These are environmental man made chemicals which contaminate our diets every day, for the whole of our lives. These contaminants have oestrogenic properties either because they have chemical structure similar to oestrogen or affect the sex hormone activity in an indirect pathway. There are concerns that they can increase the risks of hormone sensitive cancers such as breast or uterus.

Sources of xenoestrogens

• Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
• Car pollution,
• Some deodorants - the prebans and Aluminium.
• Polychlorinated biphenyls PCB’s,
• Fuels,
• Polycarbonate plastic bottles including babies bottles
• Food containers.
• Plastic film

It is difficult to avoid these chemicals in a modern environment and as they are ingested in small quantities over long periods of time, many researchers feel they could contribute to some of the hormone effects which are becoming more common in humans. Dr. Devra Lee Davis, a toxicologist, and researchers from five other USA academics centres demonstrated that if the same estrogenic pollutants in our environment are given in higher quantities to laboratory mice, they induce and promote mammary cancers. A further study in 1993 showed that rhesus monkeys developed a thickened uterus (the first stages to develop cancer) and endometriosis after being fed food that contained dioxin, a xenoestrogen, over a four-year period. A fact worth noting is that 70 years ago, when the environment was free of estrogenic pollutants, there were only 21 reported cases of endometriosis versus the current 5.5 million in North America alone. Both endocrinologists (specialists in disorders of endocrine glands such as ovaries and testes) and reproductive biologists have suggested that long-term exposure to xenoestrogens might underlie the rise in endometriosis, fibroids, infertility and breast cancer in women. In men, many scientists believe that estrogenic pollutants underlie some disturbing trends such as decreasing sperm count and function, decreasing testosterone production and rise in the rate of testicular cancer. 

General tips to avoid xenoestrogens in our diet 

• Buy a good salad spinner – soak lettuce leaves and herbs in water, thoroughly then spin them dry before eating.
• Wash fruit before put them onto the fruit bowel.
• Wash vegetables first and change the water before cooking.
• Avoid reusing plastic bottles
• Avoid heating food in plastic containers
• Avoid wrapping food in plastic film for long periods of time
• Store plastic mineral water bottles in a cool dark place.
• Buy organic if possible.
• Use less deodorants / antiperspirants - alternate brands to avoid exposure to the same chemical and try to have days without them

Other good reasons to consider buying organic foods:

• Although more expensive, and the choice can be limited they contain significantly less xenoestrogen and other chemical both sprayed on the surface and absorbed from the soil.
• Fresh organic produce has been shown to contain more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other micro-nutrients than intensively farmed produce.
• In order to be one step a head of bugs and diseases organic farmers have to make more biodiverse crops rather than rely on a single harvest. This means there will be more choice for us now and in the future.
• In terms of ecology, organic farms naturally promote a healthy environment as the lack of herbicides and pesticides encourages wildlife. Over the last thirty years, intensive farming in the UK alone has led to dramatic erosion of the soil, a fall of up to 70% of wild birds in some areas, the destruction of ancient hedgerows, and the near extinction of some of the most beautiful species of butterflies, frogs, grass-snakes and wild mammals.
• Green and animal manures are used to enrich the soil, whereas some intensive farming methods result in river pollution and further soil erosion. Organic food may therefore be cheaper for society in the long run. Billions of pounds in each western country  taxes every year are spent cleaning up the mess that agro-chemicals make to our natural water supply, not to mention the BSE crisis which cost the UK alone 4 billion pounds to clear up.
• About 99% of non-organic farm animals in the USA, UK, Europe, china and Australia are now fed GM soya bought from massive industrial farms in Asia and South America which have mostly been established by cutting down their rain forests.
• Intensively-reared dairy cows and farm animals are fed a cocktail of anti-biotics, growth promoting drugs, anti-parasite drugs and many other medicines on a daily basis. These drugs are passed directly onto the consumers via the food chain especially in diary products and meat.
• And there has never been a reported case of BSE in organic cattle.

Further general information Your doctors and specialist nurses are in an ideal position to give you relevant information on your disease and treatment as they know your individual circumstances. Cancerbackup has a help line (0808 800 1234) and a prize winning video available in English, Italian, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati & Hindi explaining Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy. Cancernet.co.uk has over 500 pages describing cancer, its management, practical tips and tool which patients, their carers and their doctors have found helpful during the cancer journey.