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Advising Women Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review.

Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2018
Dawn Lemanne et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of flaxseed as part of integrative dietary recommendations for breast cancer patients.

Results Summary

The study suggests that flaxseed, along with other dietary components like cruciferous vegetables and soy, may be beneficial for breast cancer patients. However, the evidence is part of broader dietary recommendations rather than focused solely on flaxseed.

Population

Women undergoing conventional treatment for breast cancer, particularly those with estrogen receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (17)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
a plant-based diet
neutral
general health
patients after breast cancer diagnosis
-
recommended for general health
#1
carbohydrate restriction
neutral
-
patients with estrogen receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer
-
may be prudent
#2
a 13-h daily overnight fast
neutral
-
-
-
recommended
#3
fasting the day before and the day of chemotherapy
decrease
side effects
carefully selected patients
-
may choose to decrease side effects
#4
avoidance or limitation of alcohol
neutral
-
-
-
recommended
#5
liberal culinary use of cruciferous vegetables, coffee, green tea, soy, and flaxseed
neutral
-
-
-
recommended
#6
diindolylmethane
neutral
-
-
-
promising
#7
melatonin
neutral
-
-
-
promising
#8
Omega 3 fatty acids
increase
bone density
patients on aromatase inhibitors
-
may help with
#9
Omega 3 fatty acids
increase
chemotherapy resistance
-
-
may increase
#10
multivitamins, vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin E
no change
usefulness
-
-
findings regarding the usefulness are weak and/or mixed
#11
Aerobic and resistance training combined
increase
survival
patients during breast cancer chemotherapy
-
may confer a survival benefit
#12
yoga
increase
outcome
lymphedema patients
-
may improve outcome
#13
meditation, yoga, breathing, music therapy, guided imagery, and hypnosis
increase
mood and quality of life
patients during breast cancer treatment
-
may improve
#14
Acupuncture
decrease
side effects of breast cancer therapies
-
-
is useful for treating
#15
Vaginal moisturizers and vaginal rings supplying low-dose estrogen
decrease
symptoms of estrogen-deprivation states
-
-
can be useful in the treatment of
#16
Carbon dioxide laser technology
decrease
atrophied vaginal mucosa and dyspareunia
-
-
can rejuvenate and relieve
#17
Abstract

A majority of women undergoing conventional treatment for breast cancer also undertake complementary and integrative approaches. Practitioners knowledgeable about the evidence base behind common integrative approaches can help patients attain improved quality of life, and at times, improved survival. Evidence-based recommendations include the following: a plant-based diet for general health after diagnosis, and carbohydrate restriction for patients with estrogen receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer may be prudent. Other dietary recommendations include a 13-h daily overnight fast. Carefully selected patients may choose to fast the day before and the day of chemotherapy to decrease side effects. Specific food recommendations include avoidance or limitation of alcohol, and liberal culinary use of cruciferous vegetables, coffee, green tea, soy, and flaxseed. Promising supplements include diindolylmethane and melatonin. Omega 3 fatty acids may help with bone density in patients on aromatase inhibitors, but may increase chemotherapy resistance. Findings regarding the usefulness of multivitamins, vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin E are weak and/or mixed different exercise modalities may have different effects and thus play different roles in breast cancer therapy. Aerobic and resistance training combined during breast cancer chemotherapy may confer a survival benefit, while yoga may improve outcome in lymphedema patients. Current evidence suggests that meditation, yoga, breathing, music therapy, guided imagery, and hypnosis may improve mood and quality of life during breast cancer treatment. Acupuncture is useful for treating side effects of breast cancer therapies, including hot flushes, aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and vulvodynia. Vaginal moisturizers and vaginal rings supplying low-dose estrogen can be useful in the treatment of symptoms of estrogen-deprivation states caused by breast cancer treatments; such symptoms include vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and sexual dysfunction. Carbon dioxide laser technology can rejuvenate atrophied vaginal mucosa and relieve dyspareunia, allowing avoidance of estrogen therapy. Tertiary sexual health centers are available for referral.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Acupuncture TherapyBreast NeoplasmsDiet TherapyDiet, VegetarianDietary SupplementsEvidence-Based MedicineExerciseFastingFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansIntegrative OncologyOncologistsPhytotherapy
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety80
Efficacy70/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations9
Citations/Year1.3
Relative Citation Ratio0.34
NIH Percentile18%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score1.70
Normalized Score0.72
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