Changed my diet radically to cancer fighting foods
After 6 months of chemo, and all that goes with it... I was reading my little pages of mantra's that I have (we all have crazy things we do to get by)... one of them hit me, it was, "I can attract healthy food to keep myself fit, healthy and strong everyday."
Here's a link to some mantras:
http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/psychology/positive-thinking/live-healthy.asp
Now, I've been reading these for 6 months... on and off, mostly the bad days... but, wow, that one day that mantra really hit me. It was 2 weeks before my mastectomy.
So, I decided that since my lump wasn't shrinking with chemo, I'd shrink it myself. I went online and found this wonderful list of cancer fighting foods.
Here are some links:
http://www.thedietchannel.com/Cancer-Prevention-Top-10-Cancer-Fighting-Foods.htm
http://www.west.net/~cure/cancer_fighting_foods.htm
http://www.prevention.com/ediblehealing/index.shtml
There are tons more out there. I especially like the third link. The man had a brain tumor, twice, and he's an MD, so he's a pretty smart cookie! 16 years of eating this way and he is still cancer free.
So, I started eating fruit and veggies and salmon like a mad woman. On April 1st I had my mastectomy. The lump was bigger than prior to chemo, but I don't have any measurements as to whether eating the food reduced it or not.
However, get this... Thurs. April 1st, had surgery, Wed. April 7th had my drain out. (I had called them Monday and said nothing was coming out, but she was skeptical) The surgeon told me this had to be a record on getting a drain out. Also, I had no swelling, no bruising, they took my tape off and my incision looked marvelous. Even the nurse said I healed up real good. 6 days after surgery, my incision looked more like 2 weeks out!!
I am convinced that eating better made me heal faster. Plus, I use honey everyday in my morning smoothie and my green tea. I later saw online that honey helps you heal.
I've also lost a few pounds. A nice side effect.
I don't think I was a horrible eater before, but there's always room for improvement. I now avoid fast food places... and beef. I will eat beef, but it has to be hormone free and organic.
Anyway, just thought I'd share... it certainly can't hurt, and when I mentioned this to my oncologist, she was really cool about it and had read this doctors book ( David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD). He has a list of foods that work in conjunction with chemo.
Chris
Comments
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Anticancer
Hi, Chris -
My oncologist looked at me like I was nuts all through chemo when I kept asking him what I should or shouldn't be eating, and has never recommended any other books to me -- but, a couple of months ago, he actually brought Dr. Servan-Schreiber's book, Anticancer: A New Way of Life into the exam room, said he had read it and really liked what it had to say, and suggested I read it.
I'm working my way through it now, and, while some of his recommendations (cut out all sugar? -- NOT!) just ain't gonna happen in my life, I have jumped on the green tea bandwagon, and am now drinking 3-5 cups of it every day.
(Tip: I don't like the taste of green tea straight, and I think I've now tried every kind of flavored green tea sold in Los Angeles -- the best are the Republic of Tea flavors, which you can order online if you don't have a Whole Foods or Cost Plus in your area.)
Traci
(sitting here sipping my Decaf Pomegranate Republic of Tea tea right now!)0 -
Fabulous!
Thanks, Chris! I read the article by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber and I copied and pasted most things into a word doc so I can take it to the grocery store with me Most times I read articles like this and forget so this way I won't. I totally believe that the way we eat effects our health. Anything that grows naturally has to be the best for us... that's why God put it there! I definitely plan to bring some of these things into my diet. I'm a bit leary with the soy & flaxseed, however, as I've heard those promote estrogen, so I will steer away from those.
I'm so happy you shared this. Thanks again!
Hugs, Mar0 -
healthy diet
i've learned that eating nothing with a FACE or a MOTHER is the way to go. also, surprisingly, DAIRY is no good either. the end result of this type of eating is being a vegan. there are dr.s who believe that this type of eating with reduce the growth of cancer(as well as other diseases) . joel fuhrman, caldwell esselsyn and t. colin cambell are drs. that you can google for their reports. my husband has been eating this way for almost a year for his heart disease and i am trying my best to do the same for my bc. at home i'm pretty good about it, but when i go out, it's the cheese that's difficult for me to give up. i've also read that some of you are drinking green tea. my onc told me NOT to drink it because it interferes with the chemo.0 -
Good reminderreddebbb said:healthy diet
i've learned that eating nothing with a FACE or a MOTHER is the way to go. also, surprisingly, DAIRY is no good either. the end result of this type of eating is being a vegan. there are dr.s who believe that this type of eating with reduce the growth of cancer(as well as other diseases) . joel fuhrman, caldwell esselsyn and t. colin cambell are drs. that you can google for their reports. my husband has been eating this way for almost a year for his heart disease and i am trying my best to do the same for my bc. at home i'm pretty good about it, but when i go out, it's the cheese that's difficult for me to give up. i've also read that some of you are drinking green tea. my onc told me NOT to drink it because it interferes with the chemo.
reddebbb, that's a good reminder -- I would not have started ingesting 3-5 servings a day of ANYTHING during chemo or radiation without asking my doctor first.
My doctor gave me Dr. Servan-Schreiber's book AFTER I had finished all active treatment, and that's indeed an important distinction that I should have been specific about in my earlier post.
Traci0 -
I'm all for eating betterTraciInLA said:Good reminder
reddebbb, that's a good reminder -- I would not have started ingesting 3-5 servings a day of ANYTHING during chemo or radiation without asking my doctor first.
My doctor gave me Dr. Servan-Schreiber's book AFTER I had finished all active treatment, and that's indeed an important distinction that I should have been specific about in my earlier post.
Traci
I'm all for eating better but check with your oncol. if you take any hormone blockers--a warning came with my tamoxefin that herbal products may interact with this drug. Next time I go see him (Wed) I'm going to ask him to set me up with the nutritionalist.
Sher0 -
Explains Much About Me
I changed my diet when I started my chemo... trying to eat better... and with the suggested items on the sites you gave... gee.. explains why I did so well--that's what others kept telling me... Won't say it was a breeze... but I did do well...
and like you--cutting out sugar--I don't think so... 8-)
physically I came through surgery well... had drainage for almost two weeks--darn... strength returned quickly...0 -
I checked out the antiGod Heals said:Explains Much About Me
I changed my diet when I started my chemo... trying to eat better... and with the suggested items on the sites you gave... gee.. explains why I did so well--that's what others kept telling me... Won't say it was a breeze... but I did do well...
and like you--cutting out sugar--I don't think so... 8-)
physically I came through surgery well... had drainage for almost two weeks--darn... strength returned quickly...
I checked out the anti cancer diet. thank you for sharing this info. My eating habits are not the greatest. Now that I'm done with chemo, I'd like to change to healthier habits. I also like sugar and chips. I'm praying I can turn this corner and start eating healthier. I gave up diet soda, and am trying to avoid anything with nutra sweet. I have eaten so many processed foods thru the years, and when I dieted I ate many lean cuisines. It is difficult to switch from quick processed food, but I sure hope to give it a shot. Now all I need is the discipline.0 -
I have the book anti cancernatly15 said:I checked out the anti
I checked out the anti cancer diet. thank you for sharing this info. My eating habits are not the greatest. Now that I'm done with chemo, I'd like to change to healthier habits. I also like sugar and chips. I'm praying I can turn this corner and start eating healthier. I gave up diet soda, and am trying to avoid anything with nutra sweet. I have eaten so many processed foods thru the years, and when I dieted I ate many lean cuisines. It is difficult to switch from quick processed food, but I sure hope to give it a shot. Now all I need is the discipline.
I have the book anti cancer but havent gotten to it yet. I am seeing a nutritionist next week. I have lots of questions. I will pass anything on. (its at the cancer center I am receiving radiation at)0 -
Carkris I'll look forward tocarkris said:I have the book anti cancer
I have the book anti cancer but havent gotten to it yet. I am seeing a nutritionist next week. I have lots of questions. I will pass anything on. (its at the cancer center I am receiving radiation at)
Carkris I'll look forward to your post after you see the nutritionist.0 -
Reddebb, it's not the animal, we can still eat meat. The problem is that it's what the animals are fed. There's a whole chapter in Servan-Schreibers book on cows and chickens and how when we became industrialized after WWII, they started feeding cows corn... cows need to eat grass.
When cows eat corn it changes their body chemistry, and they start producing Omega 6 (bad) instead of Omega 3 (good).
We in turn, eat the cows that have Omega 6, then we have too much in our bodies, and we get fat, diabetic, cancers, all kinds of stuff.
Oh, the sugar isn't just sugar, it's white bread, white rice... stuff like that.
It's hard, I know, I love sugar in my coffee. But, since eating better, my cravings are like almost gone. I went from standing in front of the pantry eating potato chips, to not getting those crazy hunger spikes. I hope to drop a few pounds now!
0 -
I have a hard time withtheChrispea said:Reddebb, it's not the animal, we can still eat meat. The problem is that it's what the animals are fed. There's a whole chapter in Servan-Schreibers book on cows and chickens and how when we became industrialized after WWII, they started feeding cows corn... cows need to eat grass.
When cows eat corn it changes their body chemistry, and they start producing Omega 6 (bad) instead of Omega 3 (good).
We in turn, eat the cows that have Omega 6, then we have too much in our bodies, and we get fat, diabetic, cancers, all kinds of stuff.
Oh, the sugar isn't just sugar, it's white bread, white rice... stuff like that.
It's hard, I know, I love sugar in my coffee. But, since eating better, my cravings are like almost gone. I went from standing in front of the pantry eating potato chips, to not getting those crazy hunger spikes. I hope to drop a few pounds now!
I have a hard time withthe sugar thing but on chemo I hated anything sweet. so it helped me wean away from it. I still use it but way less. I like stevia and agave nectar for a sweetner. My nutritionist put me on VitD and B6, also said to avoid the tomatoes in cans as the acid interacts with the can which has the BPA's (I think, the stuff in platics). so I buy boxed tomatoes and found that the one I chose was less salty an added bonus. I am eating much more healthy, adding fish. I need the omegas but cant eat, salmon, tuna (allergy) so I am not sure what to do. I also joined DR.Weils website. just to get some ideas. I couldnever be that good. My onc does not believe in vitains says it makes expensive urine. I still use them I know I dont eat enough.
!!0 -
Flaxseed is a good source ofcarkris said:I have a hard time withthe
I have a hard time withthe sugar thing but on chemo I hated anything sweet. so it helped me wean away from it. I still use it but way less. I like stevia and agave nectar for a sweetner. My nutritionist put me on VitD and B6, also said to avoid the tomatoes in cans as the acid interacts with the can which has the BPA's (I think, the stuff in platics). so I buy boxed tomatoes and found that the one I chose was less salty an added bonus. I am eating much more healthy, adding fish. I need the omegas but cant eat, salmon, tuna (allergy) so I am not sure what to do. I also joined DR.Weils website. just to get some ideas. I couldnever be that good. My onc does not believe in vitains says it makes expensive urine. I still use them I know I dont eat enough.
!!
Flaxseed is a good source of Omega 3... I'm not sure how it interacts with hormones...
Or those Omega 3 eggs...
When I was on taxotere, my mouth was like burned, and everything tasted super sweet to me. I remember my husband brought me a hamburger and it tasted like a meat patty between 2 donuts. YUCK!
(I don't eat that stuff now!!)0 -
Your piece was very helpful.
Your piece was very helpful. I plan to get the book you mentioned by David Serven-Schreiber. I also have also altered my eating habits, not that I ate too badly before. I have cut back on sugar, desserts ect... but have not eliminated it all together. The one thing that I have started is working on my Temple! I exercised prior to cancer, but now I make more of an effort to treat my body better by exercising and eating more healthier.
Good luck with your journey.
BL0 -
Yes, exercise is essential,Bella Luna said:Your piece was very helpful.
Your piece was very helpful. I plan to get the book you mentioned by David Serven-Schreiber. I also have also altered my eating habits, not that I ate too badly before. I have cut back on sugar, desserts ect... but have not eliminated it all together. The one thing that I have started is working on my Temple! I exercised prior to cancer, but now I make more of an effort to treat my body better by exercising and eating more healthier.
Good luck with your journey.
BL
Yes, exercise is essential, too.
He mentions that if you walk for 30 minutes 6 days out of the week, it lessens our chance of a recurrence by 50%. (I think the benefits are the same for women who haven't had bc, too)0 -
Thanks Chrispea!Chrispea said:Yes, exercise is essential,
Yes, exercise is essential, too.
He mentions that if you walk for 30 minutes 6 days out of the week, it lessens our chance of a recurrence by 50%. (I think the benefits are the same for women who haven't had bc, too)
I enjoyed reading your links to foods we need to eat! Very interesting indeed.
My onc agrees totally with all you've said, including the exercise part. I've been
eating so much better through this whole ordeal. I've been replacing sugar with honey,
even in my coffee! (only 1 cup a day now) Also the soy milk they sell at the grocery
stores is NOT the type you should be drinking according to my onc. Somehow they process it differently and you what you need.0 -
Thanks for the links Chris!Chrispea said:Flaxseed is a good source of
Flaxseed is a good source of Omega 3... I'm not sure how it interacts with hormones...
Or those Omega 3 eggs...
When I was on taxotere, my mouth was like burned, and everything tasted super sweet to me. I remember my husband brought me a hamburger and it tasted like a meat patty between 2 donuts. YUCK!
(I don't eat that stuff now!!)
Thanks for the links Chris!0 -
I think ER + are suppose toChrispea said:Flaxseed is a good source of
Flaxseed is a good source of Omega 3... I'm not sure how it interacts with hormones...
Or those Omega 3 eggs...
When I was on taxotere, my mouth was like burned, and everything tasted super sweet to me. I remember my husband brought me a hamburger and it tasted like a meat patty between 2 donuts. YUCK!
(I don't eat that stuff now!!)
I think ER + are suppose to avoid flaxseed. Has anyone else read that?0
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