Breast cancer is a life-altering condition, and those who have undergone treatment for it deserve every chance to minimize the risk of recurrence.

One of the many approaches that can reduce the chances of breast cancer reoccurrence involves strategic dietary choices.

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease that affects the breast tissue. In some cases, cancer cells form into a lump that may or may not be seen using a mammogram. This overwhelming form of cancer doesn’t only affect women, but it can also occur among men.

Treatments Available for Breast Cancer:

The type of treatment that is recommended for breast cancer is based on the patient’s overall health, the cancer stage (how big the tumor is and how far it has spread), and its characteristics (whether it involves certain hormones and genes).

Common treatments include:.

Chemotherapy: Treatment using drugs designed to kill cancer cells.
Surgery: Removal of cancerous tissue.
Radiation Therapy: Treatment with high-energy radiation.
Hormonal Therapy: Treatment with medications that block hormones which cancer cells need to multiply.

How Diet Influences Breast Cancer Reoccurrence?

Dietary choices play a crucial role in the management of many life-threatening diseases, including breast cancer. While your diet may not cure breast cancer, it can help in reducing the risk of reoccurrence.

Eat a Balanced Diet:

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is a step to better health. A healthy diet can help rebuild tissues and stem cells damaged by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

A well-balanced diet should contain whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. For those who already have breast cancer, research indicates that a diet high in youth-enhancing nutrients fiber and carotenoids can help reduce the risk of reoccurrence.

Consume Low Glycemic Foods:

Eating low glycemic foods on a diet can lower the body’s insulin levels, which, in turn, can interfere with the development of malignant tumors.

Some low glycemic foods to consider include whole grain bread, stone fruits, sweet potatoes, nuts, and legumes.

Avoid Red and Processed Meats:

Red and processed meats contain harmful compounds associated with colon, stomach, and prostate cancer. These meats also contain a protein known as Neu5Gc.

Human subjects who consumed this protein developed anti-Neu5Gc antibodies, which have been linked to a higher risk of cancer. Reduce the risk of reoccurrence by avoiding red and processed meats.

Limit your Alcohol Intake:

Alcohol consumption is connected with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. According to some studies, even two drinks a day increased the chances of breast cancer reoccurrence by almost 40%.

Limit your alcohol consumption to one drink a day if you are a woman, and two drinks a day if you are a man.

Have a Plant-based Diet:

Plant-based diets are associated with a much lower incidence of cancer due to their antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber since they can have an anti-inflammatory effect to protect against cancer cells.

A plant-based diet includes eating plant foods as your primary source of nutrition, including legumes, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats like avocado and nuts.

Get Enough Vitamin D:

Studies have shown that vitamin D is believed to the body’s natural cancer fighter. People living in lower latitudes (nearer to the equator) receive greater exposure to the sun’s UVB rays, which help to synthesize vitamin D in the body.

For people who don’t get enough vitamin D, taking supplements or eating foods rich in Vitamin D, like oily fish and fortified cereals, can help.

Maintain a Healthy Weight:

Obesity is associated with a higher incidence of cancer (including breast cancer), and weight loss has been shown to decrease the risk of reoccurrence.

It’s important to maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of additional cancer cells forming by consuming a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly. Being overweight can cause the body to produce more estrogen, which can stimulate breast cancer cells to grow and spread.

Reduce Stress:

While reducing stress is not categorized as a dietary approach, it is priceless to managing cancer and keeping it at bay. Cancer patients who are low on stress manage to cope with their treatments much more effectively.

Stress can cause the body to produce hormones and chemicals that contribute to inflammation, which can negatively impact the immune system. Rather than reaching for a candy bar or an alcoholic drink as an unhealthy way of coping with stress, try other mindfulness and relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, or exercise for relief.

The Bottom Line:

One of your best defenses against breast cancer reoccurrence is maintaining a healthy lifestyle by consuming a well-balanced diet, reducing stress, and exercising regularly.

Healthful dietary choices can reduce the risk of reoccurrence by preventing the formation of additional cancer cells. Consult your health care professional or a qualified nutritionist to identify a personalized diet plan tailored for you.