title: Dietary modification for women after breast cancer treatment: a narrative review.
abstract: Diet is thought to account for about 25% of cancers in developed countries. It is well documented that the risks associated with both the breast cancer itself and its treatments are important for women previously treated for breast cancer. Women are at risk of recurrence of the primary disease and prone to develop treatment-induced co-morbidities, some of which are thought to be modified by diet. With a view to making dietary recommendations for the breast cancer patients we encounter in our clinical nursing research, we mined the literature to scope the most current robust evidence concerning the role of the diet in protecting women against the recurrence of breast cancer and its potential to ameliorate some of the longer-term morbidities associated with the disease. We found that the evidence about the role of the diet in breast cancer recurrence is largely inconclusive. However, drawing on international guidelines enabled us to make three definitive recommendations: women at risk of breast cancer recurrence, or who experience co-morbidities as a result of treatment, should limit their exposure to alcohol, moderate their nutritional intake so it does not contribute to post-menopausal weight gain, and should adhere to a balanced diet. Nursing education planned for breast cancer patients about dietary issues should ideally be individually tailored, based on a good understanding of the international recommendations and the evidence underpinning them.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland. rtramm@gmx.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tramm
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yates
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D018977:Micronutrients; D048789:Phytoestrogens