Breast cancer makes up 30% of all female cancers in the United States. Why someone develops breast cancer over another is unclear. Treatment for breast cancer is advancing and survival rates are increasing. But for some, breast cancer cells grow quickly, and the disease progresses rapidly. Scientists are looking into why cancer cells grow faster in some and not others. As cancer cells grow, the disease becomes more serious and even fatal. Cancer treatment tries to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. More aggressive treatments like surgical procedures physically remove the cancer cells from the body.
When treatment is successful, cancer cells are either gone or dormant. Dormant cells are no longer growing or are growing very slowly. This phase is usually referred to as remission. Being in remission means your signs and symptoms of cancer have reduced significantly or are gone entirely.
During remission, there is a chance that a few remaining dormant cancer cells will turn on again and start to grow. While there are likely many reasons this phenomime takes place, researchers are trying to discover treatable factors. Interestingly, stress may be one of the reasons dormant cancer cells wake up and start growing again.
Stress can be both a positive or negative reaction and puts the body into an overactive state. In an adverse event, like in the case of a loss of a loved one or serious diagnosis, stress can lead to fluctuations in hormone levels and trigger mood changes. When it continues for long periods of time, the body can become depilated. Without time to rest and repair, the body will have hard time fighting off disease.
Long-term stress is well connected to increasing inflammation. Recently, new studies are also connecting high levels of inflammation to immune system dysfunction. When the immune system is not functioning properly, it can weaken the success of the cancer treatment. In animal studies, chronic stress promoted the growth of some tumors making the condition worse.
While chronic stress does not cause cancer, it seems it can take a toll on the body during treatment.
Negative stress can increase signs of inflammation in the body. Interestingly, some foods you eat also influence the same inflammation pathway. It may not be surprising that excessive intake of ultra-processed foods leads to higher levels of inflammation and increased risk for chronic disease. We’ve likely heard the phrase, “you are what you eat”. This phrase holds true as the foods you eat have a profound influence on how your body functions.
While no one food will have a detrimental effect after the first bite, continuous, long-term consumption can cause lasting effects. Ensuring these long-term effects are positive is determined by the foods you choose. Aiming for a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, especially during cancer treatments, can support a healthy immune system and reduce inflammation. But there are other foods that can help, too. Let’s look at the top five foods that can reduce inflammation.
Nuts come in many varieties and almost always contain different levels of powerful antioxidants. Some nuts, like pistachios, cashews, and Brazil nuts, contain selenium which can help lower inflammation. But no matter the nut you like best, it seems eating nuts frequently can have a significant impact. While walnuts have a large number of research studies under their belt for effectively lowering inflammation markers, our advice is to add in the nuts you like the best.
Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria that support the health and integrity of the intestinal wall. A healthy intestinal wall reduces the risk of toxins passing from your gut into your bloodstream. A healthy gut reduces inflammation and can support a properly functioning immune system. Additionally, eating probiotic rich foods may reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress.
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. Regular intake of foods high in omega-3 fatty acids has been linked to self-reported reductions in stress and anxiety. Foods like salmon can promote the reduction of inflammation which can keep body systems functioning more optimally. While salmon is the most commonly referred to fish when it comes to omega-3, there are many other fish sources that promote health benefits.
The research is still not conclusive; however there is mounting evidence that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation when high levels of inflammation are present. There is also a growing body of research connecting low levels of vitamin D to mood disorders like anxiety and depression. Adding additional vitamin D to your diet may support lower levels of inflammation and improve your mood. Sources of vitamin D include salmon, tuna, and egg yolks as well as fortified sources like milk, orange juice and cereals.
Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and has been linked to reductions in blood pressure. Some studies link specific components of dark chocolate to slowing the growth of breast cancer cells. But the type of dark chocolate that you consume makes a difference. Many food labels for dark chocolate will list Dutch Process. During the Dutch process significant amounts of antioxidants are removed. When buying dark chocolate to add into a healthy diet, look for 70% cocoa or above. And be sure to read labels and avoid “Dutch process” or “processed with alkali”.
Jill Woodward is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Nutrition Education Specialist. She has a Master’s in nutrition and dietetics and has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals and outpatient clinics. Jill has also worked with fortune 500 companies across the US on developing a culture of health in their corporate environments. Jill enjoys seeing people achieve their chosen health and wellness goals. Her evidence based approach helps individuals reach their goals as part of their unique lifestyle to successfully sustain their healthy habits.
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