1. < Cancer: Managing Symptoms

Healthy diets for cancer patients

Posted by Jackie, Alumna Mentor @travelgirl, Apr 3, 2016

Are there any diets proven to suppress cancer?

I have people telling me that cancer feeds on what we all eat. Is anyone aware of any studies done that have proven various foods can actually help kill cancer?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

Jackie, Alumna Mentor | @travelgirl | Jun 23, 2018
In reply to @johnwburns "Boy, that's a huge topic. As far as I know, there is no single diet known..." + (show)
@johnwburns

Boy, that's a huge topic. As far as I know, there is no single diet known to suppress or reverse all cancers since different cancers meet their metabolic needs in different ways. I looked into this a lot but with a narrow focus on prostate cancer. The conclusion was to stick to sound diet basics such as restricting animal products and saturated fat, avoiding processed and preserved foods, and avoiding sugar. The Mediterranean diet follows those guidelines. Some cancers seem to be slowed by a ketogenic diet as I recall but only slowed, not reversed. Maintaining an optimum weight is at least as important as diet, as is exercise. If you are tempted to try a bunch of supplements, don't. Higher levels of some nutrients, such as thiamine, can actually feed the cancer. Others, like anti-oxidants, can protect it. Take a look at a book, Anticancer: A New Way of Life. It covers a lot and is generally pretty sensible. Like I said, this is a massive topic with a lot of opportunities to get confused. Try and do what seems sensible and avoid extremes. Best of luck. 

Jump to this post

Hi @ginj, I learned a lot as well on this post. the best way thing we can do is eat food with the nutrients we need. That is what both my cancer doctors who monitor say. I am not sure if you see this publication from the National Cancer Institute. They put together a story on Eating hints Before, during and after Cancer Treatment. You may find some helpful information in it.
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/eatinghints.pdf
Do you mind posting what foods you find have worked best for you?
Jackie

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 4, 2018
In reply to @johnwburns "Boy, that's a huge topic. As far as I know, there is no single diet known..." + (show)
@johnwburns

Boy, that's a huge topic. As far as I know, there is no single diet known to suppress or reverse all cancers since different cancers meet their metabolic needs in different ways. I looked into this a lot but with a narrow focus on prostate cancer. The conclusion was to stick to sound diet basics such as restricting animal products and saturated fat, avoiding processed and preserved foods, and avoiding sugar. The Mediterranean diet follows those guidelines. Some cancers seem to be slowed by a ketogenic diet as I recall but only slowed, not reversed. Maintaining an optimum weight is at least as important as diet, as is exercise. If you are tempted to try a bunch of supplements, don't. Higher levels of some nutrients, such as thiamine, can actually feed the cancer. Others, like anti-oxidants, can protect it. Take a look at a book, Anticancer: A New Way of Life. It covers a lot and is generally pretty sensible. Like I said, this is a massive topic with a lot of opportunities to get confused. Try and do what seems sensible and avoid extremes. Best of luck. 

Jump to this post

@travelgirl Jackie

This article on Eating Hints is very helpful. I appreciate your posting it. Teresa

REPLY
annirene | @annirene | Sep 17, 2022

my father was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and has a large mass. While working on plan of treatment they suggested a high protein low fiber diet as the mass is blocking most of his colon. They said to avoid veges, red meat and nuts. Currently he is eating chicken soup and broth and trying protein shakes. he is lactose intolerant, so we are avoiding whey-based products. Any suggestions on what we could have him eat?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 17, 2022
In reply to @annirene "my father was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and has a large mass. While working on..." + (show)
@annirene

my father was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and has a large mass. While working on plan of treatment they suggested a high protein low fiber diet as the mass is blocking most of his colon. They said to avoid veges, red meat and nuts. Currently he is eating chicken soup and broth and trying protein shakes. he is lactose intolerant, so we are avoiding whey-based products. Any suggestions on what we could have him eat?

Jump to this post

@annirene Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry to hear of your father's recent diagnosis, and the sudden changes he has to make to keep eating and keep his energy up!

You can make protein shakes using almond or oat milk or orange juice for the liquid, a bit of Greek yoghurt, berries, bananas, pea protein based protein powders. Personally I use flavored protein powders [vanilla, chocolate or strawberry] depending on the berries being used. We have access to wild blackberries and have some fresh picked then frozen.

Protein sources can be chicken, turkey, fish, hummus. I think the best idea is find what appeals to him so he will keep eating it. How soon will they have a treatment plan in place?
Ginger

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 23, 2022
In reply to @scarffy1 "What to eat" + (show)
@scarffy1

What to eat

Jump to this post

@scarffy1, I moved your question about what is a healthy diet to follow after breast cancer to this existing discussion:
- Healthy diets for cancer patients https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/healthy-diets-for-cancer-patients/

You'll appreciate reading the previous helpful posts from other members.

You might also be interested in this video with Dr. Dawn Mussallem, a physician at Mayo Clinic and a breast cancer survivor herself.
- Cancer-Fighting Foods https://connect.mayoclinic.org/event/cancer-fighting-foods/

REPLY
boneyjames | @boneyjames | Sep 24, 2022

The "Forks over Knives" documentary provides well, researched evidence that a plant based diet is absolutely, the way to go .

REPLY
nauden | @nauden | Apr 25, 2023

I have glioblastoma and Dr. D’Andre, integrative oncologist at Mayo Rochester, highly recommended the Ketotarian diet (by Dr. Will Cole) for me. I am seeing nutritionist to explore further.

REPLY
1 reply
magnum2 | @magnum2 | May 25, 2023
In reply to @travelgirl "@colleenyoung, @smness thank you both for your information. I look forward to reading the articles. And..." + (show)
@travelgirl

@colleenyoung, @smness thank you both for your information. I look forward to reading the articles. And I will subscribe to the cancer blog too. Since this is all new to me since being diagnosed the first of year. I still in the learning stages.. So again thank you.

Jump to this post

I was diagnosed in January, however the nodules in my lungs were discovered 30+ years ago. They decided to grow after all these years. Since I was told the surgery would put me on oxygen for the rest of my life, I am doing a plant based diet and taking supplements and herbs for 6 months. I am told we all have cancer cells in our bodies, but if our immune system becomes compromised, the cancer cells grow. I will have another CT Scan in June, so I'll let you know my diet results. I felt better after just two days of my green drink. I don't know if I can share the protocol I'm using on here, so...... The western diet is causing us to get sick.

REPLY
pbnew | @pbnew | Oct 18, 2023
In reply to @nauden "I have glioblastoma and Dr. D’Andre, integrative oncologist at Mayo Rochester, highly recommended the Ketotarian diet..." + (show)
@nauden

I have glioblastoma and Dr. D’Andre, integrative oncologist at Mayo Rochester, highly recommended the Ketotarian diet (by Dr. Will Cole) for me. I am seeing nutritionist to explore further.

Jump to this post

If you haven’t already watch interviews with Dr Thomas Seyfried on YouTube. He’s done the research on glioblastoma and keto diet.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.