MNT Toolbox: Breast Cancer

 Overview: Cancer involves the abnormal division and reproduction of cells that can spread throughout the body. Annually in the United States, cancer is responsible for almost one in four deaths. It is estimated that one-third of the more than 580,000 anticipated cancer deaths can be attributed to nutrition and lifestyle behaviors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, alcohol use, and overweight and obesity.1 Breast cancer is a group of diseases in which cells in breast tissue change and divide uncontrolled, typically resulting in a lump or mass. Most breast cancers begin in the lobules (milk glands) or in the ducts that connect the lobules to the nipple. Breast cancer usually has no symptoms when the tumor is small and most easily treated, making early screening very important for early detection. The most common physical sign is a painless lump. Sometimes breast cancer spreads to underarm lymph nodes and causes a lump or swelling, even before the original breast tumor is large enough to be felt. In the United States, women account for 99% of cases and men account for 1% of cases with approximately 1 in 8 women, or 13%, being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.2

Readings:

Krause’s Food & The Nutrition Care Process 1

  • Ch. 36 Medical nutrition therapy for cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship 

Articles: 

Key Points: 

  • Diet may have a significant impact on breast cancer outcomes.3  
  • Following a healthy dietary pattern, based on high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, and fish, and low consumption of red meat, processed foods and meats, sweets, and high-fat dairy products, shows improvement in the overall prognosis and survival of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.3    
  • A carcinogen is a physical, chemical, or viral agent that induces cancer. Nutrition may modify the carcinogenic process at any stage, including carcinogen metabolism, cellular and host defense, cell differentiation, and tumor growth.1 
  • Estimates produced by the World Cancer Research Fund indicate a quarter to a third of all the cancers that occur in higher-income countries such as the United States are due to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and excess weight.1 
  • The Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) found that dietary changes that reduced fat intake to 20% of total calories and resulted in a modest reduction in body weight may favorably influence breast cancer prognosis.1   
  • Dietary carcinogen inhibitors include antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and the carotenoids, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and phytochemicals the biologically active components of plants.1 

(Visual #1: Phytochemicals in Vegetables and Fruits that may have Cancer Protective Properties.)1


Media:  

Understanding Breast Cancer (8:23) 6


Common Types of Breast Cancer- Mayo Clinic (1:14)7 

 


     Other References: 

    Action items: 
    • Discussion Questions/ Considerations
      • How does lifestyle and dietary patterns influence the risk of developing breast cancer? 
      • What does the research suggest for recommendations of specific vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplements in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer? 
      • Is there any specific dietary pattern such as pescatarian, vegan, vegetarian, or others that research shows to be the most beneficial for cancer patients?
    • Case Study
      • Nutrition and Breast Cancer 

     Reference List: 

    1. Mahan LK, Raymond, J. Krause’s Food & The Nutrition Care Process, 14th. ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017.
    2. American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2019-2020. Atlanta: American Cancer Society, Inc. 2019.  
    3.  De Cicco P, Catani MV, Gasperi V, Sibilano M, Quaglietta M, Savini I. Nutrition and Breast Cancer: A Literature Review on Prevention, Treatment and Recurrence. Nutrients . https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/pmc/articles/PMC6682953/. Published July 3, 2019. 
    4. Lemanne D, Maizes V. Advising Women Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review. J Altern Complement Med. 2018;24(9-10):902-909. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0150
    5. Greenlee H. Natural products for cancer prevention. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2012;28(1):29-44. doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2011.11.004
    6. Understanding Breast Cancer. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyeiZJrWrys. Published June 5, 2018. 
    7. Mayo Clinic. Common types of breast cancer - Mayo Clinic. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTH56ifHt28. Published June 14, 2019. Accessed April 12, 2022.
    8. Teegarden D, Romieu I, Lelièvre SA. Redefining the impact of nutrition on breast cancer incidence: is epigenetics involved? Nutr Res Rev. 2012;25(1):68-95. doi:10.1017/S0954422411000199
    9. Dinu M, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A, Sofi F. Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: A systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017;57(17):3640-3649. doi:10.1080/10408398.2016.1138447
    10. Mokbel K, Mokbel K. Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer With Vitamins and Micronutrients: A Concise Review. In Vivo . 10.1017/S0954422411000199. Published June 25, 2012.  
    11. Breast Cancer-Health Professional Version. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/hp. Accessed April 18, 2022.
    12. Nutrition in cancer care (PDQ®)–health professional version. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/appetite-loss/nutrition-hp-pdq. Accessed April 18, 2022.
    13. Cancer Therapy Interactions with Foods and Dietary Supplements (PDQ)–patient version. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/dietary-interactions-pdq. Published August 9, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2022.

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