Red Meat! In the news again..... Are YOU still not convinced?

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Comments

  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    While I agree that eating well
    is beneficial to a body, I have conflicts with thinking there was nothing I could do because my onc thinks mine was genetic/hereditary. I admit that before my diagnosis, we were big red meat eaters. I still don't mind wrapping my lips around a good sirloin, venison stew or elk tri-tips. With Gravy.

    I grew up on a cattle ranch. My dad grew angus and hereford cattle for our food. Yes, it was good and we knew exactly what was put in them. No hormones. Just grain and hay fed beef. Does that make a difference? It might. I have no idea. We grew our own garden. It was huge. It had to feed 11 people. We had garden grown veggies of every variety. No herbicides. Just good old food. Why didn't this help me? I have no idea... I know it didn't help my dad.

    Do you think our lifestyles have anything to do with it? I worked like a dog when I was young. We had to have cattle fed before the bus came at 7am. We had to feed them again when we got home. We fed pigs, sheep, chickens and horses. Now, I'm a nurse. I work 2 days a week and I walk a lot, but nothing that gets my cardio going. Nothing like when I was young. When I married Dave 25 years ago, we moved to another ranch. We worked from sun up to sun down. A lot of cardio and well as very aerobic. We ate more fish and chicken than we had before. We got a beef a year as part of our salary. We used it -- believe me... I do believe though that processed foods might be a nasty contributing factor. I don't do processed foods -- ever since my husband told me how hot dogs were made. Grosses me out.

    I've changed a bit on how we eat today. My onc still believes that there was nothing I could have done to prevent this. Diet or exercise wouldn't have prevented this. It was in my genes.

    Vegetarians get CC. Nobody is immune from this cancer. I believe it's the luck of a draw. Genetic or bad luck... we're all vulnerable.

    Like Kerry, I will die with gravy and a smile on my face. I'm not going to live my life in fear or recurrence. I could eat the best Mediterranean diet and still have recurrence. What would that have gotten me? Probably an "Oh rats... I ate well post chemo and it still came back". I've decided to live for quality, not quantity. Genetics and all.
  • KATE58
    KATE58 Member Posts: 299
    HollyID said:

    While I agree that eating well
    is beneficial to a body, I have conflicts with thinking there was nothing I could do because my onc thinks mine was genetic/hereditary. I admit that before my diagnosis, we were big red meat eaters. I still don't mind wrapping my lips around a good sirloin, venison stew or elk tri-tips. With Gravy.

    I grew up on a cattle ranch. My dad grew angus and hereford cattle for our food. Yes, it was good and we knew exactly what was put in them. No hormones. Just grain and hay fed beef. Does that make a difference? It might. I have no idea. We grew our own garden. It was huge. It had to feed 11 people. We had garden grown veggies of every variety. No herbicides. Just good old food. Why didn't this help me? I have no idea... I know it didn't help my dad.

    Do you think our lifestyles have anything to do with it? I worked like a dog when I was young. We had to have cattle fed before the bus came at 7am. We had to feed them again when we got home. We fed pigs, sheep, chickens and horses. Now, I'm a nurse. I work 2 days a week and I walk a lot, but nothing that gets my cardio going. Nothing like when I was young. When I married Dave 25 years ago, we moved to another ranch. We worked from sun up to sun down. A lot of cardio and well as very aerobic. We ate more fish and chicken than we had before. We got a beef a year as part of our salary. We used it -- believe me... I do believe though that processed foods might be a nasty contributing factor. I don't do processed foods -- ever since my husband told me how hot dogs were made. Grosses me out.

    I've changed a bit on how we eat today. My onc still believes that there was nothing I could have done to prevent this. Diet or exercise wouldn't have prevented this. It was in my genes.

    Vegetarians get CC. Nobody is immune from this cancer. I believe it's the luck of a draw. Genetic or bad luck... we're all vulnerable.

    Like Kerry, I will die with gravy and a smile on my face. I'm not going to live my life in fear or recurrence. I could eat the best Mediterranean diet and still have recurrence. What would that have gotten me? Probably an "Oh rats... I ate well post chemo and it still came back". I've decided to live for quality, not quantity. Genetics and all.

    I have eaten a mainly
    I have eaten a mainly vegetarian diet for the last 30 years
    ,with an occassional NY strip (medium rare ) or burger,
    mainly because I just love fruits and vegetables,meat not so much
    and a steak tastes good to me only when I have not had one in a couple months.
    but I still have IV stage colon cancer.
  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    I lived all over the world,
    I lived all over the world, the last place was NE China, little city (600,000) called Jinzhou. I have lived in the states since 2001...and sometimes I think or wonder what I ate or did overseas that caused my cancer. Musta been all those bowls of rice, or maybe I didn't scrub the fruits and veggies enough before eating (you really don't want to know what they use to fertilize the soil they grow food in do you?)- I am not a red meat eater, so guessing it wasn't that. I easily biked/walked/did stairs like all the time. Ya know, I am guessing my cigarette smoking and genetics played the biggest role. Having known then what I know now? I definitely would never have started smoking and maybe a few less stateside Blizzards and pieces of apple pie- but I never would have given up the vast experiences that brought me to my knees in prayerful thanks and joy. And I refuse to live the rest of my life scared about whatever I am doing could lead to something---
  • dasspears
    dasspears Member Posts: 227
    John23 said:

    Re:
    "Those who ate the most red meat, processed meat, and cured meat "

    The "processed" and "cured" meat might be the problem, but as
    carnivorous animals, we need a full and complete diet, and that
    includes red meat.

    The real problem with cancer, isn't "how we get it", it is why our
    immune system isn't doing what it should to eliminate it.

    Normally, our immune system destroys dead cells as it usually does,
    but a cancer cell is a cell that didn't die; instead it survived and
    continues to survive by the fermentation process. And for some
    reason, our immune system has failed to recognize that the cell
    doesn't belong within us.

    -That- is the problem, not "red meat".

    Each year they add thousands of "causes" to the list of things
    that may or may not cause cancer. At one time, they claimed
    coffee was, then came cranberries... what's next?

    A healthy immune system is the best way for us to fight cancer,
    and more often than not, it can do what no chemotherapy chemical
    can ever do.... keep us alive.

    And a healthy diet is the best way to have a healthy immune system,
    since the immune system depends on 80% of what we're digesting.

    But when we go in directions that are against the basic biological
    requirements of our mere existence, we can suffer more than if
    we just lived how we were designed to.

    Eat foods that are not contaminated with chemicals and/or irradiated.

    Eat a full diet consisting of all the foodstuff that normal carnivorous
    animals need to survive.

    It really doesn't take much more than that to be healthy.....

    However.... the reason that some of us have an immune system
    that doesn't always recognize a cancer cell being different than
    a normal cell, should be discovered.

    We should be insisting that our donations go towards solving that,
    instead of more wasteful study of chemicals and treatment that
    leave us stranded and dependent, rather than healthy and self-reliant.

    Eat red meat; it's good for you.

    Lot of info everywhere..
    So here's my story - there is no history of cancer in my family and most live into their mid- 80's and my father passed away at 86 of a stroke. He had one kidney since age 5 and ate meat and fried everything his entire life. Only issue was high blood pressure. I'm the only one with cancer and I don't like red meat and eat mostly seafood, veggies and fruit so go figure! Also the most active in my family. Personally, I link cancer to genetics but I don't preclude diet, etc. I just don't think it's the prevailing factor.
  • dasspears
    dasspears Member Posts: 227
    PhillieG said:

    What Causes Cancer - The Million Dollar Question
    I realize what I'm saying may be VERY obvious to many of you, but there are always exceptions so I feel it's worth posting.

    I think the thing with cancer and why it's such a tough nut to crack is that it's not caused by just one thing. There are people who smoke like chimneys and never get lung cancer, there are people who never smoke (not live with smokers) and get lung cancer. There are people who treat their bodies like temples and still get cancer then there are those who treat it like a garbage dump and live to be 100.

    Numerous factors determine who winds up getting what. Of course, it's always a good idea to limit foods or environments that can be harmful, it's (mostly) common sense. A diet of all red meat is probably not the best thing for you but to cut it out of your diet is certainly no guarantee of being cancer-free. Some vegetarians do get colon cancer, some others are cavemen carnivores and don't. Personally, I would not live underneath high voltage electrical wires and I always use a headset when on my cellphone (which I limit anyway).

    If cancer were only like a broken bone then it would be easier to fix...but it's not. That's why this subject, along with many others, will always have debate as to what causes it and how to prevent it.

    On a side(dish) note I love deer too Kerry, especially as a ragout stew.
    (smack!)

    -p

    We tend to overlook....
    the things out of our control. Like pollution, chemicals ingested daily, computers, cell phones, etc., etc., etc. What isn't a contributor to cancer? We can't isolate ourselves - we don't know the exact causes, we just do the best that we can. Do what is best for you. You are right on target, Phil.
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    ron50 said:

    it was my lifestyle
    When I was a little kid I was dx with a lung complaint called bronchiectasis. It was dx by a bubbling sound in my lungs which was supposed to be a build up of fluid in my lower lungs. In actual fact it wasn't and was a common old hiatus hernia which was allowing my stomache to intrude into my diaphram and rest on the lower lobes of my lungs. The treatment was two drops of creosote in a glass of milk every night for around seven or eight years. Creosote is now banned because of its carcinogenic nature. I also smoked for a while,ate quite a few large animals over the years plus a lot of fish,was never really that keen on the green stuff much preferred fruit(fresh or fermented). Loved cured foods ,adicted to salt. All in all it was amazing that I survived to 48 to develop cancer.
    Now I don't smoke don't drink eat only low Gi food have been celibite for ten years have survived cancer for twelve years and am completely miserable.
    My epitaph may well read on his last night he was seen eating a largr rare steak with fries washed down with gallons of red wine follwed by several liquers and a large cuban cigar. He was last seen alive entering a house of ill repute. Life is about the journey not the destination. Ron.

    Hi Ron...
    Another way to look at it...

    "If you give up on sex, smoking, drinking, and eating red meat you won't necessarily LIVE longer... it will just SEEM longer!"

    LOL... Rob; in Vancouver
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    Doing anything I can to stay well
    I'll do anything I can to try and stay well. :-)

    I just saw a list of links that have info about citrus rinds (can't remember the 'formal' name of the supplement) and potential to stop colon cancer mets and am going to pick some up and add them to my ABCDEF list of daily supplements and diet choices. It can't hurt.

    What caused my cancer? I have no idea. I'd guess that almost 60 years of constipation didn't help. Southern foods filled with rancid fat for the first 19 years of my life didn't help. Hormones in meats didn't help. Refusing to have a colonoscopy at age 50 because I was too much of a 'lady'.....

    I want to stay healthy. I want YOU to be healthy. If I see some info that I think will keep me healthy or help YOU be healthy, I'm going to share it. If it angers you, I'm sorry. If it helps me and YOU stay well or get well, GREAT. :-)

    A= aspirin B= better diet choices C= calcium supplements D= Vit. D3 E= exercise F= fruit rinds with loads of laughter, prayer, avoidance of stress and lots of hugs.

    Quality of life? MY quality of life does not depend on red meat (or any food). I eat very tasty meals. The Mediterranean Diet has you substitute whole grain pasta and brown rice for white. No processed foods. It allows small amounts of red meat each month but my oncologist said NO red meat EVER. For lunch yesterday I had steamed shrimp with red, green, yellow peppers and tomatoes over a bed of whole grain pasta and a slice of whole wheat bread with melted parmesan cheese and garlic. Breakfast was a spinach, mushroom and cheddar omlet. I'm making chili for supper. I use ground turkey.

    And as for those of you who eat deer meat....
    POOR BAMBI! Run Bambi, RUN!

    :-D
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member

    Doing anything I can to stay well
    I'll do anything I can to try and stay well. :-)

    I just saw a list of links that have info about citrus rinds (can't remember the 'formal' name of the supplement) and potential to stop colon cancer mets and am going to pick some up and add them to my ABCDEF list of daily supplements and diet choices. It can't hurt.

    What caused my cancer? I have no idea. I'd guess that almost 60 years of constipation didn't help. Southern foods filled with rancid fat for the first 19 years of my life didn't help. Hormones in meats didn't help. Refusing to have a colonoscopy at age 50 because I was too much of a 'lady'.....

    I want to stay healthy. I want YOU to be healthy. If I see some info that I think will keep me healthy or help YOU be healthy, I'm going to share it. If it angers you, I'm sorry. If it helps me and YOU stay well or get well, GREAT. :-)

    A= aspirin B= better diet choices C= calcium supplements D= Vit. D3 E= exercise F= fruit rinds with loads of laughter, prayer, avoidance of stress and lots of hugs.

    Quality of life? MY quality of life does not depend on red meat (or any food). I eat very tasty meals. The Mediterranean Diet has you substitute whole grain pasta and brown rice for white. No processed foods. It allows small amounts of red meat each month but my oncologist said NO red meat EVER. For lunch yesterday I had steamed shrimp with red, green, yellow peppers and tomatoes over a bed of whole grain pasta and a slice of whole wheat bread with melted parmesan cheese and garlic. Breakfast was a spinach, mushroom and cheddar omlet. I'm making chili for supper. I use ground turkey.

    And as for those of you who eat deer meat....
    POOR BAMBI! Run Bambi, RUN!

    :-D

    Diane... I just love you!!
    I agree that we'll all do what we think is right. We've substituted brown rice for white for years. It's actually tastier with a nuttier taste. Love it! You brought up the constipation thing and I do think that has something to do with things. I told my onc I swore I had the slowest peristalsis anyone has ever had. His eyebrows went up and said, "Tell me more". It got me to thinking that the longer things stay in the colon, the more time it has to go haywire. Maybe I just have bad luck.

    I don't do aspirin. Maybe when I'm done with FOLFOX. :) I do have better diet choices, I take my vitamin D3, my culturelle for a probiotic and exercise when I can. I think I also eat very tasty meals... Seafood being my favorite.

    I still will imbibe in red meat once in a while. But, there is still that genetic thing hanging over my head. We'll all do what we want in the end.
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    Staying Alive
    I eat a 'balanced diet' that includes red meat, seafood, fish, nuts, beans and cheeses. I eat lots of veggies (I crave them so when my appetite is good I can do this), fruit and limited grains. I've used whole wheat pasta and breads for years but I still limit them.

    I've always been very active and athletic until all this started. I meditate, spend time in prayer, have a wonderful social life, I do good deeds as quietly as possible.

    I still got cc at 43 with no symptoms, no history of bowel issues (not even constipation) and no warning. Bam! Right in the Kisser! I had uterine cancer at age 39. Lucky me.

    Yes, I drink in moderation (wine with dinner occasionally, social Grey Goose or Patron maybe once a month - sometimes twice). I won't give that up because it is very social for me. Eating is social, even biblically speaking. I've never smoked. I don't deserve this anymore than anyone else.

    It doesn't anger me that this was posted. I LOVE Diane, BTW and I hope she already knows that. We just disagree on one issue - balance. Until there is a reasonable study to show SOMETHING, I'm not cutting anything out of my life. All of my onc team at U of Mich agrees with this philosophy despite the studies currently being done. We have discussed it at length.

    I take 87 pills a day currently (I'm not on anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea stuff anymore, so my numbers are down) including my vitamin/herbal supplements (all approved by my onc and endo). My father had severe osteoporosis at a very young age and I'm osteopenic now. I'm currently malabsorbing most of what I ingest. My docs are saying, "Eat ANYTHING that sounds good to you and eat as much as you can". Music to my ears! LOL

    Because I've had so many tough and unusual treatments, I've been pretty ill for most of my 'ride'. I've had meals brought in for 2 years, nearly constantly. I won't dictate what anyone brings. They try to bring healthy meals but it isn't always what I would call stellar. Last night we had the most delicious Shepard’s pie. She made it with Italian sausage. Lots of veggies, lots of mashed white potatoes...yummy! It would not meet the approval on many on this list. That's ok with me. People are helping my family in any way they can. We appreciate it and are just happy to be able to eat real food. We would have to resort to prepackaged processed foods, cold cut sandwiches or pizza without their help. I figure real food, even shepard's pie made with sausage, is a better bet.

    If you are able to shop and cook for your family, count yourself fortunate. Be grateful that you can have this debate - that it's even an option for you. It could be much worse.

    And for you hunters: send me some venison, will ya! Hook a girl up here! LOL

    Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

    Kimby
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    kimby said:

    Staying Alive
    I eat a 'balanced diet' that includes red meat, seafood, fish, nuts, beans and cheeses. I eat lots of veggies (I crave them so when my appetite is good I can do this), fruit and limited grains. I've used whole wheat pasta and breads for years but I still limit them.

    I've always been very active and athletic until all this started. I meditate, spend time in prayer, have a wonderful social life, I do good deeds as quietly as possible.

    I still got cc at 43 with no symptoms, no history of bowel issues (not even constipation) and no warning. Bam! Right in the Kisser! I had uterine cancer at age 39. Lucky me.

    Yes, I drink in moderation (wine with dinner occasionally, social Grey Goose or Patron maybe once a month - sometimes twice). I won't give that up because it is very social for me. Eating is social, even biblically speaking. I've never smoked. I don't deserve this anymore than anyone else.

    It doesn't anger me that this was posted. I LOVE Diane, BTW and I hope she already knows that. We just disagree on one issue - balance. Until there is a reasonable study to show SOMETHING, I'm not cutting anything out of my life. All of my onc team at U of Mich agrees with this philosophy despite the studies currently being done. We have discussed it at length.

    I take 87 pills a day currently (I'm not on anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea stuff anymore, so my numbers are down) including my vitamin/herbal supplements (all approved by my onc and endo). My father had severe osteoporosis at a very young age and I'm osteopenic now. I'm currently malabsorbing most of what I ingest. My docs are saying, "Eat ANYTHING that sounds good to you and eat as much as you can". Music to my ears! LOL

    Because I've had so many tough and unusual treatments, I've been pretty ill for most of my 'ride'. I've had meals brought in for 2 years, nearly constantly. I won't dictate what anyone brings. They try to bring healthy meals but it isn't always what I would call stellar. Last night we had the most delicious Shepard’s pie. She made it with Italian sausage. Lots of veggies, lots of mashed white potatoes...yummy! It would not meet the approval on many on this list. That's ok with me. People are helping my family in any way they can. We appreciate it and are just happy to be able to eat real food. We would have to resort to prepackaged processed foods, cold cut sandwiches or pizza without their help. I figure real food, even shepard's pie made with sausage, is a better bet.

    If you are able to shop and cook for your family, count yourself fortunate. Be grateful that you can have this debate - that it's even an option for you. It could be much worse.

    And for you hunters: send me some venison, will ya! Hook a girl up here! LOL

    Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

    Kimby

    Raising my hand here, too!
    Me LOVES some venison! :) We have many hunters around here, and even though I've mentioned that I would love some, none makes it to my freezer! :)
    mary
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    msccolon said:

    Raising my hand here, too!
    Me LOVES some venison! :) We have many hunters around here, and even though I've mentioned that I would love some, none makes it to my freezer! :)
    mary

    I don't live to eat, I eat
    I don't live to eat, I eat to live!

    Off to the hospital!
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    Nana b said:

    I don't live to eat, I eat
    I don't live to eat, I eat to live!

    Off to the hospital!

    Amen Nana!
    My onc told me not to cut out too much in my diet or I'd be too weak to do chemo, she wants weight on me to be strong, and if I were to go on any kind of diet, she'd be worried about me losing weight. I don't eat steak, though I may have a good whopper once in awhile. I love seafood, veggies, fruits, and don't overeat on cookies, cakes and all that. I do like ice cream, but wont eat it all the time. I think I ate like a normal human being, and no matter what you do, whether you eat meat or not, you can get cancer anyway, there are alot more things in the air, in the environment, being around restaurants and bars where there are smokers all these years, even if you don't smoke, genes, just way too many factors in how a person can get cancer. Even the healthiest of people drop dead of heart attacks all of a sudden, and healthy people do get cancer, to me, you're darned if you do, darned if you don't. Just live happy, and with a smile on your face, loving your neighbors and friends, no judging people, just be you.

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    P.S. Kerry, you nearly made me pee my pants with your post, thanks for that! LOL!
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    Check out:"Meat and Colorectal Cancer Risk:Scientists
    Suggest Potential Mechanisms" published on medicalnewstoday.com.......steve