How to Increase Breast Cancer Survival

 The World Cancer Research Fund International has stated that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with nearly 1.7 million new cases diagnosed in 2012 (second most common cancer overall). This represents about 12% of all new cancer cases and 25% of all cancers in women. It is quite shocking to say the least !

After a cancer diagnosis the majority of women tend to eat healthier than before. A study has noted that about a third of the breast cancer patients make healthy eating a priority and make changes such as increasing fruit and vegetables in their diet and cutting out meat, fat and sugar intakes.

Do these dietary changes help that late in the game ? According to the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living Study, where a few thousand breast cancer survivors took part to determine if a plant-based, low-fat, high fiber diet could influence breast cancer recurrence rates and survival.

Previously they notoriously reported that making simple changes such as eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day and just walking 30 minutes a day, six times a week, were associated with a significant survival advantage, cutting the risk of death nearly in half. 

Note: It was the fruits, vegetables and the exercise !

In the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living Study found that while fruits and vegetables in general may be good, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussel’s sprouts and Cauliflower were better.

For example, women on tamoxifen who ate one of their five daily servings of fruits and veggies as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, collards or kale had their risk of cancer recurrence cut in half.

It is also highly recommended that all women with breast cancer eat broccoli sprouts which are more potent in cancer busting properties.