, essential for growth, important for healing, controls hormones, aids ability to cope with stress… and magnesiumWhat it does: Strengthens bones and teeth, promotes healthy muscles by helping them to relax, also important for PMS, important for heart muscles and nervous… – to bring yours down to below 7 (ideally you want to achieve a homocysteine level of about one-tenth of your age). I have seen this approach not only keep thousands of women free from breast cancer, but even reverse the cancer in women who have it. That’s what happened to Betty, who first consulted me in 1986. Here’s what she says: “I feel moved to tell you that I consulted you in 1986 with a recurrence of breast cancer. Now, 13 years later, I am pleased to share that I have just celebrated my 75th birthday and am fit and well, taking no medication and attending no clinics. I am sure this is in large part due to the advice I received from you.”

Reduce your alcohol consumption

A 2011 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that a low level of alcohol consumption (5.0 to 9.9 grams per day, equivalent to 3-6 glasses of wine per week) was modestly but statistically significantly associated with a 15 percent increased risk of breast cancer. Also, women who consumed at least 30 grams of alcohol daily on average (at least 2 drinks per day) had a 51 percent increased risk of breast cancer compared with women who never consumed alcohol. The study authors suggested this may be due to alcohol’s effect on raising oestrogen levels in circulation, probably due to decreasing the liver’s capacity to detoxify oestrogens.

Follow a low GL diet and keep your insulin levels low

A study in 2009 by scientists from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, published in the International Journal of Cancer, involving 5450 post-menopausal women followed over 8 years showed that those women in the top third for insulinInsulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. It is responsible for making the body’s cells absorb glucose (sugar) from the blood…. levels had triple the risk of breast cancer. The best way to balance your blood sugar and lose weight or maintain it, and so control insulin levels, is to follow a low glycaemic load diet. [https://www.patrickholford.com/topic/low-gl]

In summary, there are many options that can help prevent a recurrence of breast cancer, and they are all things you can do without drugs.

Here they are for easy reference:

• Follow a low-GL diet, emphasizing omega 3 fats instead of saturated, burned or fried fats.
• Avoid sugar and stimulants.
• Eat eight servings of fruit and vegetables a day, especially carrots, tomatoes and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli.
• Supplement additional all-round antioxidants, plus 4 grams of vitamin C a day.
• Eat beans, lentils, nuts or seeds every day.
• Have fermented soya products.
• Have a tablespoon of flax or pumpkin seeds a day.
• Avoid dairy products and minimise red meat and burned meat or fish. Eat organic where possible and be very selective about the meat or fish you eat, choosing lean meat and fish from unpolluted waters.
• Supplement a high-strength multivitamin with plenty of B vitamins, plus vitamins A and D.
• Consult a nutritional therapist about supplementing DIM.
• Consider natural progesterone.
• Have two cloves of garlic every day.
• Keep fit and active, but don’t over-stress yourself.
• Reduce your alcohol consumption

References

1. E Barrett-Connor et al, ‘Effects of raloxifene on cardiovascular events and breast cancer in postmenopausal women’, New England Journal of Medicine (2006), vol 355 (2), pages 125-37.

2. ‘Anastrazole alone or in combination with tamoxifen versus tamoxifen alone for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with early breast cancer: first results of the ATAC randomised study, The ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination) Trialists’, Lancet (2002), vol 359, pages 2131-39.

3. L Fallowfield et al, ‘Quality of life of postmenopausal women in the Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination (ATAC) Adjuvant Breast Cancer Trial’, Journal of Clinical Oncology (2004), vol 22(21), pages 4261-71.

4. M J Piccart-Gebhart et al, ‘Trastuzumab after adjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer’, New England Journal of Medicine (2005), vol 353, pages 1659-1672.

5. V Guareni et al, ‘Long-term cardiac tolerability of trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer: the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center experience’, Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006), vol 24 (25), pages 4107-15.

6. P Lichtenstein et al, ‘Environmental and heritable factors in the causation of cancer – analyses of cohorts of twins from Sweden, Denmark, and Finland’, New England Journal of Medicine (2000), vol 343 (2), pages 78-85.

7. D W Voskuil et al, ‘Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-system mRNA quantities in normal and tumor breast tissue of women with sporadic and familial breast cancer risk,’ Breast Cancer Research & Treatment (2004), vol 84 (3), pages 225-33.

8. R Baserga et al, ‘Mini Review: the IGF-1 receptor in cancer biology’, International Journal of Cancer (2003), vol 107, pages 973-877.

9. Jain, Meera et al, ‘Premorbid diet and the prognosis of women with breast cancer’, Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1994), vol 86 (18), pages 1390-97.