Skip to content

Atkins diet okay for breast cancer survivors?

Page last modified on: October 16, 2008
Question from Romanz: I just finished treatment and gained about 15 pounds. I want to do the Atkins diet because a friend of mine has lost so much weight on it. However, I keep hearing that red meat is dangerous for breast cancer patients. What is your take on the Atkins diet for breast cancer survivors?
Answer —Cyndi Thomson, Ph.D., R.D.: We're actually doing a study looking at a low fat versus low carbs diet in breast cancer survivors, and we made a conscious decision to adjust it and make it a modified Atkins diet because I do not feel that we want breast cancer survivors eating large amounts of saturated fat, including red meat. So you might modify the diet by choosing leaner protein sources, like fish and chicken.

On Wednesday, April 18, 2007, the Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Weight Management During and After Breast Cancer Treatment. Cyndi Thomson, Ph.D., R.D. and Melinda Irwin Ph.D., M.P.H. answered your questions on managing weight during and after breast cancer treatment.

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.

Email Updates

Stay informed about current research, online events, and more.

Please leave this field empty

Meet the Experts

Cyndi Thomson, Ph.D., R.D.Cyndi Thomson, Ph.D., R.D. is an associate professor in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Arizona - with joint appointments in medicine and public health.

Melinda Irwin, Ph.D., M.P.H. is an assistant professor in the department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale School of Medicine.

Back to top

Breastcancer.org 7 East Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor Ardmore, PA 19003

Learn more about our commitment to your privacy

© 2009 Breastcancer.org - All rights reserved.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.