My 6 month dermatology appointment is coming up on Friday. This time John will be the same age Jessica was when they discovered I had melanoma. While I have been cancer free for 2 years now (not counting precancerous spots), I would be lying if I said that I don’t still get nervous about whether or not they will find another spot. I suppose that is why I went through my fridge, freezer, and pantry and made a list of every item that contains soy. Let me back up….a few years ago, my doctor told me about some new research that points to a link between estrogen and melanoma (as well as breast cancer while we are at it), and because of that he would never put me on any type of estrogen. Having had some problems with my estrogen levels a couple years before being diagnosed with melanoma, I also knew that soy acts directly on estrogen receptors. For that reason, I have tried to cut back on as much processed food as possible in my cooking, since soy is in EVERYTHING! Apparently, I’ve done a good job of it too because there are only 14 things remaining in our house with soy in them.
Peanut Butter, Mayonnaise, Italian Dressing, Ranch Dressing, Cocktail sauce, Dale’s Sauce, Soy Sauce, Ravioli, Breaded Okra, Instant Oatmeal, Fried Onions, Bread, Hot Dog buns, Vegetable Shortening
Some of these items I will try to find a replacement for, while other items I will learn how to make, and still others I may just eliminate entirely from my cooking. It may seem a little extreme to try and get rid of EVERYTHING with soy in our house; however, I do still remember just how bad a little of something with soy in it made me feel when my hormone levels were off, so I know it can make a big difference. Besides, when you have sat on the floor watching your 9 month old daughter play and wondered whether or not you would live to watch her grow up, it kind of changes your perspective on sun protection, tanning beds, and even soy!
