Alternative treatment for breast cancer gets results   Avis Favaro, CTV News   Wed. Dec. 6 2000 21:40 A Canadian medical study shows that a food -- the lowly flaxseed -- can actually slow the growth of breast cancer cells in women. Dr. Paul Goss presented his groundbreaking study at a conference in Texas Wednesday. Goss, an oncologist who is the head of the Medical Breast Group at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, says his research shows that flaxseed can significantly cut the rate of breast cancer cell growth. "The scientific community is very interested in this study," Goss said. "We've been bombarded by other investigators around the world." Dr. Goss and a team at the University of Toronto asked a group of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients to eat 25 grams, or two tablespoons, of ground flaxseed in a muffin each day. They analyzed samples of the patients' tumours before starting this nutritional treatment, and 30 days after. Researchers found that in less than a month, women taking flaxseed slowed their rate of cancer cell growth by up to 33 per cent, compared to women not on flax. And there was nearly a 60 per cent drop in the spread of the most aggressive cancer cells, an effect equal to anti-cancer drugs like Tamoxifin. A NATURAL ALTERNATIVE "Flaxseed is probably the first natural product that produced this sort of hard scientific evidence," Goss said. Researchers believe fibre in the seeds helps sweep the hormone estrogen out of the body, blocking its ability to make tumours grow. Because flaxseed is a food, and doesn't have the backing of a drug company, researchers wonder if they'll be able to carry on with their work, looking at whether these seeds may actually help prevent breast cancer in the first place. Sue Wright, of the Willow Breast Cancer Support Centre, thinks the information is too important to ignore. "There's a community out there hungry for this sort of information," she said. "It won't bother them that it's not a pharmaceutical -- in fact it may encourage them." Goss presented his findings at this week's 23rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.