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Most powerful foods to prevent recurrence?

Page last modified on: October 16, 2008
Question from Donna Still: I am halfway through chemo and have been reading about diet and recurrence of breast cancer. What are the most powerful foods to help avoid recurrence?
Answers —Cyndi Thomson, Ph.D., R.D.: We don't know the answer to that question. The WINS study suggested that low-fat eating is one important dietary factor. Certainly, most clinicians will recommend a diet high in vegetables and to some extent fruits. Avoidance of saturated fats and trans fats is also advised, and eating foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as cold water fish, may also be helpful. But more research is needed to provide more definitive answers.
Melinda Irwin, Ph.D., M.P.H.: During treatment, if you're not exercising currently you could start a light or moderate exercise program. If you have been exercising prior to treatment, maintain that program as best as you can to avoid any potential weight gain and to maintain your lean body mass, which may decrease as a result of therapy.

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.

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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.

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