Diet and cancer: What changes have you made?

@kahiko1 After my cancer diagnosis (endometrioid adenocarcinoma) I had surgery (hysterectomy). I ask for a consult with a nutritionist who specializes in cancer. She recommended a plant-based diet. About two years later I consulted with an Integrative Medicine physician. She also recommended a plant-based diet however she told me that there wasn't much research on this for endometrial cancer. Her recommendations were based on the research on breast cancer. All of this was at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

I have tried to follow the plant based diet although I don't do it 100% of the time. If I decide to have a piece of cake, for instance, I'll have it with a handful of mixed nuts. This was something recommended to me by the nutritionist who said that 100% adherence to this diet will result in frustration and it's OK to have something sweet on occasion.

I do eat fish, mostly salmon, which is high in Omega 3. I also eat chicken (organic and range-free). I recently added dairy back to my diet because I have osteoporosis and couldn't get enough dietary calcium from the food i was eating.

Can you ask your husband's surgeon or primary care provider for a referral to a nutritionist/dietician?

my oncologist recommended a plant based diet and I am on it. It took a while to learn what to eat but I found that I like it. Famous billionaire Michael Mullen was given 2 years after prostate cancer diagnosis, he invented a plant based diet and years later he is alive and feeling good. I bought his book on Amazon Plant base might help and will do no harm Good luck

My 82 year old husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer 12 years ago. Today he is doing very well. He's active; leaf blowing the lawn, taking the garbage down everyday, driving the car, fixing breakfast, lunch and dinner and the list goes on. He also rarely needs to use his breathing medications any longer. His cancer doctor says he doesn't need to see him for a year! We attribute my husband's good health to both prayers and consumption of a balanced diet which includes a lot of good quality red meat such as Allen Brothers brand, fresh vegetables, fruit and grains. After his first cancer surgery, he ate a lot of this diet and recovered quickly. His doctor said my husband recovered better than some of his younger patients!
PML

Thank you so much for your reply.Good luck and all the best to you and your husband.

Thank you for your advice.Good luck .

Good Morning:
A good book that draws upon numerous long term studies of diet and disease, including cancer, is “Eat to beat Disease” by Dr William Li. He is affiliated with Harvard Med School. In it he talks about five different areas or ways in which certain foods support or hinder our immune systems. It is a bit too complex to go into specifics here but the main takeaways are to eat foods every day that support each of these areas or functions. He cites numerous long term studies that support his recommendations. Keep unhealthy fats and sugars to a minimum. However, it’s not so much about restricting the food you like but making sure you eat the good stuff every day. Found this book in MD Anderson Cancer Center Library while visiting with a family member and we have been following it closely ever since.
Another oncologist says to add green tea to the diet. It helps with weight loss and studies show a connection to reduced rate of cancer. There is a good article on the benefits of tea in ‘Cancer Today’ 2023 (but I drink mine without sugar, as you really need to avoid sugar). As others have posted, the plant focused diet makes sense as it is lower in fat content.

Thank you so much.This has been very helpful.

Thanks for the helpful info. In July I was diagnosed with PMF. When I asked my hematologist/Oncologist if I should be eating anything special he replied no, eat whatever you want. I didn't think that was good advice since I already don't eat everything I WANT. I try to eat as healthy as I can. He said Docs are not trained in holistic meds but that they are taught the science of healthcare and they don't know about holistic med. I mentioned that it would be nice if doctors were also trained in a holistic method and I don't think he appreciated it very much.

You are so right! How can it not matter what you put into your body at least three times, if not more, per day?
One other thing that may matter is the amount of plastics that we use in packaging and that invade beauty products. Bodies have to process that. I have significantly reduced processed foods —hard to avoid them altogether, I don’t use a microwave and have largely switched to using glass containers for leftovers, soups, etc. I eat organic foods when possible as well as grass fed butter, cheeses and beef. It takes planning and effort but is worth it. If I fall short one day I try and do better tomorrow.
Also important is to detox the liver and kidneys by not medicating unless it is absolutely necessary and to actively detoxify after cancer treatment or even a round of antibiotics. It can take a year for the bacteria in our gut to get back to normal. There are specific foods and herbs that help these organs.
There are many good resources out there and they are worth using. What I have learned from personal experience is that small changes add up, always enjoy your food and celebrate your successes. Habits change gradually and over time and it’s never too late to make positive change. We have more power over our health than we realize. Wishing everyone on this thread better health and the best for the holiday season.
GF

Red meat? My oncologist disagrees!