I read conflicting info on what feeds prostate cancer cells. I’m looking for a simple, sustainable diet. Can I eat whole grain bread? Some sites say to avoid all grains. Chicken? Some sites say no. Fruits? I hear they’re important, but which fruits. Is sugar a thing to avoid with this cancer or not? I’ve lost 10 pounds in two weeks while sifting through all the contradictory information on what’s best to eat, and I don’t need to lose weight. Any research on this topic?
diet tips: I read conflicting info on... - Advanced Prostate...
diet tips
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KMillson
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Cheesburger...choc chip ice cream....dont let cancer take all the fun outa life.....
Anything you like in moderation.
After a LOT of research, the only consistent observation is that it makes little difference.
thanks T A, Live your life….
We just finished listening to an audio book by Dr. Steven Gundry "The Longevity Paradox" A very interesting read and has plenty of suggestions and supportive research (but few clinical trials although some) His idea is that we have gone so far from the diet we evolved with that our digestive system is wacked out and effects everything else most importantly our immune system and our cellular functioning. There is nothing in the book that seems wacky or conspiratorial. Recent studies mentioned in this forum suggest that the immune system is fully capable of eliminating cancer if it is working properly. We have not decided to follow his plan to the letter but some things were are changing are: Total elimination of domestic milk products (still can have European cheeses, sheep goat and water buffalo cheeses) Eating an abundance of greens, eliminating most fruit especially in the winter (avocados are OK). Eating more tree nuts and most importantly eating a LOT of extra virgin olive oil. Much of the evidence for diet recommendations comes from the study of "blue" zones, what they have in common and this is mostly what the people DO NOT EAT. Severe reduction of animal based protein. Elimination of any simple sugars (indigestible starches feed the microbiome and are OK, you can get used to green bananas) Elimination of most grains with a few exceptions. Avoid anything containing lectin such as peanuts, nightshade veggies (will be difficult to stop eating farm fresh tomatoes) all legumes and more.
I highly recommend reading this book and reporting what you think.
"Recent studies mentioned in this forum suggest that the immune system is fully capable of eliminating cancer if it is working properly. " Not so. Prostate cancer responds very poorly to immunotherapy.
Your diet sounds wacky to me, but to each his own.
Books are entertaining. They make the mind go "wow who would have thought of that, it all makes sense". Scientific papers for peers can be boring.
How many times will you stop and start coffee consumption based off of a given authors desire to make a buck off a book?
I have had prostate cancer for 13 years. I have not changed my diet (everything in moderation), Over time (I am 78) I eat less but that is because I am not as hungry. Key for me is to maintain the same weight throughout the years and I have done that.
Just eat healthy food and don't eat junk! Healthy food won't stop your cancer, but junk food will weaken your body and you need your body to be in good condition.
This is my personal opinion on cancer diets.
After the diagnosis of 'incurable, metastatic prostate cancer', I too researched which foods are harmful or useful. Friends recommended e.g. a ketogenic or alkaline diet, not eating sugar, etc.
There are also many such recommendations on the internet. However, according to my research, these mostly come from 'self-proclaimed' experts or from people who want to sell certain products at a high price, often also with the argument that a study proves the benefit.
If you then do a little more research, you usually find that such 'studies' have been limited to a test tube experiment or experiments with a few mice, or have long since been disproved.
A typical example on the German-language Internet (I'm german) is a private Swiss 'health television' that constantly makes questionable interviews with 'experts' on the subject of cancer available on YouTube. In a video with over 200,000 views, nearly 8000 likes, 0! dislikes and hundreds of 'Thank you for your expert tip' comments, for example, a doctor claims that a scientist named Otto Warburg proved over 100 years ago that cancer cells could be destroyed by depriving them of sugar and using galactose as a sweetener instead and that this was a successful cancer therapy that has only been forgotten.
You better not believe it!
Otto Warburg's hypothesis has not been forgotten, but its effect in cancer therapy in human medicine has not been scientifically proven to this day. Warburg made his discovery in the test tube. There, sugar can easily be removed from cells (including cancer cells). If you do not eat sugar (glucose), the body will metabolise proteins and fatty acids into sugar instead. So 'starving' cancer cells does not work.
Today, it is assumed that mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are responsible for the malignant changes, and the metabolic changes that Warburg believed to be causative are now seen as the result of these mutations.
And if you still want to believe in it - you don't have to buy galactose as an expensive food supplement. Dairy products contain many times more galactose than fruit and vegetables. The lactose naturally contained in them is converted by our body into galactose and glucose.
I prefer to rely on conventional medicine, which uses medicines whose effects have been proven in clinical studies - plus regular physical exercise to keep my body reasonably fit.
And I continue to eat whatever I'm hungry for, including sweets.
”If you then do a little more research, you usually find that such 'studies' have been limited to a test tube experiment or experiments with a few mice, or have long since been disproved.”
Amen!
Far too many studies that have only made it to rodent testing get posted here with a dozen people or more willing to try whatever supplements or food was being tested.
I suppose if you want to spend your money on stuff that probably won’t work in humans, with no idea what a therapeutic dose would be, that’s your own business. Personally I’d rather spend that money on things I know will work or make me happy.
Heading out to In-N-Out for an animal style cheeseburger! 😂
I think we all have to make our own choices here. My choice was to become a Pescatarian because I was overweight and I wanted to have the healthiest body I could with all of the various treatments ahead.
After beating the doctors prediction of 2 years to live (best case scenario), I haven't been quite as strict (I do love a maple bar every once in a while), but I'm tightening my belt again due to some of the SE's.
I became a vegan (no animal products at all, days after I diagnosed. After a year a became a vegetarian, some eggs, and diary. A few years later I added fish for protein. The idea for me was and is do not eat domestic animal products. Avoid all of the hormones and chemicals fed to domestic animals which end up in the meat. This is not a cure but everything you can do for yourself is helpful.
Sugar spikes feed prostate cancer, according to my Google studies, so low glycemic load is foremost. I avoid red meat, dairy, white grains. I also take food supplements to slow cancer growth, curcuma, ursolic acid, resveratrol (all 3 work together), pomegranate , asprin 75mg, statin, and glucosomine sulphate. I'm not an expert, check for yourself before following, too early for me to know if my research proves ok. Arabica coffe (not filtered) seems good. Might be a good starting point.
After reading "The Longevity Paradox" coffee is back on my diet. I have amazing espresso machine and it has been calling to me for years since it was suggested that coffee is bad. Gundry says it is good as well as dark chocolate (over 70% cocoa solids and preferably 90%). How can you argue with that? So now it is two double expressos with breakfast and chocolate for desert but be sure to allow plenty of time between dinner and sleep. You need your blood in your brain to do a good cleaning (brainwashing) and not in your gut.
This is one of the most controversial and discussed topics. I trust in what’s called school medicine plus complementary activities such as diet, exercise, stress reduction etc. We are a holistic piece of art, so until we have proper immunotherapies I add to RP, RT, chemo and Lupron my whole wheat, whole food plant based diet excluding processed food, oil, sugar and alcohol. From my point of view there’s suffizient suspicion that animal products and diary, especially in today‘s „quality“ doesn’t add to our overall health.
And don’t forget: We al fight the beast but we also should take care of side effects and other diseases. I follow strictly my plan since 5+ years and so far doing fine.
I eat plenty of vegetables, some fruit is good, nuts, lots of water, more protein than I instinctively would eat, Some complex carbs. Not too much saturated fat and especially I avoid processed food. Fried food is tasty but I try to restrict that. Same with sugar. But I absolutely enjoy what I like, including some ‘less healthy’ foods . A good appetite is a sign of good health to me.
Specific diet is controversial. This is not: keeping the furnace hot is much more important than what you eat. The more exercise the better, both cardiovascular and weight bearing.
You have to go very low carb to stop spiking your glucose. Non-starchy vegetables are great, no fruit and very little cheese.
As I read the above responses, one can see that nothing is actually settled. Just my opinion.
Any refined sugars a big no- no for starters so scrap that. Look up Chris Wark and his square one programme for a very comprehensive guide 🙂
No no no.
Chris Wark is an outright fraud. Don’t give that guy any money by buying his books or programs, or even your time reading his stuff.
He had a localized colon cancer that was surgically removed before he started any of his own programs. The surgery cured him, not his lifestyle or diet changes.
He claims surgery can’t cure localized cancer when pushing his “cure” on the desperate cancer patient.
sciencebasedmedicine.org/ch...
Maybe go on his website to hear his explanation of his surgery and lifestyle changes. All the principles he talks about echoes what every single other doctor in natural medicine and integretive oncology says too (so it's not unique to Chris). Maybe use him as a starting point and then research wider to see what everyone else in the field also says for verification/ reassurance. Don't let the surgery aspect put you off. Good luck 
Been there, not impressed.
yes I agree. We all have choices. I think Chris Wark and his square one program is an easy guide for anyone to follow even those without PCa
Of course you believe Chris Wark stuff works because in another post you basically claim to have come up with the same method before he did. And you even refused the surgery, which he didn’t, when you were diagnosed with only 6 months.
Wark ranks right up there with Ty Bollinger and Guy Tennenbaum, right? Anyone who says actual medicine is less important than diet.
So easy to follow.
How’s your husband doing? I haven’t seen you mention him or ask questions on his behalf or share his story.
We've all just got to do our own research and do what feels right for us based on that. And respect eachother's decisions. Don't think anyone is saying one is more important than the other, I personally feel both used in conjunction with eachother would have best outcomes, but that's just my view.
I can respect that opinion. It certainly won’t hurt you.
Can’t respect Wark though.
Cheers.
Fair enough good luck on your journey
It doesn’t really make much difference, I focus on eating foods that help maintain a healthy BMI, and are heart healthy. I’m just trying to keep “the machinery” in good working order for the fight. I recently asked Dr. Sartor about diet and he felt it makes little difference as far as prostate cancer goes.
Ed
Lots of research. Mediterranean diet.Cancer cells do not "feed" any differently from other cells it is the same biochemistry 101 of any cell. Eat to keep your _body_ healthy. Most of what you read is either hoping to sell you something or hoping to find blog subscribers.
I decided to adopt the whole food plant based diet. It caused me to drop 45 pounds (while eating more than I used to), it lowered cholesterol and triglycerides, blood pressure and blood sugar.
I also dropped all alcohol, soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, and packaged/processed meals.
I eat plant of whole grains (not breads), and plants of fruits of various types (including the skin where possible), plenty of vegetables.
I've never claimed that it cured cancer, but I like the impact on overall health.
I agree with you, dhccpa. I have done what you did, but I have also added a plethora of nutritional supplements (recommended by my Naturopath). I also follow more or less a 80%/20% Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) diet because my body craves animal protein from time to time (again, no processed or packaged meals with manmade chemicals). Any protein seems to work for me, seafood, beef, chicken, pork, etc. as long as it is as natural as possible (raised naturally, no chemical additives, NOT farm raised seafood!). Exercise is also mandatory (whatever kind works for you, just get out there). I've only been on this road for about a year now, but all of my numbers still continue to improve. I must mention that Docetaxel and Lupron are also part of my prescription. I wish you the best. And Stay Positive!
I'm on Lupron as well, 4.5 years now. And I've also done many alternative therapies or supplements.
Nice. Keep it going! Eating well, taking the right supplements, having a good Oncologist, getting moderate exercise, and staying positive seem to be recurring themes with the folks who are managing this illness well. We all need to keep supporting and helping each other. Thank you!
I'm to meet on Tuesday with a research nurse about joining a plant-based clinical study conducted by Johns Hopkins and others. I'll let you know how the appointment goes.
You can drive yourself crazy with stuff like this. Talk to a nutritionist but don't be delusional: your diet is neither going to save you nor kill you. Do what makes sense for you based on the best science available.
Get Snuffy Myers diet book.
A highly refined version of Mediterranean diet.
Snuffy did more direct work on subjects than anyone I am aware of
Remove from your diet:
Refined sugars.
Refined grain, and
Saturated fats.
Prepared meals (read the ingredients list!!!!)
QOL = moderation. Alcohol= I don’t dare. 420 = gummy sweet dreams.
You can have the cheeseburger, but have it between high fiber flat bread or tortillas. The same for breakfast, scrambled eggs with onion, cheese and rolled up in a low carb tort... Same food but cut out the 30-50 carbs from bread per meal. You'll feel less hungry, and control blood sugars better.
As expected, the replies here are all over the map. But one thing that caught my attention is that you mentioned having lost weight you didn't need to lose. Whatever you choose to do I would wish for you a diet that supports your overall health. That much seems to be agreed upon - the things you can do to position your body in the best possible form to deal with the challenges ahead would be wise. Just my thoughts, praying for you as you sort out how to proceed.
Yeah, replies all over the map. I did a deep dive into the literature looking for diet indicators that may have contributed to my prostate cancer. Dairy might be one of the stronger indicators, but still no smoking gun. 2 meta studies from 2022, for example, agreed total dairy may play a role, but one said that cheese was bad and the other one said that cheese was no problem (and buried in that paper was a reference that soy didn't play a role in pca as they earlier thought (because, they believe, it was not that people were ingesting 'good' soy but because they weren't drinking 'bad' milk)). A large comprehensive Dutch study a few years back said no food was implicated, except to a relatively weak extent butter and dry biscuits. Green tea was supposed to be so good (I thought/heard), but nothing definite there either. The list of yes/no goes on.
Then I turned to researching foods that promote metastatic cancer. Fat, one study says, except the fat fed to those mice had lots of sugary goodness added. Looking into creatine monohydrate to support my weight lifting, but now emerging research seems to indicate that creatine may fuel pca cells. And so on. Creatine was supposed to be well-tolerated, safe, etc. Then I start to go down the rabbit hole of pca metabolism to understand better and get over my head. Maybe creatine is bad if you are PTEN-depleted, etc., etc.
In my opinion, I suspect that some dietary interventions work for some people, not others. My significant other goes all day on one weak decaf coffee early in the AM. Not me! A tablespoon of milk causes all sorts of problems for her. I can drink milk all day and feel good. Those are the easy ones. I keep looking at any given food, and it seems over-consumption can mess with this organ or that organ or something else in the system. Spinach? Healthy nuts? Back off if you are prone to kidney stones (I can attest that they hurt!) Clinical trials are needed to really support certain interventions, but so many foods and so little time.
If it works for you, or you believe it does, I think that is reasonable. That intervention may work with your uniqueness (maybe its connected with some little known/studied gene expression). It could be your belief which is helping it along, which is good too. The effects may be from both. Unless you draining your bank account for something questionable or that has other negative consequences go ahead and enjoy the benefits!
I'm on a keto-inspired lowish carb vegetarian-oriented diet interspersed with bouts of higher carbs and cheeseburgers as the need arises (usually exercise-related). My weight has not been a problem, but getting higher % of calories from fats (avocados, nuts, fish, meat) definitely has made it easier in my case to stay in a desired lower range). As Tinuriel pointed out, though, be careful with loosing too much weight. I don't know your age or condition, but getting too skinny while you stress about what to eat is going to be worse for long term cancer-fighting than eating good food that you can enjoy. We have to watch what we eat, but food is still one of the pleasures of our lives!
For simplicity try Michael Pollan’s advice: “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.” (Nourish your body for optimum health rather than letting cancer fears put you into a corner.)
Hello KMillson! There are varied opinions on what to eat and not! ! I saw a cancer screening that injected glucose that went straight to the cancer to show it fully . This to me shows c feeds on or needs glucose and glutamine to survive ? I’m no doctor . . I’ve followed a naturalpathic oncologist for 8 yrs this month . It was brutal for me the first two yrs. No sugar, no processed foods , no animal proteins ,eziekiel bread is the best . I lost 65 lbs during imrt back then . Afterwards I’ve gained back 30 feeling it’s a good weight for me . No high sugar fruits like bananas , potatoes , oranges or grapes . Apples are good , eat the seeds.. Prior to pc I thought I ate good. I found out that I ate a lot of bad crap . I had a sweet tooth. The naturalpath says no sugar . Here we have many stanchy ol men that don’t believe in diet for pc . Each to their own . Diet is the one thing under our control . ITS GOOD TO KEEP OUR WIEGHT DOWN to better our heart health .. I eat a little fish and chicken now . I feel better eating a plant based diet ! Good luck to you Sir!
I generally follow science. Dairy is out. Beef is out. Cholesterol is out. Saturated fats are out. Lycopenes are in. Black pepper is in. Garlic is in. Vitamin D3 is in. Don't listen to others, just read for yourself. Google.
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