Soy may interact negatively with tamoxifen.
There is a lot of controversy about whether to use tamoxifen and soy together. Studies are being conducted, but so far, it is not clear whether combining the two is beneficial or not.
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is a drug that blocks the activity of estrogen and has been used for about a decade to treat women who are at risk of developing breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Soy
Soy is an inexpensive, low-calorie way to get more protein in your diet, according to breastcancer.org. However, there is controversy about soy consumption and whether it increases the risk of developing breast cancer, according to Psychology Today.
Soy and Breast Cancer
Soy contains low levels of plant estrogens. High levels of estrogens have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Recent studies have shown, though, that soy may not increase the risk of developing breast cancer, according to the ACS.
Tamoxifen and Soy Together
Soy may actually boost the cancer-fighting effects of tamoxifen, according to the ACS. In fact, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that combining tamoxifen and soy reduced tumors by 29 percent, according to Scientific American. But another study suggested that combining tamoxifen and soy may increase the risk of developing breast cancer, according to the ACS.
Final Considerations
You should use caution when combining any treatments. While using Tamoxifen and soy together looks promising, more study is needed to determine its safety, according to the ACS.
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