What women should know
As diet plays an important role in cancer therapy, there are many studies on this topic published every year. One of the latest followed women who were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer for over ten years and investigated how their diet, and dairy-intake in particular, influenced their recovery or the recurrence of cancer. The researchers discovered that regular consumption of high-fat dairy products decreased the likelihood of recovery and increased the risk of cancer recurrence. High-fat dairy products include cheese, butter, whole milk, many dairy-based desserts and yoghurts. The reason why high-fat dairy products had stronger influence than low-fat is due to the fact that high-fat products naturally contain more hormones and breast cancer is often very hormone sensitive. However, all dairy products contain naturally occurring hormones. The study authors recommended breast cancer patients to switch to plant-based milks.
Read our One in Nine report or Fighting Chance guide on diet and breast cancer online at Breast cancer or call 0117 944 1000 to order a copy.
Kroenke, C.H., et al., 2013. High- and Low-Fat Dairy Intake, Recurrence, and Mortality After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 105 (9) 616-623.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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