Prostate Cancer Survivors

 

YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

 

 

This forum is for the discussion of anything to do with Prostate Cancer.
There are only four rules:

  • No fundraisers, no commercials (although it is OK to recommend choices of treatment or medical people based on your personal research; invitations to participate in third-party surveys are also acceptable, provided there is no compensation to YANA);
  • No harvesting e-mail addresses for Spam;
  • No insults or flaming - be polite and respectful at all times and understand that there may be a variety of points of view, all of which may have some validity;
  • Opinions are OK, but please provide as much factual evidence as possible for any assertions that you are making

Failure to abide by these simple rules will result in the immediate and permanent suspension of your posting privileges.

Since this is an International Forum, please specify your location in your post.

General Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
Flaxseed oil

After my diagnosis of prostate cancer last year at about this time I read up on dietary changes. I began taking small daily doses of flaxseed oil. But then recently I found some research evidence on the Net that perhaps flaxseed oil can even enhance cancer growth. So I stopped. Is there a consensus as to whether flaxseed oil is a good thing to include in our diet?

Re: Flaxseed oil

There is no consensus about flaxseed oil and there are no studies that demonstrate value or potential for harm. This subject has been discussed extensively over the years.

The original concept came from the diet suggested by a German doctor – Budwig which involved (among many other things) flaxseed oil (or perhaps ground flaxseed) mixed with quark. Because quark was not generally available in the US, but is similar in looks, but not construction, to cottage cheese and because it was a nuisance to grind flax seed daily, people started using cottage cheese and flax seed oil as food supplements, citing the Budwig protocol as evidence of its value, despite not following the other, complex aspects of the diet.

One of the doctor who posts on the Internet was opposed to the use of flaxseed oil because of an experiment that he had done which seemed to indicated that cancer cells might grow faster with doses of the oil – but of course it is important to bear in mind that petri dish experiments very rarely translate into reality. After a good deal of discussion he concede that ground flax seed might be OK but still was reluctant to recommend the oil.

Another point to bear in mind is that flax seed oil apparently deteriorates fairly rapidly and should be stored very carefully. It is poisonous to some animals.

Hope this helps.

Terry in Australia

Re: Flaxseed oil

Hi Bill,

You may know I'm an ardent follower of the Prof. Jane Plant diet?
I've followed her recommendations since soon after diagnosis 3yrs ago.

She has told me 'definitely not' flaxseed oil' but most definitely DO use golden linseeds.

I have used 20 - 30g of these linseeds sprinkled on cereal each morning since I started the diet.

I believe they are mainly advised because of the great properties of the lignans they contain.

Best wishes,

George

England

Re: Re: Flaxseed oil

The Dr mentioned is a cancer specialist and acknowledged expert on nutrition and cancer. He is also a prostate cancer sufferer (diagnosed I think about 2000. He cautions against the use of flaxseed oil (also known as linseed oil) but recommends whole ground flaxseed for those that want to use it. He also cautions on the use of chondroitin sulfate, a now common supplement used in conjunction with glucosamine for those suffering arthritic joint pain. The article in question dates back to 1999 but it is interesting that he recommended substituting Celebrex for PCa patients which just recently is being trialed the cholesterol reducing drug Lipitor (with postitive results). The artical can be found here.
http://www.prostateforum.com/info-chondroitin.htm

Re: Flaxseed oil

I really appreciate these responses. They are helpful to me in concrete terms, and probably so for others.

Re: Flaxseed oil

My physician recommeded a couple of years ago that I start taking flax meal daily to help with low HDL and okay LDL. As a result of using it for a few months it was time for another PSA so asked to also have lipids tested. The impact was on my LDL, it went down significantly. PSA unaffected it turns out. I had read reports sent by Prostate Cancer Foundation that ground flax seed/flax meal was helpful in retarding crostace cancer growth. After taking it daily for about 2 years I can report that I have PCa and surgery scheduled but cholesterol under control without medication.

RETURN TO HOME PAGE LINKS