Do you recommend that triple-negative breast cancer patients take flaxseed and vitamin D?

A recent study that was published in the July 2008 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine discussed therapeutic levels of vitamin D in the prevention of cancers such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. The current recommendation is for maintaining levels of greater than 45 nanograms per milliliter. Vitamin D levels can be evaluated by a blood test specifically for 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Patients who are deficient in vitamin D can increase their levels by taking an oral supplement of vitamin D3 or their body can produce vitamin D with 15-20 minutes per day of sun exposure. Flaxseed has been touted in many trials, none of which I believe are randomized, to have anti-cancer properties. But in and of itself, I do not believe it has ever been proven to prevent cancer. Flaxseed can help to eliminate excess fats in the colon from colonic absorption, therefore the decrease in the absorption of fat can lead to decreased body fat being converted to estradiol. Therefore you could postulate the positive effects, particularly in patients with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancers, through this pathway.