Food for thought (& some vitamins)

Kimo Sabe

I just saw an interesting television show on the University of California television channel (4412 Dishnetwork).

It was about "Complementary cancer care: the use of vitamins and supplements".  The presenter was Donald Abrams M.D.,
UCSF Osher Center for integrative medicine and chief of hematology and oncology UCSF.

I thought the show was "fair and balanced"  He seemed mostly mainstream in his understanding and approach but was open to TCM. He had a lot of good suggestions that make sense to me.  I believe that believers, nonbelievers, and skeptics would find some pearls in his talk. It is being rerun tonight and again tomorrow morning. I'm going to try to record it.

Best to all,
Norm

toyfox

Food for thought
I have viewed this program and think it is very informative.
This video is on the net.
The link below will take you to it.

http://uctv.ucsd.edu/search-details.aspx?showID=21665

tommycat

Thanks

Thanks

tootsie1

Interesting
I'd love to see that.

*hugs*
Gail

PhillieG

Thanks Norm
Thanks for the post, I'll have to check it out.
I have found it VERY difficult at times having lived with stage IV colon cancer since Feb 2004 and a member of this forum since May 2005, reading countless times where people on here have done what's been prescribed by their oncologists as far as surgery and chemo goes and then they go back to business as usual as far as their diet and lifestyle goes. I know because that's basically what I did. Then, many may have a period of time where they're declared NED only to have "it" reappear anywhere from a few months to a few years later. I certainly can't speak for everyone but I was not given much information or guidance regarding nutrition and diet after my surgeries or during my countless chemos. I'm pretty sure that if I talked it up a lot with them that they'd try to offer help or point me to the nutritionist on staff who would hopefully guide me toward a better diet. I know your post mentioned vitamins and supplements and how they can help in the fight against cancer but one can also get those same things from eating food that contains them.

I did juice for a while and "watched what I ate" for a little while here and there and felt GREAT while doing it but I have yet to seriously change my diet. Now here I am, close to 8 years after my dx still growing small nodes in my lungs, having an RFA every year for the past 4 years, and doing chemo every 2 weeks until further notice. My quality of life is decent but I can't seem to shake this cancer. I have to ask myself why, what's missing? Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with my oncologist and the plan of action that we've taken. I truely believe that without her expertise and guidance I would not be here today. But I also have to look at how nutrition can play a role in this (like it does in everything) and possibly give my body the extra boost it needs to get cancer OUT of my body and keep it out.

The topic of how diet and nutrition has helped people has at times become a toxic topic for some, but I believe (and always have) that cancer is very complex and there is no one way to beat it that works for everyone. Sadly, that seems to be a tough concept for some to consider. My plan for this year is to continue with the chemo (Erbitux and Irinotecan every two weeks) and get my CT scans as usual but reintroduce juicing, cutting out much of the sugar and processed foods, and just overall read the labels and keep the crap out and see how I fare over this year. If/when I get to my goal of being cancer-free I will be happy to say that it took everything there was available to beat this cancer.

While I don't expect everyone to agree with my assessment of my situation, I do hope that people can take a look back at what they've observed and/or experienced over their time on this site and help themselves toward staying healthy.
-phil

Kimo Sabe

PhillieG said:

Thanks Norm
Thanks for the post, I'll have to check it out.
I have found it VERY difficult at times having lived with stage IV colon cancer since Feb 2004 and a member of this forum since May 2005, reading countless times where people on here have done what's been prescribed by their oncologists as far as surgery and chemo goes and then they go back to business as usual as far as their diet and lifestyle goes. I know because that's basically what I did. Then, many may have a period of time where they're declared NED only to have "it" reappear anywhere from a few months to a few years later. I certainly can't speak for everyone but I was not given much information or guidance regarding nutrition and diet after my surgeries or during my countless chemos. I'm pretty sure that if I talked it up a lot with them that they'd try to offer help or point me to the nutritionist on staff who would hopefully guide me toward a better diet. I know your post mentioned vitamins and supplements and how they can help in the fight against cancer but one can also get those same things from eating food that contains them.

I did juice for a while and "watched what I ate" for a little while here and there and felt GREAT while doing it but I have yet to seriously change my diet. Now here I am, close to 8 years after my dx still growing small nodes in my lungs, having an RFA every year for the past 4 years, and doing chemo every 2 weeks until further notice. My quality of life is decent but I can't seem to shake this cancer. I have to ask myself why, what's missing? Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with my oncologist and the plan of action that we've taken. I truely believe that without her expertise and guidance I would not be here today. But I also have to look at how nutrition can play a role in this (like it does in everything) and possibly give my body the extra boost it needs to get cancer OUT of my body and keep it out.

The topic of how diet and nutrition has helped people has at times become a toxic topic for some, but I believe (and always have) that cancer is very complex and there is no one way to beat it that works for everyone. Sadly, that seems to be a tough concept for some to consider. My plan for this year is to continue with the chemo (Erbitux and Irinotecan every two weeks) and get my CT scans as usual but reintroduce juicing, cutting out much of the sugar and processed foods, and just overall read the labels and keep the crap out and see how I fare over this year. If/when I get to my goal of being cancer-free I will be happy to say that it took everything there was available to beat this cancer.

While I don't expect everyone to agree with my assessment of my situation, I do hope that people can take a look back at what they've observed and/or experienced over their time on this site and help themselves toward staying healthy.
-phil

Phil,

You expressed so well many of my sentiments. I suspect there are many others who feel the same way about cancer and how it has altered our lives. 

I am fortunate also to have an oncologist for whom I have the highest appreciation. She is very intelligent and knowledgeable, but more importantly, she is very compassionate. Unfortunately she is trapped, as are most of us--patient and doctor--in a system driven by money.  She is employed by a hospital/insurance company.  My worry is that her employer's orientation  permeates her practice without her perhaps even realizing it.

I believe health care delivery is ruled by technology and tends to ignore the humanity of people and the art of care. I believe as human beings we cannot simply be reduced to particles of sand in a sack which follow the rules of biochemistry.  As you said, cancer is complicated. I believe we benefit most from a holistic approach.  Many have found little support for nutritional aspects, therapy, lifestyle, et cetera. I think we all know intuitively that there are factors to consider besides simply pungent therapies.

Despite the shortcomings of mainstream medicine, I still think it is the best option for me. I find it hard to consider betting my life in another paradigm that, to me, lacks the necessary science behind it. ( I mean to show no disrespect to those who see it differently, and have chosen a different path). The program I mentioned bridges the gap on some of these issues.

What about lifestyle?  I wish you well. For me, I am just finishing six months of chemo and am dealing with a neuropathy. Right now  talk of making changes is cheap.  I hope when the rubber hits the road I will make those changes.  

Some changes such as a 40 pound weight loss have been involuntary. And there have been many beneficial "side effects" that have substantially enriched my life.

Thank you for your note. And thank you for staying around. You and many others have provided information that I could not have gotten anywhere else. Walking this cancer tightrope is scary. 

Norm

toyfox

Nutrition and cancer by an oncologist
There is another excellent video on cancer and nutrition by Donald Abrams M.D.
Dr. Abrams is chief of Hematology-Oncology at San Francisco General Hospital.
Dr. Donald Abrams talks about what foods to eat to reduce cancer risk.
I am Passionate about diet, exercise and doing everything possible to
fight and keep cancer from coming back.
I think this video is very helpful.
Linda

http://spoken-gems.com/2010/07/21/donald-abrams-nutrition-and-cancer/

Buckwirth

toyfox said:

Nutrition and cancer by an oncologist
There is another excellent video on cancer and nutrition by Donald Abrams M.D.
Dr. Abrams is chief of Hematology-Oncology at San Francisco General Hospital.
Dr. Donald Abrams talks about what foods to eat to reduce cancer risk.
I am Passionate about diet, exercise and doing everything possible to
fight and keep cancer from coming back.
I think this video is very helpful.
Linda

http://spoken-gems.com/2010/07/21/donald-abrams-nutrition-and-cancer/

Link
Dr. Abrams Speaks

toyfox

Buckwirth said:

Link
Dr. Abrams Speaks

thanks
Thank you for taking the time to do this with all you have going on right now.
Wish you the best....linda

smokeyjoe

toyfox said:

thanks
Thank you for taking the time to do this with all you have going on right now.
Wish you the best....linda

Thanks, very informative...

Thanks, very informative...