Phytoestrogens Soy - Continue to be puzzled

[Guest guest]

I've had 3 different reactions from 3 Japanese oncologists when I

asked if I should avoid soy beans and their products.

The first said that the phytoestrogens in soy products could feed my

estrogen hungry cancer cells and promote growth and that I should

avoid them.

The second said that is controversial and that I shouldn't go out of

my way to get larger amounts like by drinking soy milk or powdered

protein (like in many diet drinks) but that a " normal amount in a

typical dietary lifestyle (this is Japan, they eat tofu and miso

almost every day, breakfast on sticky fermented soy beans and munch

on boiled green soy beans as a beer snack) would probably be fine.

The third (at the National Cancer Center here) said that soy might

actually be good and that the phytoestrogen might act like a natural

version of tamoxifen (which he has me taking in addition to monthly

Zoladex shots which shut down my ovaries).

At stage IV though, I think the third doctor feels I should do

whatever I feel like doing as long as I tell him so he can work

around anything " different. "

I don't worry about a little soy here and there but I don't go out

and buy highly processed " meat " substitutes or cans of protein

powder made from soy either.

I had lunch with some long term survivors last fall and was

pleasantly surprised to hear the diversity of their lifestyles.

The septuagenarian 26 year survivor of stage IV with heavy bone

mets makes it a point to drink a 633 ml bottle of Kirin beer every

evening (for her heart, she says) and loves steak. She sings opera

with an amature opera club and attends as many professional

performances as she can and is absolutely vibrant, banging her

walking stick around to make room on the train etc.

The 60ish 8 year survivor of stage IV with multiple lung mets eat no

animal protein nor processed sugars, has wine maybe 3 or 4 times a

year, grows her own vegetables and eats only brown rice and other

healthy grains instead of the usual white rice (over here rice is a

once or twice a day thing). She threw away the hospice number and is

enjoying her first two grandchildren.

The other 60ish 15 year survivor of stage II is a genome reseaarcher

in a busy university laboratory and never has time to plan or cook

meals much so she eats out, buys deli, or uses frozen food (with all

sorts of additives. She retired last year but has been invited to

continue research in London from April so continues to do what she

loves.

I was honored that they'd invited me to the " survivors' lunch " and

we had a lot of fun.

So, which way is best? It depends on the person and what they want

most I suppose. Still, it would be nice to have a " fail-safe " " this-

really-works-every time " plan to follow and stay well.

Best to all,

Kathy in Tokyo