Fasten

[2002chevy]

Has anyone ever fasted before chemo ??

[Yoshbosh]

I did some research into it, and gave it a try, but I found that full-on fasting made me more sick than the chemo itself, which didn’t make me sick at all!

Good luck with it!

[Sunfleury-UK]

I'd come across the Australian study re fasting & chemo.... I was interested and tried it a couple of times but just didnt work for me.... having chemo was enough of a challenge!

Sx

[Kryssy]

I used to take Emend on the morning of chemo and it needed to go down with food so pointless fasting. Also, I used to take food to eat during chemo as I got hungry and couldn't eat the lunch provided as I'm gluten free. So, I'm the last person to ask but I never felt sick or any worse after eating so I guess it's ok to do so. Nothing with sugar in though. Also, drank loads of water during too.

[85live4ever]

Hi Chevy, my sister did a lot of research on this kind of method & wanted me to try it. When I aked my onc team they said fasting isn't a good idea because you need your bloods to be good & fasting can deplete your energy levels. I decided not to try it while having my chemo.

Now I am kind of doing fasting not by choice. I am on chemo tablets its not the same as having it in your arm but it effects my appetite so I drink all day. Fruit juice, tea, herbal teas & lemon drinks then around 5pm / 7pm when I feel as if I can eat I have my main meal. It seems to be working for me. If that's fasting then it hasn't been done deliberately. I was noticing trying to eat 3 meals a day was making me bad. I haven't lost any weight on it & if or when I have to go back on the arm chemo I will try to eat more often.

Always ask your team before trying out anything that your care team hasn't suggested. Just because its kind of working for me doesn't mean it fits all. Let us know how you are getting on. Take care Cindyxx

[Hidden]

I first came across this idea in the Fast Diet book (Michael Mosley).

There's a researcher in the US who seems to be making this his life's work. Can't remember his name, but it begins with L, I think.

I'm keen on fasting and wanted to try it, but - big but - steroids shouldn't be taken on an empty stomach and we all get these pre-chemo. I'm acutely sensitive to them and not in a good way, so decided I couldn't risk it.

This wouldn't prevent fasting in the run up to it however, I think.

[27-359]

Yes, and I would do it again! I did a lot of research and it made sense to me to give it a try . I ate melon for breakfast and lunch, and carrot soup for dinner, for three days before chemo, the day of chemo, and the day after. I was fine with this and had very few effects from chemo. If you are interested, read the research done by Dr Valter Longo which shows that during fast conditions, healthy cells put a protection around themselves so are less affected by the chemo drug. Cancer cells do not have this ability. Fasting may not be for everyone, but I tried it and am convinced of the benefits.

Jenny

[Bliney]

I can remember reading the research by Dr Valter Longo and fasting seemed to have some effect for 20% of patients. So in the majority of patients, the eighty percent, it was a complete waste of time. I was feeling really rough on chemo so I decided eating would be better for me.