I like to hear your story about fasting, fasting mimicking and Cancer

I fasted 2-3 days before, the day of, and the day after six chemo infusions for recurrent prostate cancer from June - Oct. 25. Too early to tell, but undetectable PSA so far. I based doing so on the growing research showing reduced side effects and possible efficacy improvement. Years ago, I read Dr. Valter Longo's, Longevity Diet. That led me to his fasting studies and reading his latest book, Fasting for Cancer. I had read Dr. Fung's book, as well as looked at various studies, articles, etc. I am on hormone therapy, so I work hard to keep the weight off, particularly in my stomach. I try to fast each quarter to help with weight, blood metrics, etc. I'm not sure if it helps with anything else longer-term, but I feel like it does. I do either a 3 - 3.5 day water fast or the Prolon 5-day fasting mimicking diet (also, from Dr. Longo).

I am mostly vegan with some seafood when I go out to restaurants. I exercise 7+ hours a week with weights 4-5X a week to maintain muscle and bone density. I am a believer that my cancer was caused by stress over many years and other mental and physical abuse. I now meditate 30-60 minutes a day and try to use my energy for healing and growth vs. fear and survival. I enjoy reading a lot of self-help books about many topics including the universal field, meditation, etc. If nothing else, I have reached a better point of acceptance and I am in a much better mental space. I think life is a gift and strive to enjoy it.

We all have our own beliefs and paths, but this is my core plan. I wish you the very best of luck!

@handera
Easy to read article which supplements the links you gave to fasting as a Cancer treatment :
https://www.cureus.com/articles/346666-fasting-as-cancer-treatment-myth-or-breakthrough-in-oncology

@handera THANK YOU!

@nannybb Personally I am not into alternative treatments unless they are backed by clinical trials in humans, not mice. I am aware that Mayo Clinic was holding such a human clinical trial but I don’t know what the outcome has been. Perhaps someone knows?

I was diagnosed with stage 4 appendix cancer in 2021 - a rare and aggressive disease. After substantial treatment including chemo and immunotherapy I have been NED (no evidence of disease) coming up for 4 years.

My oncologist is also an associate professor who was happy for me to try alternative treatments if I wished to as long as I worked with him so he could ensure what I was proposing to do wasn’t undermining my conventional treatment (which also included holistic remedies such as aromatherapy, massage, nutrition, exercise etc).

I ended up not using any alternative remedies. With me we found my best approach was not to fast but to eat the most nutritious food in about 6-8 small meals when I could.

I too am interested in what the latest research shows as my cancer isn’t curable and it will come back. Every tool we can add to the tool box is wonderful

@isadora2021

As a retired chemical engineer, I am also skeptical of diets and supplements that claim effectiveness against cancer, without human clinical trial supporting the claims.

That’s why my main intervention (I’m on active surveillance for localized prostate cancer) is based on the ERASE randomized clinical trial.

The conclusion of the ERASE randomized clinical trial is as follows;

“The ERASE trial demonstrated that HIIT increased cardiorespiratory fitness levels and decreased PSA levels, PSA velocity, and prostate cancer cell growth in men with localized prostate cancer who were under active surveillance.”
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2783273
After 2.5 years of implementation of the ERASE trial protocol, my PSA density and PSA velocity are both moving in the negative direction and serial mpMRI’s have just recently indicated that all three of the original PIRADS lesions, found when I was diagnosed in October 2023, are no longer visible.

My VO2 Max has increased from 39.5 to 48.5, I’ve lost 30 lbs, my HDL has increased from 30 to 50, I no longer use (after 17 years) a CPAP machine for sleep apnea and all chronic inflammation joint pain is gone.

I’ll be 70 y/o in June and I can truly say that the human based ERASE randomized clinic trial results have proven to work in my case.

@handera That is excellent!

@handera That’s very interesting. Congratulations and I’m so happy for you.

While the ERASE trial was for prostate cancer that makes sense to me. I too made exercise a priority (including HIIT) to the extent I was well enough to do it both during my treatment and during the 4 years since I stopped treatment.

I have also been under surveillance. My scans and blood tests have recently increased to 6 monthly from quarterly. My smartwatch has been so helpful in that I can see the progress in my health metrics in real time between scans.

@isadora2021 there is quite a lot of studies on fasting and cancer. The studies are most in breast cancer and colon cancers. I took part in a study Standard on fast mimicking to manage Crohn's disease. These studies are looking at symptom control and minimizing side effects from chemotherapies.

@denisestlouie Indeed. I’d be very interested in what Mayo Clinic etc reported after their clinical trials. We are all so different how our bodies react to treatment.

So many factors including weighing up, for example, the need for nutrition and for some avoiding falling into cachexia (anorexia).

Personally, I coped really well with the side effects of Folfiri and Avastin. Through trial and error I did learn to fast in the chair and overnight after an infusion to avoid being terribly nauseous and sick the next morning but other than that I needed to eat. I’d even have a chicken, mayo and salad roll about 2 hours before climbing into the chair. I’d watch some other patients eating huge amounts while in the chair! I just couldn’t.

I prefer the intermittent fasting regime: it's easier and less stressful for me. That involves stopping eating after 6-7 pm and starting again @ 7:45-8 AM. In short, fasting throughout the night.
I've always been hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) throughout my life. Makes me cranky and a pain to be around. I eat when I'm hungry, but do not overeat: I stop just before being fully satiated. That works for me, along with daily body movement, be it gardening and yard-work and all that they entail (shoveling, digging, lifting, pruning trees), walking the dog, running around the grocery store, and Jazzercize 3-4 times a week--no chemo side FX permitting.
Try to eat all food groups, chosen for energy and muscle density: lots of fruit curbs sugar and carb. cravings, nuts and seeds, veggies, tofu, and animal protein such as dairy, eggs, fish (including minimal amounts of lean beef and pork).
Normal blood pressure 107/65-69. I feel pretty good, considering I have chemo treatment every 3 weeks, which will continue indefinitely.