Soy and Organic Green Tea?

[1S2M3S]

I am new and thanks for these informative posts. After 6 years clear of Stage 1 breast cancer, I have metastatic breast cancer in my bones, none in lymph nodes. I have no pain and I have been on Ibrance 125 three weeks on, one week off And Letrozole 25 daily for a year. All good with monthly blood labs, “within normal for me on these meds” , and every 4 months FDG -PET scans show no progression. “You are doing great”, at my monthly oncologist appointments now pushed to every six weeks. My only side effects are some fatigue in the afternoon and constipation ( but under control). So far so good! My question is about having a small amount of Soy found in some foods and drinking Organic Green Tea. My oncologist doesn’t say yay or nay to supplements so I research and check before starting anything new. I appreciate any information not just your opinion but what you have learned. Thanks and best wishes to others

[Beryl71]

I understand soy was to be avoided as it boosts your hormone levels. I think I've seen warnings about too much green tea too. I've been on ibrance for four and a half years but letrozole was changed for fulvestrant last September because of a dodgy area on my scan. That has now nearly disappeared!Good luck. X

[1S2M3S in reply to Beryl71]

Thank you, that is what I have read about soy and green tea as well. My best to you

[RachH20]

sorry you have the diagnosis, it’s a difficult path to navigate but you sound like you are doing well. Do you have instagram? There is an oncology nutritionalist (oncology.nutrition.rd) she is called Nichole Andrews and she debunks a lot of myths about cancer and nutrition, I recommend you have a look at her x

[1S2M3S in reply to RachH20]

Thank you, I will definitely check Nicole Andrews out. I do not have instagram but will search for her.

[RachH20 in reply to 1S2M3S]

this is her book you can get on Amazon x

Book

[1S2M3S in reply to RachH20]

Thank you! I found her on line and appreciate your reference.

[Best521 in reply to RachH20]

Thanks for recommending this book. My oncologist says the same thing “Sugar does not feed cancer”. He also said there is no scientific evidence for any diet curing cancer. He recommends enjoying a hotdog on occasion while at the ballpark. The Registered Dietician at my cancer center has been a great resource regarding nutrition questions.

[Discocat]

Hi

I'm on the same meds with additional Zoladex for just over 3 years now....I also have bone mets and have been having similar responses from my oncologist...with good scan results showing stability so far.

I've been told "a few" cups of green tea are fine daily....although I was told to avoid coffee, which was no problem for me as I've never liked it. I was also recommended to avoid soya products for their estrogen mimicing properties and to not take any supplements, but in my case I had liver issues with my first med (Kisqali) and the supplements/OTC meds warning is to keep liver function unloaded....also no alcohol for same reason.

Wishing you continued success with your treatments!

All the best

Zoe

××

[1S2M3S in reply to Discocat]

Thank you. I do not care for coffee and no alcohol either is fine too. Sounds like you and I are quite similar. Initially I also had liver enzymes issues after one month on Abemaciclib (Verzenio) and Letrozole. Then was changed to Ibrance continuing with Letrozole and doing well. In my portal, I monitor my blood work and scans result closely and compare them, as I am sure others do also. Thanks to all. I appreciate your responses. Smiles and best wishes

[SpongebobMom]

IF it were me, I would avoid both. soy for the hormone & green tea (any tea really) for the oxalates.

[JKMS]

Hi I was diagnosed in 2020 and have been NEAD since 2021. I had a nutritionalist who I saw weekly for a first few years of diagnosis and she had no issue with organic soy. And as a veggie, that was a relief to me as there is a high soy content to my diet! I was on quite a strict keto diet for first few years as well and need to get back to that. I wish you very well 🙏🏻

[1S2M3S in reply to JKMS]

Thank you very much. Best to you and others.

[Oberammergaux2]

Hi,

I’m a vegetarian and was concerned with the soy level with my diet. I spoke with one of our cancer center’s nutritionists and she said there was no issue to be concerned about. In fact, she said they are trying to move their cancer pts to a more vegetarian diet.

Hope that helps. If you have cancer nutritionists at your center they can be very helpful. Ours are happy to chat over the phone.

Best of luck! We’ll all be sending best wishes your way 💕

[1S2M3S in reply to Oberammergaux2]

Thank you and everyone for your recommendations and encouragement.

[Gibby21]

my oncologist has told me that soy is not great because it fools with your hormones too much…..I believe with your estrogen so I’ve always been told not to take it. I don’t know anything about green tea.

[ba5083]

Green Tea - I drink at least on cup a day and in many cases 2 or more. When purchasing I look to find the green tea that yields the highest EGCG. As for soy, many think this is a bad idea however, Dr Li in "Eat to Beat Disease" indicates Soy is great for preventing cancer and progression and sites a big study by Vanderbilt University.

I did find this from Harvard University:

Soy is unique in that it contains a high concentration of isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) that is similar in function to human estrogen but with much weaker effects. Soy isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and cause either weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity.

Many of our Drs or Onc know very little about nutrition. I would encourage your own research in this, then talk to your Onc if interested with references in hand. 2 books that might help - Super Gut and Eat to Beat Disease is where i would recommend to start if interested.

Currently taking exemestine and Verzenio for the past 16 months

God Bless!

[1S2M3S in reply to ba5083]

Thank you. I like Dr. Li and have watched several of his videos. Yes, may God continue to bless us all.

[ba5083 in reply to 1S2M3S]

I will also add this since Dr Li is an advocate of 8oz of pomegranate juice daily to facilitate/promote akkermansia muciniphila in the gut. After talking to my pharmacist it was recommend to stay away from pomegranate juice if taking a CDK 4/6 inhibitor (Ibrance, verzenio etc) so I take akkermansia muciniphila as a supplement. However the brand I take is expensive.

[love2golfwell]

I had also read that soy should be avoided and my doctor told me no green tea either as it is an antioxidant and could affect how the meds work. She is not a proponent of supplements as they are not tested like meds are but I do take a multivitamin and a raw calcium/vitamin D. Hope you continue to have good results with your meds and get some answers as to things to avoid or things that are okay to take. The only things Pfizer says to avoid with Ibrance is grapefruit or grapefruit juice but I have also read not to have pomegranate juice or seville oranges. It is difficult to have all of the answers. Sending you hugs and prayers.

[1S2M3S in reply to love2golfwell]

Thank you. I appreciate all these encouraging and helpful posts. Sending prayers to all.

[Bravespirit]

I would suggest that you look for research papers and/or articles based on the research at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and the major cancer hospitals (MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering etc.).

You will find documented research studies on both soy and green tea.

I agree that’s the book, Eat to Beat Disease , and Dr Li’s research-based information is enlightening.

I used these resources in my search for answers to the same questions you’ve posed, and personally eat soy in moderation and try to drink 3 c of high quality matcha and green tea a day.

Here is a sample of just one article from the resources listed above

search.nih.gov/search?utf8=...

I am sure after reviewing a available resources you will find the right course of action for you.

In good health…