Soy + Tamoxifen

Physicians often discourage their breast cancer patients from taking plant estrogens (called phytoestrogens). Patients are frequently warned away from soy, flaxseed and other plant estrogens supplements. This is despite the fact that plant estrogens are only 1/1000th the strength of natural estrogen, doctors have preferred to prescribe estrogen from horse mares (Premarin) that increases the risk for breast and uterine cancer. So researchers in Israel decided to combine soy phytoestrogens (genistein) with Tamoxifen, the estrogen-blocking drug. In a test tube study, soy phytoestrogens worked synergistically to enhance the effects of Tamoxifen. Now how to get physicians over their soy phobia. [Carcinogenesis, January 18, 2007 online]