Hatshepsut

chynabear
chynabear Member Posts: 481 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Yes, you should eliminate (or seriously limit) the amount of ALL processed foods: ie, white sugar, white flour, etc. The less processed it is, the better it is for you. Luckily, (and I wish I utilized it fully it at the time) my treating oncologist was in a very nutrition focused center. I learnded some there, but wish I knew then what I know now and I would have used my resources there a whole lot more.

You should really pick up the book, "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quillin. It has some very good and easy-to-understand material about what cancer is and how nutrition plays a big role in curing and preventing cancer. There are recipies and sugestions on making chemo and radiation more effective. The release I purchased came with an audio versus as well just in case someone was too ill to read the entire book. It also had a condensed version in the beginning. The issue we have discussed on this board is his supplements and they way he markets them. I have also read, "The Maker's Diet" by Jordan Rubin. This is a little harder to read, in my opinion, but still a good read. I have read the suggestion to read other books here, just do a search for them.

I pulled this from Beating Cancer...

""Cancer cells demonstrate a 3 to 5 fold increase in glucose uptake compared to healthy cells."
Demetrakopoulos, GE, Cancer Research, vol. 42, p. 756S, Feb1982

Cancer cells primarily use glucose for fuel, with lactic acid as an anaerobic by-product, thus generating a lower pH, fatigue (lactic acid buildup), and enlarged liver (where lactic acid is converted back to pyruvate in the Cori cycle)."

It doesn't surprise me that your doctors haven't mentioned any of this. Many doctors feel that there is no significant proof in any of this. But, to me, it makes sense. How long have we been told, "You are what you eat" and how long has nutrition been emphasized? Plus, this is something that is definitely not going to hurt you, where i would question taking some mysterious pill that promised to cure me and make me live forever. My opinion, anyway.

No, you do not need to cut out fresh fruit. In fact, fresh fruit and veggies are good for you. Food that is closest to the source is good for you.

There has been a ton of discussion and information on these boards about nutrition. In fact, we have a few "experts" here who are great resources for information where as I am still a beginner.

Sorry for the novel.

Patricia

Comments

  • Monicaemilia
    Monicaemilia Member Posts: 455 Member
    #2
    And to add to what Patricia was saying, I have come to the realization that oncologists are more worried about the fact that we eat at all than what we eat. I met two people with pancreatic cancer at my last chemo session that were told not to worry about their diabetes, just eat. I suggested to them that it made no sense that they die of their diabetes instead of the cancer, and that they could balance their diets to help with both issues. It is too bad that oncologists are not more on board with nutrition, but I also learned surgeons know very little about cancer (except how to remove it).
    Therefore do your research and find something that works for you. I'm still trying. Monica
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #3
    Along those lines look at the website =
    www.CancerProject.org. There is alot of nutritional information which agrees greatly with those other sources. I have no question that the greatest factor in my getting rectal cancer was my diet (especially all those hot dogs and slow cooked chicken).

    ****
  • Hatshepsut
    Hatshepsut Member Posts: 336 Member
    #4
    Thank you so much for posting this information.

    Inasmuch as my husband was diagnosed relatively recently (May 2006), I'm at the point of total emotion. What I need to do is move on to the intellectual response and learn everything I can to help my husband. That is easier said than done for me, however. (I have done a lot of Internet "research" but I keep finding the same information over and over again or I find statistics that are so frightening that I cycle back to the emotional response.)

    I've always believed in healthy eating. We've been vegetarians since 1989. But...this still happened. In retrospect, I realize that, while we ate no meat, poultry or fish for over 15 years, I did not control our fat intake or our sugar intake. We ate sweets and a lot of cheese and I used oils in my cooking.

    I would greatly appreciate anyone on this board helping me in my nutritional education. I'm a retired high school history teacher (retired one year ago) and I believe knowledge is power. I want to make truly intelligent decisions but it is hard to sort the good information from the unreliable information. This is particularly true because doctors seem to distance themselves from nutritional advice and because I don't want to pursue any path that is going to make my husband's chemotherapy ineffective.

    I will pick up the books that are recommended in your e-mails.

    Gratefully,
    Hatshepsut
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #5
    Hatsheput,

    Girlfriend that is a heck of a "handle". There has got to be a great story behind that name, please share it.

    Congrats on retirement. I did too and have been on disability for the last 2 years due to my dismal stage IV prognosis. I am now cancer free and my oncologist is learning from me since I did not follow the usual treatment patterns!!!!!

    Diet and nutrition is very important but I like to think of it all as a lifestyle change, not just food related. You have to let in positive energies and get rid of the negative ones. I actually ended a few "friendships" that drove me crazy (toxic) and realized my work environment and pace had stressed my body for too long so I gave it up. I even had to have a heart to heart with my 80 year old mother about her negativity and she has actually gotten much better. I try to walk and take in the outdoors as much as possible and have several vegetable and flower gardens that relax me.

    Read up on alkalining your diet. All foods have a chemical ph balance and if you are diabetic, have cancer, or heart disease you should be eating at least an 80/20 alkaline/acid diet.

    Some of the most acidic foods to avoid are: table salt, sugar, white vinegar, antibiotics and most other man made medicines, ice cream, processed cheese, beef, dairy products, aspartame, coffee, saccharin, pork, veal, all fried foods and a few fruits and veggies. On the alkaline side that you should be eating are most fruits and veggies (especially freshly juiced), sea salt, mineral water, onion, lentils, sweet potatoes, lime, watermelon, tangerine, pineapple, raspberry, broccoli, asparagus, kale, arugula, mustard greens, pepper, soy sauce, cinnamon, grapefruit, canteloupe, honeydew, citrus, olive, mango, and most food based supplements etc etc......

    You should be able to google chemical ph balance of foods and find a chart you can print out (don't get sucked in to one of those pay for websites). But, remember you need some acidic foods, the point is to minimize them.

    Drink lots of water and squeezing in a fresh lemon wedge makes it more alkaline!!!!!

    Lisa P.
  • impactzone
    impactzone Member Posts: 555 Member
    #6
    As a biochem major and stage 4 cancer fighter, I appreciate all the advice about nutrition. However, no matter what the food source is, balanced for caloric intake, it is eventually turned into glucose by all cells. If it did not we would die. It doesn't matter if it is sucrose or fructose or any other suger. I believe that spikes of glucose, eating lots of processed sugar just contributes empty calories and a possible chance for cellular growth. You often have to balance good nutrition with possible side effects, where you are in treatment, and personal needs. Numerous studies have shown that belief in treatment will cause 10 - 15% of patients to positively respond. I don't pretend to be a nutritionist or doctor and this discussion can go on and on. I just wanted to say that I do have Quillin great book but I also eat lots of protein (including chicken, eggs, and fish) and to rebuild the cells destroyed by my Folfox chemo.
    Impactzone

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