Is there a ‘breast cancer diet’?

The latest evidence on the foods that increase or reduce your risk

Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash

The subject of breast cancer and nutrition can be fraught and controversial. When I was diagnosed in 2021, I was inundated with advice from well-meaning friends, acquaintances and even strangers, keen to tell me that I absolutely must not have any dairy, avoid soya at all costs and, if possible, eat entirely raw food.

I disregarded most of the (often conflicting) advice. But I knew that what we eat does have an impact, so I made it my mission to learn as much as I can - from the experts. I attended workshops and seminars on breast cancer and nutrition, some of them run by the NHS, others by charities such as Future Dreams, and I took a deep dive with nutritional scientist Toral Shah’s integrative breast cancer course.

As a result, I feel pretty well-informed on what the evidence says, but I’m aware that research in this area is evolving all the time and am always keen…