My Diet

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

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

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

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.

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.