1) Diet
Most women have a greater fear of breast cancer than any other health problem.  The good news is that this is a preventable condition with a healthy lifestyle and proper diet.  Contrary to the wishes of most persons, using mammography causes more harm than good.  Chemotherapy, radiation and radical surgery are brutal treatments commonly given to women who have breast cancer.  They provide little if any benefit for increased survival.  Manipulation of hormones is of some value.  Without a doubt, the most effective and most overlooked natural therapy for breast cancer is diet.

Lignans

2) Lignans As a Cancer Fighter
Enterolignans are chemically similar to estrogen and have the ability to bind to estrogen receptors. In this way lignans are able to block the activity of estrogen in the body or weaken the activity. Because of this, lignans from plants belong in the phytoestrogen class. There has been considerable research revolving around lignans as a means to lower the risk of hormone related cancers. Enterolignans impede estradiol and aromatase production in general which has the effect of reducing serum estrogen levels. Plant lignans also elevate concentrations of globulin, which binds to sex hormones, thus inhibiting the effects of estrogens. These beneficial activities were reported in a clinical study when 48 women, who had passed menopause, ate 7.5 grams per day of ground flax seeds for six weeks and then 15 grams for another six weeks. Researchers observed substantial decreases in estrone, estradiol and testosterone. The greatest decreases were observed in women who were overweight or obese.

In one study done with mice, a diet of flaxseed (5% and 10%) revealed a slowing or stopping of breast tumor growth depending on dose. These beneficial effects have also been demonstrated in human trials. In a randomized, double-blind, controlled study of flax seed in the diet dramatic tumor growth protection was demonstrated. One group ate muffins with flax seeds and a control group ate muffins without flax seeds. This was done from the time of diagnosis until the time of surgery which was averaging about 35 days. Tissue from tumors analyzed at diagnosis and then at surgery showed remarkable benefits even in such a short time frame. There was significant death of tumor cells and reduced proliferation of cells in the group having flax seed in only one month's time.

In the same way, women who eat more flax seeds, who also had a documented higher level of serum enterolactone, were observed to have a 42% reduction in death risk from postmenopausal cancer of the breast and a very dramatic (40%) reduction in death from all causes. We can see beyond all doubt that flax seeds are a super food even when consumed with a less than pristine diet. They provide powerful protection from certain varieties of breast cancer. In another clinical study, women ate flax seed and were tracked for up to 10 years. It was observed that there was a 51% reduced risk of death from all causes and a 71% reduced risk of death from cancer of the breast.