Fasting mimicking diet during chemo - its controversial..

[MartaCiom]

Dear All. Having just completed 1st round of Carbo-Taxol me and my husband are mad about recent research and improvements we can make to reduce my likelihood of relapse after adjuvant chemotherapy. So, the boxes are ticked for alkaline diet, home made kefir, kombucha, matcha and trying to meditate ( although with constant attention from kids this is very difficult) and rest as much as possible But has any of You tried intermittent fasting whilst on chemo? And if yes have you noticed any benefits? I have my 2nd round right after Easter and may try to give it a go....

[27-359]

Yes. I read Valter Longo's research and gave fasting a go during chemo. I did 3 days before chemo, the day of chemo, and 1 day after. I figured that if I felt unwell, I would stop. I managed well and suffered few chemo side effects. I didn't completely starve myself and had melon for breakfast and lunch, and water based carrot soup for dinner. Now reading The Longevity Diet by Longo and would probably adjust the chemo diet and have a green soup (broccoli or kale) instead of melon.

I did not tell my oncologist what I was doing as I knew he would not agree, and I would not have continued if I had felt Ill.

Jenny

[MartaCiom in reply to 27-359]

Thank you for your reply. I may give it a go as well this time and hope it will work for me. I do worry about loosing too much weight since it plummeted after alkaline diet introduction ( never thought in my life I would worry about loosing too much weight and here you go...). All the best. Xxx

[27-359 in reply to MartaCiom]

I always managed to regain the weight before my next chemo. I ate healthy calorific foods. Eg, nuts, avocados, olive oil etc. We are all different and I wouldn't advise anyone to do this without supervision, although I might add that I am 70 and live alone, so don't necessarily take my own advice. I would be very dubious about a complete fast.

Jenny

[Yoshbosh]

Hi Marta,

I gave it a try having read so much good stuff about it, but it made me so sick! Vomiting and diarrhoea, which I assume was some sort of ‘detox’ effect. I felt worse fasting than I did from the chemo, so it really put me off. I would try again if I needed chemo again, but it wasn’t successful for me on that occasion.

Good luck with it.

Vicki

[MartaCiom in reply to Yoshbosh]

Its tempting so I will try it. Yoshbosh I hope you will never have to try it again!🤞All the best to you.x

[tara108]

I didn't fast on my frontline chemo but intend to, with my current recurrence when I start chemo. I had a lot of digestion/stomach pain during chemo and for months after. I started reading about what they call "intermittent fasting" cos I don't have the willpower to fast even a whole day and also don't want to lose too much weight.

So I finish dinner by 7 or 7.30pm. Basically I miss breakfast and eat lunch at 12 or 1pm. I find it really easy and my stomach pain and digestion problems disappeared within a week and has never returned. For women it means not eating for 14 hrs to 16 hrs. Now, 6 months later, I do it about 4/5 times a week and cheat a bit at night when I have 2 squares of dark chocolate a a bit of fruit. Have to have some pleasures in life!

When I start chemo again, I plan not to eat past 5pm the day before or in the morning, except for very small portion of homemade museli so I can take the prechemo medication without feeling nauseous and have a small meal around 4 or 5pm which is 4 hrs after the chemo. Also to drink heaps of water which we should do anyway during the treatment. I hope this time by doing that, I will avoid all the vomiting and stomach pain. Hope this helps. Sending hugs from Australia. PS. if I find I need to eat something, I will eat a very small portion of maybe chicken or a bit of banana.

[Sunfleury-UK]

Hi Marta,

If you haven't already found it, do have a look at Penny Brohn's (Bristol) website. They are long established and holistic in their approach with a great deal of resources.

pennybrohn.org.uk

[MartaCiom in reply to Sunfleury-UK]

Thank you so much!!x

[Seasun36-uk]

Hi. I haven’t done any (deliberate) fasting but ate small meals/snacks all through chemo & coped quite well. I’ve read some good things about fasting, as the body goes into repair mode. Drink lots of water too. Lxx

[Bliney]

I also read Valter Longo's research and fasting seemed to only have a minimal effect for 20% of the patients. What about the other 80% who fasted with no effect. I just felt that I could not stomach it (no pun intended) as I was so weak and poorly.

[Sunfleury-UK]

I don't know about Valter Longo but there was a clinical trial in Australia which considered if fasting improved outcomes during chemo. It must have been published over 5 years ago as I read it during chemo. It may be worth finding the research & seeing if any further studies have been done. Sx

PS I tried but found it impossible for me to do at that point.

Drink plenty of water and try to move as much as you can is really important!

[Nicky100]

I have tried it and I think it might work. I had a consultation with Dr PP, she said it was excellent and there is a lot about it in her new book I am reading. I recommend you get a copy.

I put a protocol together after much research like you! I have shared it in my profile page so please have a look...

I think the biggest think to try and avoid us chronic stress. Stay sroundcpeople who bring joy. Acupuncture and the herbal teas they prescribe I think are also key. I would only recommend a proper verified trained practitioner.

Love Nicky x

[Lymetree]

Hi Marta, I am new here so I have only just found your post! The only thing I have heard which can really help, and of course a lower acid diet would be good for all of us, is the Ketogenic diet which they are using in Turkey for inoperable cancers. It's based on starving the cancer of glucose.

Best Wishes with what you decide to do though. X