Cherry & Breast Cancer Facts #1 - 

Tart cherries offer several potential health benefits for individuals with breast cancer, primarily through their anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive properties. Clinical trials have demonstrated that consuming tart cherry concentrate can significantly reduce joint pain and muscle soreness in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with aromatase inhibitors, a common therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer; one study found a 34.7% mean decrease in pain among participants compared to a 1.4% decrease in the placebo group.  The beneficial effects are attributed to high levels of anthocyanins and flavonoids, which have been shown to inhibit the growth and proliferation of aggressive breast cancer subtypes, including triple-negative and HER2-positive cancers, without harming normal breast cells. Additionally, tart cherries are a superior source of melatonin, which may help reduce tumor growth, inhibit angiogenesis, and enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs like doxorubicin and tamoxifen.