The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates 20,030 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in Australia in 2021. Of those diagnosed, 19,866 will be women making it the most common form of cancer in females. While that’s an incredibly high number, survival rates are increasing and are currently at a promising 92%.
Given such a high number of women are surviving breast cancer, directing our attention to optimising our health to reduce our risk of breast cancer recurrence is of the utmost importance.
There is a growing body of evidence to support the benefit of nutrition in improving the prognosis of breast cancer survivors. Diet quality, along with physical activity, is proving invaluable in reducing cancer recurrence and reducing your mortality risk.
Nutrition for women surviving breast cancer
Studies have found obesity/overweight and physical activity play the strongest role in breast cancer prognosis. There are emerging links between diet and specific nutrients in breast cancer survival and recurrence, although more research is required.
Given diet plays such a pivotal role in weight management, it’s plausible to say nourishing your body nutritionally may offer you the greatest outcome when recovering from breast cancer.
What’s clear is an unhealthy, Western diet characterised by high consumption of refined grains, red meat, processed foods and alcohol increases your risk of being overweight and developing comorbid conditions associated with cancer. Research has also found this typical diet increases your
risk of cancer mortality.
There are some standard tips offered for breast cancer survivors in helping to reduce the chance of the disease recurring. Some of these you may be subscribing to or brushed past on a standard ‘life after breast cancer’ brochure.
Maintaining a healthy body weight
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- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit
- Limiting your saturated fat intake
- Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
- Avoid trans fats, processed meats, and charred or smoked foods
- Limiting your intake of sugary and processed foods
- Reducing your alcohol consumption.
The role a personalised, naturopathic approach plays in breast cancer recovery
As a naturopath, my role is to provide personalised health care. What your body requires is going to be very different from what my body needs. We go deeper than the standard recommendations you may receive on a handout after your breast cancer treatment.However, there are some key principles that can be used when supporting a breast cancer survivor nutritionally.
These may include:
- Correcting nutritional deficiencies
- Regulating or reducing chronic inflammation
- Reducing levels of free radical damage and oxidation
- Balancing hormones
- Controlling your blood sugar balance
- Optimising digestion and nutrient absorption
- Reducing chemical exposure and toxin load
- Supporting immune function
In order to do this, personalised nutrition becomes invaluable. Hippocrates has been credited with saying ‘Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food’. Essential fatty acids can help to reduce inflammation. Antioxidants are cancer-protective and reduce oxidative stress. Phyto-oestrogens are helpful in regulating hormonal balance. Fibre-rich foods help to feed your gut bacteria.
But just as with medicine, a personalised approach enables us to discover what your body actually needs. You wouldn’t fulfil your neighbour’s prescription at your local pharmacy, would you?