The right diet plays a big role in the prevention of breast cancer. Utilizing nutrition to safeguard breast health is a two-pronged approach. First, avoid eating foods known to increase the risk of cancer. Second, focus on eating foods that are proven to support over-all good health and to provide protection from cancer-causing agents.

Carcinogens are cancer-causing substances that are naturally found in small amounts in some foods, but greatly increased by certain cooking methods. Grilled, charred, and fried foods, especially meats, are associated with this breast cancer risk. Cured meats are full of nitrates, which are transformed into carcinogens by the body. A good breast cancer prevention diet includes eating foods raw, steamed, lightly sauteed, and baked, as well as choosing natural foods that are not cured or smoked.

In a breast cancer prevention diet, avoid excess saturated fat and do not overindulge in caffeine or alcohol. Finally, be mindful of overall calorie intake and get plenty of exercise. Being overweight is an additional risk factor for breast cancer.

Free radicals change healthy cells into cancerous ones by taking electrons and changing the DNA of those cells. Free radicals happen naturally in the body and also come from environmental pollutants. The body can usually neutralize the free radicals as needed by utilizing antioxidants. Antioxidants stabilize and eliminate free radicals, repairing damaged cells before they become cancerous. There are many excellent sources of antioxidants.

One of the best source of antioxidants is fresh fruits and vegetables. When choosing fruits, the darkly colored ones such as plums, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and strawberries are highest in antioxidants. Vegetables are a great source of the vitamins, fiber, and phytonutrients that are necessary for cancer prevention. Variety is important when choosing vegetables, and the more vibrantly colored vegetables are the best choices. Eat plenty of orange and yellow vegetables such as acorn squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots, and green, crunchy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale and cabbage. Bright red and yellow tomatoes are also vital to a breast cancer prevention diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA, are important in the prevention of breast cancer. DHA and EPA are made by microalgae, and fresh fish has high levels of these important antioxidants. Salmon, mackerel, anchovies, and sardines have high levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and are also readily available. Other cold-water, oily fish such as tuna have lesser amounts of those fatty acids.

Cancer-fighting omega-3 fatty acids are also found in non-animal sources. From the nut family, walnuts have the highest content of omega-3. Other good sources include flax seed, hemp seed, and kiwi.





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Breast cancer is a debilitating condition that claims many women every year. The actual cancer of the breast has no clear cause or denominator that causes it to appear. This is why it is such a dangerous ailment, because it is nearly unpredictable.

However, there are some things that a person afflicted with breast cancer can do on a regular basis to fight and help prevent occurrence. These things can be as simple as changing one's diet.

While there is on-going debate as to how to design a proper anticancer diet, here are a few food types which may help one hold up against the dangers and the conditions of breast cancer.

• Minerals- Selenium is the main mineral that is suggested to be taken for the prevention and fighting of breast cancer. Selenium supplements can help boost the immune system as well as orient it to make the attacking of cancerous cells easier for the immune system to do. This is done through Selenium boosting the processing of the liver and the kidneys.

• Vitamins- The main vitamin that is suggested is Vitamin D. This is difficult to get because regular milk should be avoided. However, vitamin D supplements or other foodstuffs containing vitamin D can be substituted for dairy milk.

• Fruits/ Vegetables - It is highly suggested that a very high volume of fruits and veggies be consumed during a time of breast cancer. The vitamins and other components that are within these fruits and veggies can do wonders in the boosting of the liver and the kidneys and can heavily aid in the reconstitution of the immune system and its ability to fight off the infected area.

• Liquids - Liquids are a must. Most importantly water. Water is the lifeblood of the human body, thus much water is needed for the functioning of all systems. Water can help the liver and kidneys as well as the pancreas and other organs that are pivotal in the prevention and fighting of breast cancer.

• Whole Grains - whole grains are great sores of fiber which is very beneficial to any woman fighting breast cancer. Fiber can help stop the reproduction of cancerous cells at the source.

• Dairy- this is still a good thing to eat, though any lactose bearing dairy should be avoided. For these cases, some manners of lactose free dairy products are available for anyone that still wants the other nutrients that is found in dairy.




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Maintaining a healthy diet can make a hugely positive impact on the life of someone fighting metastatic breast cancer. Patients who eat a healthy, well-balanced diet can fight the cancer more vigorously and prevent many of the nutritional deficiencies that lead to side-effects. In addition, a well-designed diet can also lessen many of the side-effects of common cancer treatments that prevent patients from leading a better quality life.

Here are some ways maintaining a healthy diet can do these things and more:

It can maintain energy levels. Patients battling metastatic breast cancer often have trouble maintaining their energy and vigor. A healthy diet that includes a balance of healthy fats (think: mono and polyunsaturated fats found in foods such as olive oil), and carbohydrates can help the patient maintain energy levels. This helps the patient combat lower energy levels that make fighting the cancer even harder to do.

It can prevent weight loss. A healthy diet that has enough calories spread out throughout the day helps patients keep their weight up to a healthy level. Not only does this give the patient needed energy to do everyday activities and fight fatigue, it also helps the patient's body withstand the side-effects of chemotherapy and other common cancer treatments.

A healthy diet with more protein added to it prevents muscle wasting. Patients fighting metastatic breast cancer will often suffer from muscle wasting. A well-balanced diet that includes extra protein helps prevents muscle wasting by giving the body the extra building blocks it needs to build muscle tissues that is often lost through muscle fatigue-a common symptom of muscle wasting.

In addition, a healthy diet that includes the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals is also important to the patient battling metastatic breast cancer. Patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer have to go for more treatments to battle the disease. These extra treatments can affect your body's ability to use nutrients properly. If your body can't utilize nutrients, then you can suffer from maladies such as poor gum health and muscle cramps. To prevent these problems, eat a healthy diet that includes the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals. A diet that includes fresh fruits and lightly cooked fresh vegetables will often provide the body with enough vitamins and minerals each day. Ask your doctor about adding vitamin or mineral supplements if you feel you need them.

Finally, speaking of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, a healthy diet that includes these yummy foods also helps a patient control many of the side-effects of cancer treatments like diarrhea, a bloated stomach or constipation. The fiber in these foods helps you regulate the amount of water that is in your body and thus combat these problems. Plus, the foods taste good too!




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Advanced breast cancer, or Stage IV breast cancer implies that the cancer has metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body. This condition brings with it an assortment of symptoms; loss of appetite, pain in the ribs, back and long bones, difficulty breathing, headaches and weakness. In this stage, the objective is to keep the patient healthy and as resistant as possible to the disease.

Is it possible that diet could influence cancer's course? A body under siege from cancer / radiation / chemotherapy certainly needs the benefit of good nutrition for cell repair. Little research has been done to determine the effect of diet on this cancer, and typically health care providers do not put much focus on nutrition's role in disease. However, the outcome of two recent studies regarding diet's effect on the prognosis of advanced breast cancer indicates potential benefits.

While these studies need further investigation, it would seem to be common sense that a healthy, balanced diet can be nothing but beneficial. In the mentioned studies, women in the advanced stages of breast cancer fared much better on a diet high in protein and fiber. The diet also consisted of increased dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in anti-oxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout. If one is concerned with mercury levels found in fish, omega-3 fatty acids supplements may be used instead. Supplements of vitamins and minerals though should not replace wholesome fresh food that contains far more nutrition than tablets. Always notify your doctor if taking supplements of any kind, as some may interact unfavorably with medications.

Red meat, processed foods and hydrogenated and saturated fats were eliminated from the diet during these studies. Soy products are thought (but not yet proven) to produce a negative effect on breast cancer, and at this time, patients are warned to avoid foods containing soy and phytoestrogens. Some researchers also recommend eliminating pop and soda, refined carbohydrates and artificial sweeteners from patients' diets.





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