Top Foods to Eat When You Have HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer

Top Foods to Eat When You Have HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer

When you have this form of breast cancer, your diet can play an important role in how you feel and how well you respond to treatment.
Top Foods to Eat When You Have HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer
iStock
By
Updated on July 17, 2024
by

When you’re going through treatment for HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, a healthy diet can help you feel better, cope with treatment side effects, and reduce the risk the cancer will come back.

The ideal diet is similar across all types of breast cancer, no matter the stage and treatment plan, says Ayana B. Davis, a registered dietitian with Berkeley’s outpatient cancer center, which is part of the University of California in San Francisco. But, because HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer is hormone positive (that’s what the HR-positive means), it responds to the presence of hormones, especially estrogen.

Eating the right foods and limiting others can help.

Can Weight Affect Breast Cancer Risk?

Breast surgical oncologist Ryland Gore, MD, explains how weight can be a risk factor for developing breast cancer.
Can Weight Affect Breast Cancer Risk?

Next up video playing in 10 seconds

Foods to Include in Your Breast Cancer Diet

Davis notes that a high-fiber diet, with at least five servings of fruit and vegetables daily, is known to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. “Focus on getting 75 percent of your food from plant foods — specifically, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes,” she advises. “But that doesn’t mean you have to become a vegetarian or vegan.”

Cruciferous Vegetables

These vegetables have cancer-fighting compounds, such as sulforaphane, that work in different ways, Davis notes. While they’re valuable for anyone who has breast cancer, research suggests they have an additional benefit for people with hormone-positive breast cancer: reversing estrogen-related metabolic changes.

Options include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower, as well as arugula, bok choy, and kale.

Tip: Eat one serving of cruciferous vegetables daily.

Omega-3–Rich Seafood

Earlier research from 2011 shows that women with breast cancer who get plenty of omega-3s from consuming fish have a better prognosis than those who don’t include much fatty fish in their diet.

While Davis recommends fatty fish for everyone with breast cancer, there may be a specific boost for those with hormone-positive cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids contain a compound that may reduce estrogen levels in the body, which one older study suggests may make estrogen blockers — such as Tamoxifen, which is often prescribed for HR-positive breast cancer survivors — more effective.

Fish such as salmon, sardines, and trout are rich in these protective fatty acids. These options are also safe to eat several times a week, but others, such as tuna and swordfish, may contain pollutants and should be limited to no more than once a month.

Tip: Eat fatty fish three times a week. If you’re a vegetarian or don’t like fish, go for plant sources of omega-3s, such as chia seeds, flaxseed, walnuts, or omega-3–fortified eggs.

Whole Soy Foods

Soy was once considered risky for people with hormone-positive breast cancer, because it can affect hormones. But soy foods are now recognized by the American Institute for Cancer Research as safe and even beneficial to eat, including for women with hormone-positive breast cancer.

In fact, research published in 2024 found that soy in the diet reduced the risk of cancer's return by 26 percent. It was also associated with a lower risk of mortality.

Good options include edamame, soy milk, tempeh, and tofu.

Tip: Eat whole soy foods, such as tofu, several times a week.

Protein

“Systemic treatment, such as chemotherapy, affects all of your body’s cells, and you need adequate amounts of protein to repair those cells,” Davis says, adding that many women who lean toward plant-based diets tend to skimp on protein.

For women with hormone-positive breast cancer, who are generally treated with hormone blockers, getting enough protein is particularly important. “When you don’t have enough estrogen in the body, you lose more lean body mass. That’s one reason women who transition to menopause naturally lose lean body mass,” says Davis. “So, you need extra protein to support whatever muscle mass you have.”

Focus on protein from lean animal sources (eggs, fish, skinless chicken) and plant sources (beans, lentils, soy foods). Legumes like beans and lentils also add fiber, which most people don't get enough of, and which may also reduce breast cancer risk.

Tip: Make sure every meal incorporates a source of protein.

Foods Rich in Calcium and Vitamin D

If you have hormone-positive breast cancer and are put on hormone-suppressing drugs, which lower estrogen levels, you’re prone to bone loss. This makes increasing calcium intake super important, especially if you take these hormone suppressants for five years or longer, says Davis.

Eat plenty of calcium-rich foods, which include cheese, low-fat milk, unsweetened yogurt, soy milk, tofu, broccoli, figs, spinach, calcium-fortified orange juice, calcium-fortified cereal, and beans such as chickpeas. Aim for 1,000 to 1,300 milligrams of calcium each day.

Meanwhile, you also need to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium.

The body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, so spending time outside can boost your intake. Vitamin D is also found in foods, such as eggs, fortified milk, mushrooms, and salmon. Aim for 15 micrograms (or 600 IU) of vitamin D each day.

Tip: Your doctor can use a simple blood test to monitor your calcium and vitamin D levels. If you’re not getting enough of these essential nutrients through your diet, your doctor may recommend a supplement.

Build a Breast Cancer Diet

A good rule of thumb is to eat a varied, colorful diet. That includes fruits and vegetables such as berries and sweet potatoes; spices, such as cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and turmeric; and herbs, such as basil, oregano, and thyme.

Take it one step at a time, Davis advises. Remember that good nutrition can help your body stay strong during breast cancer treatment and beyond.

Consider finding a nutritionist who specializes in working with people who have breast cancer to help you develop an individualized eating plan that suits your needs.

The Takeaway

When you’re going through treatment for HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, focus on eating healthful foods that also provide added health benefits, ones that will help you be more responsive to treatment and avoid side effects. Research suggests these foods include cruciferous veggies like broccoli, fatty fish like salmon, whole soy products like edamame and tofu, and plenty of lean protein and calcium. For extra support, consider working with a registered dietitian-nutritionist or dietitian who can help you create an eating plan.

Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
ryland-gore-bio

Ryland J. Gore, MD, MPH

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Ryland Gore, MD, MPH, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeon specializing in breast surgical oncology in Atlanta. She completed her general surgery residency at Rush University Medical Center and John H. Stroger Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She went on to complete her breast surgical oncology fellowship at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Gore previously served on the board of directors for Every Woman Works, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower women and help them transition into independence and stability from common setbacks. Gore served as the chairwoman of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign in Atlanta for three years (2019 to 2021). She is currently the co-director of Nth Dimensions’ Strategic Mentoring Program and the alumni board chair of the Summer Health Professions Educational Program (SHPEP), which is a collaborative effort by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Association of American Medical Colleges, and the American Dental Education Association.

Gore is a highly sought after speaker, consultant, and lecturer on breast cancer and breast health, as well as women’s empowerment topics.
See full bio
bob-barnett-bio

Bob Barnett

Author
Bob is a health editor, writer, and author with decades of experience. He has worked as an editor at The Runner, American Health, Parenting, MD Minute (editor in chief), and the newsletter Bottom Line Personal (editor in chief). His online career includes being features editor at Miavita.com; director of health content at the NBC website iVillage.com; and director of digital communications for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). He is the author of Tonics and coauthor of the best-selling Volumetrics.

Most recently, Bob served as editor In chief of Cancer Health magazine and its website, CancerHealth.com. Now an independent journalist once again, Bob writes for Cancer Health, Brain & Life (a publication of the American Academy of Neurology), and other publications. He lives in New York City.
See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Cao S et al. Effects of Sulforaphane on Breast Cancer Based on Metabolome and Microbiome. Food Science and Nutrition. May 2023.
  2. Patterson RE et al. Marine Fatty Acid Intake Is Associated With Breast Cancer Prognosis. Journal of Nutrition. February 2011.
  3. Manni A et al. Combination of Antiestrogens and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Breast Cancer Prevention. BioMed Research International. August 2015.
  4. van Die MD et al. Phytonutrients and Outcomes Following Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Cancer Spectrum. February 2024.
  5. Farvid MS et al. Fiber Consumption and Breast Cancer Incidence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Cancer. April 2020.