Editor's note:   It's a pity that patients with advanced breast cancer will have to use a drug like Avastin.   FDA approval of Genentech's Avastin surprised many health advocates because this drug does not seem good enough, which prompts the FDA advisory panel to reject it.

Luckily, those who do not want bet their lives on drugs like Avastin may seek help from others.  They may learn to prevent the cancer from developing in the first place.   Some news reports published earlier on foodconsumer.org were cited below to give readers some ideas why breast cancer develops and how it could be prevented.

We will publish more on the same the same issue later.

 
Kelp:   A study published in the Feb. 2 issue of the Journal of Nutrition showed female rats fed 250 mg kelp per day increased their menstrual cycle by 37 percent and reduced the estradiol level by 25%. Both the shortened menstrual circle and lowered estradiol may indicate lower risk for hormone-sensitive breast cancer. Seaweed may reduce breast cancer risk

Forsteronia refracta compound:   Researchers at University of Virginia Health System isolated a compound from a rare South American plant called Forsteronia refracta that inhibits in vitro breast cells, an action that mimics the one of Gleevec, a drug for the treatment of chronic myoloid leukemia. The result was published in the Feb. 1, 2005 issue of the journal Cancer Research. Forsteronia refracta may be the killer of breast cancer

Oleic acid in olive oil:   Women who used a Mediterranean diet full of olive oil have a lower risk of breast cancer, according to a study published in the journal Annals of Oncology. Researchers attributed the lower risk to oleic acid, which was found to suppress the activities of a common cancer-causing oncogene called HER-2/neu. Oleic acid in olive oil protects against breast cancer

Alcohol:   Alcohol increases risk for a range of cancers including breast cancer, according to a review of 156 previous studies.   The review was published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Alcohol ups cancer risk

Restricted calories: Elaine Hsieh and colleagues at UC Berkeley published a study in the May 2005 issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism showing that a 30 percent reduction in calories would result in an 89 percent reduction in the proliferation of breast cells.   Faster cell proliferation could make cells more prone to errors leading to cancer cells. Less calorie intake may reduce cancer risk

Apple:   A study by Dr. Rui-Hai Liu at Cornell and colleagues suggested eating apples may reduce the risk of breast cancer in humans.   The study of rats show the number of tumors was reduced by up to 61 percent when rats were fed the amount of extract from six apples a day.   The results appear in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Apples fight breast cancer

High GI diet:   Stephanie A. Navarro Silvera and colleagues from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and University of Toronto In Toronto, Canada published a study in the April 20, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer showing that consumption of high glycemic index (GI) or high carb diets may increase the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. High GI Diets Linked to Breast Cancer Risk

Adipose fat: Philipp Scherer and colleagues from Albert Einstein College of Medicine reported in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation that adipose fat increases breast cancer risk. Adipose fat boosts breast cancer growth

Danggui Longhui Wan:   A study found that derivatives of indirubin, the active component of a Chinese herbal medicine Danggui Longhui Wan, can potently inhibit the growth of certain types of cancers including breast cancer.   The report appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 18, 2005. Herbal Compound Indirubin Derivatives Kill Cancer Cells

Moderate exercise:   Women with breast cancer can drastically increase their odds of survival if they do moderate physical exercise after diagnosis, which is equivalent to waking one more hour per week, according to a study published in the May 25 issue of JAMA. Moderate exercise betters odds of beating breast cancer

Plastic compound:    Bisphenol A (BPA), a food container chemical, affects female fetuses in the womb and increases the risk of breast cancer in the affected females when they grow into their adulthood, according to a study that appears in a recent issue of the journal Endocrinology. Food packaging chemical bisphenol A linked to breast cancer

Turmeric:   Curcumin in turmeric, a yellow spice widely used in Indian cuisine, has long been touted for its health benefits. A study recently found that turmeric may have the potential of stopping the spread of breast cancer. The results were presented in the fourth Era of Hope meeting for the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program held on June 8-11, 2005 in Philadelphia. Turmeric may stop breast cancer - study

Fish oil:   Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. A new study finds that derivatives from two omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have more potent anticancer properties than omega-3 fatty acids, according to research in the June 7 issue of Breast Cancer Research. Derivatives of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil fight breast cancer

Cleaning chemical:   A study in the July issue of the Journal of Applied Toxicology found that a chemical called 4-nonylphenol, found in cleaning materials, textiles, plastics, paper and clothing causes breast cancer in mice. Chemical causes breast cancer in mice

Hormone therapy:   In a monograph published on July 29, the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that estrogen-progestogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT), used by millions of women around the world, causes breast and endometrial cancers. Hormone Replacement Therapy Causes Cancer

French fries:   Young children who eat French fries frequently may be more likely to develop breast cancer in their later life, according to a US study published in a recent issue of the International Journal of Cancer.   Eating French Fries May Raise Breast Cancer Risk