Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 11/9/2006

Question
does this mean that I should not consume soy, flax seed/oil, or wheat grass?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1979, had a lumpectomy, chemo & radiation.  I took tamoxifen for five years, and have been on femara for about 2 1/2 years.  I have been trying to have a better diet and incorporate healthy things into my life to prevent cancer from coming back.  However, I am very confused about what I can and cannot have.  I was told that I could no longer have soy products because they act as estrogens in the body.  But the things I read about it makes me think that it binds to the estrogen receptors and removes them from the body.  I am also interested in finding out whether or not I can have flax seed or flax seed oil, and also wheat grass.  Can you shed any light on this for me.  It is very frustrating trying to figure this out.  I am having a hard time finding the right answer on the Internet.  Thank you for any assistance you can give!!!
-----Answer-----
The plant estrogen do not remove the receptors, they bind to them and act as estrogens - to some degree - while some medicines like tamoxifen bind to the receptors and block them so that estrogens can not act on them. You can have anything except those things that act as estrogens. There are now so many food products out there that it is impossible to keep track on what everything contains. You will have to ask the supplier/manufacturer if the labels do not tell you.


Answer
At least soy. I'm a Swede living in Sweden so I'm completely unfamiliar with the other 2 foodstuffs! For me flax seed oil
is something you paint wood work with, I was not even aware of that anyone actually used it as food. And I have no idea of what wheat grass is. Before your question I had never heard of it. That is why you need to ask someone else about those 2 things.