Should sugar be eliminated from diet in a cancer patient?

I have also heard that cancer likes sugar, I was told this before having a PET scan.. you’re given something to drink before the scan and it’s basically a sugary concoction and if you have cancer in your body it will light up on the scan. I have a very big sweet tooth and it’s tough because depression can give you sweet cravings so it’s a vicious cycle for me.

There are many myths that circulate about sugar and cancer. It's important to get the facts. This article by Mayo Clinic experts helps debunk common myths, including the facts about PET scans and the use of radioactive tracer — typically a form of glucose.

- Cancer causes: Popular myths about the causes of cancer https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-causes/art-20044714

EXCERPT

"Myth: People who have cancer shouldn't eat sugar, since it can cause cancer to grow faster.
Fact: More research is needed to understand the relationship between sugar in the diet and cancer. All kinds of cells, including cancer cells, depend on blood sugar (glucose) for energy. But giving more sugar to cancer cells doesn't make them grow faster. Likewise, depriving cancer cells of sugar doesn't make them grow more slowly.

This misconception may be based in part on a misunderstanding of positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which use a small amount of radioactive tracer — typically a form of glucose. All tissues in your body absorb some of this tracer, but tissues that are using more energy — including cancer cells — absorb greater amounts. For this reason, some people have concluded that cancer cells grow faster on sugar. But this isn't true.

There is some evidence that consuming large amounts of sugar is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including esophageal cancer. Eating too much sugar can also lead to weight gain and increase the risk of obesity and diabetes, which may increase the risk of cancer."

Thank you for providing me with this information, I for one am very pleased to hear that this is a myth. I have often stressed about my sweet tooth and believing that it’s going to make cancer worse, I realize that moderation is important but depression is a powerful disease and I often give in to my cravings. I’m going for a uterine biopsy tomorrow and I’m very nervous so I’m not abstaining from my sweets very well, this was most helpful, 🙂

Stress isn't good for cancer either. My 4pm tea and sorbet is a stress reliever for me 🙂

I did worry about it for awhile but have been grateful to see studies that say sugar isn't a factor in recurrence.

Interesting about the PET scan and the origin of the idea that cancer cells feed on sugar.

Well, it is basic common sense that a healthier diet can only help everyone, with every condition.

But to what extent? That is not always known.

And it only makes sense that a diet that is higher in junk food and sugar, is going to be worse for surviving and healing. But to what extent? That is not always known.

So, if you want to maximize your chances of healing optimally, it makes sense to have a very healthy diet.

Torturing yourself into eating a perfect diet will probably cause enough pressure and stress to have some level of negative backlash. So there is that.

When I was 20, I experimented with some very pure diets (I am 62 now). I did a year without any processed sugar, at all. I also did next to no honey or added sweeteners, of any kind. I can say, from direct personal experience, that doing so, definitely had a powerful impact on my health. At the end of it, candy tasted disgusting and a carrot tasted like candy.

Now, I did not have a team of doctors get in there and find out what was going on. But, just my own personal experience and common sense would say, there has to be some healing benefit to going lower sugar.

But, I have concerns about excluding foods. I think, generally, the idea would be to have a kind of natural diet. And since a natural diet would include fresh fruit, I think there is probably backlash if you were to excise that.
Not sure, of course, but that would be my guess.

And, in my experience on the other end, if I do have a full serving of dessert (which I rarely do) I definitely have more problems. That is clear from personal experience. Now, I don't have cancer and I have never had cancer, so I don't know its relationship to sugar consumption.

Here are some dietary recommendations for cancer patients, from Integrative Medicine MD, Dr. Andrew Weil:

excerpt:

Eat generous amounts of vegetables and moderate amounts of fruit. Choose organic whenever possible to minimize exposure to pesticide residues that may put an extra detoxification load on the liver. Consider juicing to easily ingest several servings without feeling too full.

Hi. The solution is to scale back on sugar and have other treats available as an alternative (a handful of nuts, a few raisins, popcorn etc. Gradually you will be able to wean yourself off the habit. If you fail off the wagon vow to make better choices tomorrow. Eventually your taste buds will change and you will actually find foods with excess sugar to be cloying. If you are going to indulge make sure it’s a high quality food—not just junk and do so with intention —as a once in a week treat or for a special occasion. Reward yourself with other things you like for staying on a better eating plan. When shopping go to the perimeter of the store where the healthy choices are located. I find that if I can overcome the impulse to put the sugary treats in the cart I am not tempted as I have nothing to pull off my shelves at home. If I really want something I will have to make it from scratch at home. Sometimes I do but most times that’s more of a commitment than I care to make for what I get in return.
While you are transitioning away from sugar be kind to yourself. Actually, always be kind to yourself.

We don’t have clear evidence about many things but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t act sensibly when it comes to a food that most doctors find problematic for general health reasons. Human research studies are highly problematic in terms of drawing very complete conclusions as there are so many variables that we can and cannot identify and hold constant. Whatever is good for your immune system will help your body deal with mistakes that the body makes (ie cells that replicate out of control. This process occurs all the time but mostly when bodies function properly they eliminate these mistakes without need for treatment. What we can do for ourselves is to eat healthy foods, exercise, manage stress etc etc I don’t think anyone can argue against that.

My kid has type 1 diabetes and uses the glycemic index, which I am sure you are all familiar with. If you give up sugar, it would be logical to give up white rice, white potatoes, ripe bananas and other foods with high glycemic index. The body really doesn't differentiate between sugar and these other high glycemic foods. Rice cakes affect me as much as sugar. (In fact, sugar mixed with protein or fat, as in cake and ice cream or a candy bar, has a lower glycemic index.)

As a 12 year cancer survivor (so far) I have done a lot of reading on healthy diets. What is right for one may not be for another, as we are all individuals. A common theme to healthier diets is to reduce sugar intake and reduce processed foods whose ingredients we cannot control. I don't eliminate sugar, but my consumption is much less than it was precancer, and I find myself cooking more from scratch with fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits, organic when possible. Red meat and processed meat consumption is easily controlled (except bacon of course!) and fish and poultry can replace some of those protein sources. Everything in moderation is a good motto to live with when eating. Don't deprive yourself of comfort food when you need it, but control the quantity.