- Question from Pierini: I have hormone-negative breast cancer. The latest research suggests a low-fat diet lowers recurrence rates as much as 66% for hormone-negative cancers. I try to exercise at least one to two hours most days of the week—but I remain about 20 lbs. overweight. I take vitamins. I now feel like every time I eat a fat gram, I'm killing myself. Does cancer "feed" on fat, so less fat means I'm "starving" the cancer cell?
- Answers —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: It's an unfortunate side effect of this type of research that we shift the burden sometimes to the woman who has had or does have breast cancer. Although one wants to feel strong and powerful and in control, in many ways we're limited by the disease itself or the available treatments. Your question brings up two points. The first is that how delightful it is to know that for women with hormone-receptor-negative cancers there is something that can be done in addition to chemotherapy. Certainly, the results of this study which were presented at another meeting and appear to be consistent, offer encouragement for just that reason. The second point is that an individual woman's prognosis and risk of recurrence is sometimes a mystery to us. My concern with this kind of research is that it shifts the blame to the person, should she have a recurrence.
All that being said, you are certainly a motivated, dedicated person and are working incredibly hard to take the best care of yourself. In your particular case, your excess weight is of concern to you. There are several possibilities for women who can't seem to lose that extra weight. The first would be to talk to your doctor about the possibility of another medical problem, such as thyroid disease, which is very common among women. It is also possible that you are not exercising as effectively as you could. You might want to talk to somebody at a gym, or to your doctor, especially your primary care doctor, about ways you could improve the effectiveness of your exercise regimen. Finally, consulting with a registered dietitian might give you some clues into other ways that you can reduce your fat intake while still enjoying the lovely foods in life.
- Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: This study provided women on the low-fat treatment arm or intervention arm with a lot of support and education on what a low-fat diet means, how to implement it and stick to it over time. So Dr. Griggs' advice to get counseling from a registered dietitian or nutritionist is very important. The women who followed the low-fat diet also lost weight relative to the other treatment arm where the women stuck to their usual moderate-fat diet level. So we're not sure exactly what may have helped reduce the rate of recurrence: the low-fat diet, the weight loss, or both. In addition, the women who lost weight on the low-fat diet didn't necessarily get to their ideal body weight. Our ideal body weight represents a goal that we all have to work to get to on a daily basis.
In addition to a regular exercise program, I have found a lot of success with Weight Watchers. Also tune into Breastcancer.org's discussion board called The Pound. There are a lot of people there waiting to help you with encouragement and practical tips. Finally, you have to fire the "itty bitty critty-cal committee" that lives in your mind, that intermittently criticizes you for eating this or that, or not doing this or that. You've got to give yourself a lot of support and encouragement to get there, and reach out to experts and to each other to get the support you need. With more follow-up over time, there may also be a significant benefit to a low-fat diet and weight management in women who had a hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. The study is not completely mature yet. I think they're also having some difficulty with funding to get some of the longer term follow-up results.
- Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: Exercise is good for your brain, your heart, your bones, your sex life, your concentration, sleep, etc.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2006. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. and moderator Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about the newest research on breast cancer treatment, side effects, risk of recurrence, and more.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
A production of LiveWorld, Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
