My Diet

cahalstead

I'm getting ready to do the 1 year colonoscopy & CT scan this month. It's been one year ago this month since I had my resection. Of course, I've been doing a lot of thinking about the past year, how unbelievable it was, how I did get through it and how great I feel today. What a journey it has been, I pray I never have to go through it again.

Having said that, I've been thinking about my diet during chemo & now. I know there are several people here that are adamant about consuming sugar, cancer supposedly thrives on it. I must confess, I ate sugar and wasn't as diligent as I probably should have been about what I put in my mouth! I did eat red meat, moderately. I guess what I'm doing is now thinking "why didn't I watch my diet closer", will it affect the results of my tests?? There seems to be such conflicting opinions on this.

I'm now very aware of my diet, I'm eating red meat 1 X a week, I'm also eating some sugar.

I guess, I'm having the "heebie-jeebies" right now about what's coming up and the outcome. I'm hoping it's normal, I think it must be.

I think what I'm asking is what is your thoughts on diet, mainly sugar and red meat.

As always, thank you all so much for your help. This site has been a lifeline for me.

Char

cheryltaco

It does sound like a lot of people on this site are religious about their diet. I must confess, I am not. I am currently on chemo and I eat what I want when I want. Prior to reading the posts today, I was just telling myself I need to crack down on my diet, omitting the sugar and red meat and adding more fresh fruits and veggies. I exercise faithfully 6 days per week, why can't I eat better? Like you, I too wonder if eating red meat and some sugar here and there effects test results. How much is too much? I will be watching the post to see what others have to say. Blessings to you and good luck with your up coming tests, keep us posted on the results. Cheryl

hoagiemom

Funny I've been thinking the same thing. 1 year ago I had my rescection and I've been thinking a lot about what I can do to prevent the beast from coming back. My diet is poor and now I'm trying to eat more fruits and veggies.I juice twice a day but my weakness is sugar. I feel good I just had my colonoscopy and everything was fine. Now I wait until March for my 6 month and hopefully I will take the port out. I'm interested on what others have to say on this subject.

Michelle

Sam725

I too wonder about my husbands diet. He has never been a good eater when it came to fruits and vegtables, he's a meat and potato man and since he was dx it hasn't gotten any better. He is due for his 6 month check up since the end of his chemo this month and I am worrying also on the effect of his health.

Sandy

KathiM

It is almost 3 years since my resection, and becoming NED. I have modified my diet to eat less high-fat high-calorie foods. I have added alot more fruits and vegies....spinach salad is one of my favs. But, unlike popular belief, as I cut out artificial sweeteners (in the past, I consumed ALOT), I use raw sugar in moderation. I don't agree with the whole premise of why sugar causes cancer....the PET scan prep, to be exact....when, in reality, this is radiated GLUCOSE, which is the fuel for all of the cells in our bodies. I did switch to raw sugar, because I came to find out that white sugar is so white because it is bleached.

I cut back on my red meat, substituting pork, fowl, and fish. It takes so long to digest, and I already have troubles there, having lost my sig colon and rectum. I try to only buy chicken with no hormones (Foster Farms, for example).

I drink plenty of fluid. If I don't, I almost immediately start retaining water...it's a great reminder....and water keeps things flowing smoothly.

I believe that the biggest contributor to cancer is stress. This also can cause more frequent trips to the 'sinning' side of eating...empty calories, high fat, 'comfort foods'. I find I can tell most of the time when I'm there...my trips to the bathroom increase!

I truly believe that 'moderation' is the key word. In everything. I sin occasionally, being lactose intollerant makes ice cream and cheese on the sin list....

I'm sending good vibes that everything will come out great!

Hugs, Kathi

catherine58

Hello Char

Good to hear from you - we're on almost exactly the same schedule. So glad you're feeling well. I too had surgery a year ago, and am having my first post-operative colonoscopy this afternoon. So I'm feeling very hungry this morning, and pretty anxious too. I've been feeling better than I have for ages (have even taken up gentle running!) and can't believe I am still harboring a mortal disease but I'll be glad when the test is over. Not sure when I'll have my next scan, possibly next month, although my doctor has suggested having them once a year (which would mean September) because of the radiation risk. Not sure if I'm happy with this ... I think in the US the protocol is once ever six months after Stage III colon cancer? Sorry, this is a different subject altogether ...

Before I started chemo I read various books like "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quillin and "Everything You Need to Know to Help You Beat Cancer" by Chris Woollams (published in the UK but highly recommended). These made me quite zealous about my diet and for several months barely a grain of sugar passed my lips. I got through chemo quite easily, although I have no idea whether the diet helped (I also took supplements, did reflexology, acupuncture, yoga etc).

I have to say that I have let things slip a bit since: I no longer juice regularly (no time for all that washing up!), have the occasional dessert and glass of wine, have abandoned soya milk (which I hated) and now put low fat milk on my muesli and allow myself two cups of organic coffee a day. However, I do still try to eat at least seven portions of fruit and veg a day (don't always succeed), don't eat red meat (I didn't before diagnosis, so that's no great hardship), completely avoid junk/processed food and anything with hydrogenated fats (ditto) and drink lots of filtered water.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes

Catherine

vinny3

I don't think that what you are eating now is going to affect the results of the upcoming scan. I do think that it is wise to try to follow as healthy a diet as possible (limit red meat, processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, increase vegetables-esp colored ones and fruits). Likewise, we know that stress affects the immune system and we depend upon our immune system to find and beat those cancer cells.
But each individual is different and we shouldn't blame ourselves if we are not perfect-whatever that is.

****

NWGirl

I just did my 4th round of chemo today. I have found that as the treatment continues I don't feel like eating red meat as much as chicken, pork and tuna. My body just doesn't want it. As for sugar, if I eat to much it makes my nausea worse. I don't know why, but my body doesn't like it. Chocolate candy is the worst, and I really love it. I also love wine - had 2 glasses last night and am completely wiped out today (haven't had it for 2 months prior). Eating veggies is tough because of my ostomy but I found I can eat brocolli florets very well steamed and they go through, and they taste good. For me, and there is no scientific evidence to back this up, I am trying to listen to my body (really listen - not just grab a chocolate bar) to see what it wants. I do feel better the more healthy foods I eat. I've never been a fan of bananas - can take em or leave em, but since it's something healthy that doesn't present a problem with my ostomy I've made them a staple and I'm really learning to like them.

AuthorUnknown

I have to tell you my husband did not really watch his diet and has been cancer free for 2 years and 11 months.Last friday the doctor called and said ct scan showed a very small dence area on his liver, and has orderd a pet/ct scan for friday.This will be his first pet/ct scan ever so I'm sure it will not be good news.I wish i would have insisted he watch his diet more closely.JB

AuthorUnknown

Right there with you! I will have another colonoscopy at the end of February (I should have had it this week but I found reasons to postpone). Prior to the discovery of the malignant tumor on my colon, I thrived on the Atkins diet. NO, I am not saying that diet contributes to cancer, but I am saying the way I personally ate while on that diet may have. I lived on steak, roast, cheeseburgers with no bun, chicken with skin, etc. Since my colon resection last January, I managed to stay away from a lot of red meat. But I didn't stay away from everything else. I started feeling good again and went back to some of my old eating patterns. I have consumed too much sugar and junk food over the past year and I must confess, I have even had a few cigarettes while enjoying wine with my girlfriends. I am now SICK over my behavior and of course, completely frightened that something will return. I guess I stumbled onto your post today for a reason. Seems we are all feeling a bit guilty, so let's all get with the program and put healthy food into our mouths! Let's encourage each other to each a diet full of cancer fighting foods and no junk! I will pray for all of us. Thanks for listening.