Hi all, I'm a relative newbie to GBM - only diagnosed in April 2021. I've been doing some research on the internet for things I can do to swing the odds more in my favour. I've discovered several papers documenting the inhibiting effects that a Keto Diet has on tumor growth. This is in contradiction to reputable institutions such as the Mayo Clinic who don't subscribe to such theories.
How many of the people here are deliberately following a Keto Diet? How many are simply avoiding sugar? I've been attempting to follow a Keto Diet for several weeks no and am interested to know if, based on your experience, I am wasting my time trying to cut carbs from my diet?
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Curious12
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Following a repeat craniotomy on 1st December 2020 I started a strict Keto diet and a fitness regime on 1st January 2021 while I was on TMZ chemo. I lost a fair amount of weight and felt well, but at exactly the same time my GBM started to regrow, and I stopped chemo in May. All I can say is for me the Keto diet, fitness and weight loss and the chemo didn’t help me at all. It may not be the same for everyone though.
I stopped the Keto diet soon after, as it was difficult to follow, especially as things started to open up after Covid, and it clearly gave me no support to keep my tumour away.
Hi Curious12I was diagnosed with a grade IV gbm in May 2010 and have the following recommendations to make:-
diet - cut out as much extra sugar as possible, my understanding is that sugar feeds cancer cells. If you have not already done so, cut out or cut down on alcohol, especially spirits. I appreciate that for some people the first reaction might be to 'hit it' but that is the wrong path to follow. I know nothing about the Keto Diet.
Since 2010 my diet includes blueberries, pecan nuts and turmeric, which have anti-cancer properties. There is more advice on diets on the Brain Tumour Charity website. There is nothing wrong with having the occasional treat.
I have also taken Higher Natures Immune Plus tablets, which are designed to boost the immune system and their Complete Omegas 3:6:7:9 tablets, which are good for the brain.
As part of my alternative anti-cancer regime, I drink ozonated water using a Sota water ozonated, which you can buy on the internet. This is water with extra oxygen in it, oxygen kills cancer cells. I drink a pint when taking my anti-epilepsy tablet twice a day. I also recommend googling 'The Truth About Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide (FGHP)' which is an American document. I have been adding 5 drops of 3% FGHP (multi purpose) to a half-pint of ozonated water 3 times a day, an hour before main meals, since 2010.
Most importantly you must stay positive about the journey you have now embarked upon and believe you can get through this. I believe it is important to reflect upon your life and view what you are going through as an opportunity for change. Take your time to recover, it is very easy to think you can press the 'reset' button after treatment and pick up your life as it was before your illness.
Use your first year of recovery to reflect and consider which direction/path you would now like to follow and most of all live your life. I don't believe in a 'bucket list' too negative a concept for me. I'd rather use my time to improve myself, life and living with my wonderful wife. Remember you are not in a race to recovery, take each day, one at a time, and one step at a time. Cross any bridges that need to be crossed, when and if you reach them. Do not waste your time and energy on 'what if's or could be's'. Rest when your body tells you to, sleep is part of the healing process, as is laughter, so laugh as much as possible. Do things which keeps your brain working, reading, listening to music, crossword puzzles, etc. I also rediscovered the delight of doing jigsaws, which I loved doing as a kid.
I also believe the human body is a wonderful machine and that my brain was/is capable of re-wiring it's self. Whilst it doesn't work as well as it used to, it is good enough for a wonderful life. As Buzz Lightyear says 'To infinity and beyond!'
I hope this is useful, by all means if you have any questions about anything I have posted, just send a reply.
Best wishes for a positive future, life and recovery; stay safe and well. Believe in your ability to weather the storm and get through this.
The reason I ask about sugar is that the carbohydrates you consume get converted to sugar by your body. The difference between carbs and sugar is the speed at which they are absorbed. A teaspoon of sugar in your cup of tea will get quickly absorbed. Meanwhile, complex carbs (e.g. in wholegrain bread) take longer to convert meaning you don't get the sudden rush of blood sugar. The Keto Diet aims to minimise the total number of carbs by making your body burn fat. This therefore starves the tumor cells of the fuel they need to grow. Minimising sugar intake assumes that it is the sudden rush of blood sugar that promotes most of the tumor growth. This rush of blood sugar will be more prominent if you have Type 2 Diabetes since the sugar won't be absorbed because your body doesn't react as well to the insulin or your pancreas doesn't produce the insulin like it used to. That said, the link below gives some scientific backing to your no sugar approach:
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Has anyone had my outcome of radiation 
Sudden Personality Changes
New tumour growth. Second like chemo
