Best food/diet after OC diagnosis

[GillianWright]

Hi, just wondering if some of you would share your knowledge or advice you have been given about which foods are good for your body and which to avoid after OC diagnosis? I have read and been told that all things red and green (not at the same time, haha) are the best - so beetroot (🤢), tomatoes, spinach, asparagus etc, red fruits - and some nuts (not salted). In fact sugar seems to be a big no, as is anything smoked or pickled. Have also cut out a lot of red meat and protein now probably comes from half vegetarian and half fish or chicken. Last year’s pressie of a bread machine needs to be use different more, I’m working on it. Hope you are all doing well. Looking forward to some less chilly and drier weather. G 🙋xx

[Nicky100]

Hi Gillian

Simply the best place to go is The Penny Brohn Centre in Bristol. Have you heard of it? They do superb courses on food and nutrition and also nutritional retreats too. As a charity they are free to ( although donations keep them going).

Books-wise, I would say this book has everything you need to know, and more...

worldofbooks.com/anticancer...

Many people refer to this book.

Hope that helps, love Nicky x

[Yoshbosh in reply to Nicky100]

🙋‍♀️ I have that book! Must reread it to remind myself what it says.

[Nicky100 in reply to Yoshbosh]

I need to read it again Vicki as it has been a few months. Have you read the new book by Patricia Peat? Also excellent and well worth reading! How are you? Xxx

[GillianWright in reply to Nicky100]

Thanks Nicky, the book is ordered! I will also look up the centre in Bristol 😊💐 x

[Sunfleury-UK in reply to GillianWright]

wholeheartedly second this... ! The Living Well course has a session about nutrition and the centre in Bristol also has short courses and workshops.

[Yoshbosh]

Hi Gillian,

You’ve kind of summed it up yourself in your post. I also have some ‘fermented’ foods for gut health too (not religiously, just when I remember to buy them). I have made the same diet changes as you, but I haven’t cut out sugar completely, and I still allow myself some treats - you’ve got to live, right?!

The hospital will basically NOT recommend any of these changes, and tell you to eat high fat food if you are struggling with your weight, but then it comes down to choosing the right sort of fat so that you are still getting good nutrition. It’s a minefield.

Vicki x

[GillianWright in reply to Yoshbosh]

Hi Vicki, ah now I can quite happily live without sugary foods - cakes, biscuits, chocolate etc - cheese is my weakness, and dips! Have become a bit nerdy when out shopping and checking packaging for sugar and salt content in processed foods...which I have also cut down. Whole family probably eating healthier. We were ok before, I think, but now I’m super conscious of what is going in our bodies so am doing this for my three children too, to ‘future-proof’ their health as much as poss. You’re right about the hospital, they are fab, but avoid nutrition advice. Thanks for your reply 😊🌺x

[Yoshbosh in reply to GillianWright]

Oh yes - we cook everything from scratch. I don’t eat processed foods either. Going to have to relax my standards when I’m in Orlando next week!

[GillianWright in reply to Yoshbosh]

Have a lovely time 👍🏼X

[Lily-Anne]

You’re doing better than me. I couldn’t do the rainbow diet now as I have to have a low fibre, full fat, high protein diet. However if you eat a normal balanced diet with a little of everything and avoid processed food you will be on the right track.

I went health mad after my first treatment and lost over 2 stone using the treadmill and rowing machine and joined SW. Then 3 years later I recurred and the stoma changed my diet and the surgery pretty much changed my ability to be so active I still follow SW recipes and try to avoid processed food if I can but currently am craving love hearts of all things! Like seriously sugar shoot me now lol

Good luck with the eating plan you fancy am sure they’ll be lots of great advice

LA xx

[GillianWright in reply to Lily-Anne]

Hello Lily-Anne, a familiar story then. I am at the gym twice a week doing 5 miles on the treadmill if I can and hill-walking at the weekends. Petrified of recurrence. Second 3-monthly check-up is 2 weeks today and already worrying about it far too much. A close friend and neighbour recently diagnosed with breast cancer and that has knocked my confidence a bit. Supporting her at the mo through those initial appointments with the MDT etc. Yes, I am avoiding processed food too. Hope you are ok at the mo. I have read a lot of your posts and replies, thank you for replying here, you’re an inspiring lady 😌💐x

[Nicky100 in reply to GillianWright]

Gillian, if you are worried about recurrence ( which terrified me too) I stayed taking supplements which made a big difference to my marker levels. They are on my page but you don’t have to take all of them.

I would say these are as, if not even more powerful than foods. I actually found out this week that the incredible Chemothermia clinic in Istanbul also use the base supplements (around 5-6). Worth you looking at if you are interested...

Love Nicky 💓💓

[CallmeMum]

Hi, personally I’d eat what you fancy at the end of the day it’s your body telling you what it needs rather than what you want it to have by all means keep it healthy but a treat every now and then doesn’t hurt xxx

[GillianWright in reply to CallmeMum]

Hi, yes I do want to eat what I feel like. My 3 children all very health conscious and food aware so we’re all in it together 😆. I crave a few things and occasionally give in especially cheese, dips and crackers! Thanks for your reply, hope you are well, G 🌻x

[Nicky100 in reply to GillianWright]

It’s all about balance. Xx

[Lindaura]

Well,

Sadly, I have been a vegetarian for 35 years and was pretty much on the "Mediterranean diet" for the last 10 years, and ate loads of healthy seeds as a snack, and still got cancer!

However, I was still eating lots of cheese. Good cheese, mind you, Halumi and Feta mostly (roasted and grilled-yummy).

While I was having Chemo I watched a lot of Netflix and caught the documentary called "What the Health", a Michael Moore style film about American eating and farming styles, with half the film talking to cancer, heart and diabetes specialists.

I became a vegan after watching this film. I love cheese, but I will never eat milk products again.

I studied up on the science of cancer growth and adopted a diet, very much like the ones above, which favour foods that keep blood vessels that feed tumours from growing.

This is called antiangiogenecis and is what Avastin, a drug I cannot get, but most women are getting now to keep cancer from recurring, does. Here is a link:

ted.com/talks/william_li/tr...

It is a good start.

My little family is sticking to it!

Good luck with your health and better health choices.

Laura

[ZenaJ in reply to Lindaura]

My daughter went vegan after watching that film also. x

[Yoshbosh in reply to Lindaura]

Thanks for the video link, Laura. Will watch it properly later on, but I just read through the transcript and it looks really interesting.

[GillianWright in reply to Lindaura]

I’ll look up that film. And am becoming more aware of the benefits of avoiding milk products. A close friend who has been vegetarian for 30 years has recently become vegan. I’ll have a chat. Thanks for the link and for your reply, really interesting. All the best 😌💐x

[skyuka in reply to Lindaura]

Exactly! My wife has stage 5 ovarian, and we watched the same film. Really opened our eyes. Completely vegan since watching it. Feel it gives her the absolute best chance of beating this hideous disease. Also got her on Fendbendazole, curcumin, spirulina, zinc, beta glucan, mushroom extract and others. She spends alot of time on our PEMf machine.

[ZenaJ]

I've never been advised what to eat after cancer and when I was really worried about it I asked to see a nutritionist and was told even people with diabetes can't see one so I just stuck to fish and veg. This soon went out the window and I eat whatever I want to. In saying that I do try to be a bit careful. We all know the fruit and plenty of veg recommendation with less salt and sugar. We're human and can only do our best.

I personally don't think it matters much one way or the other where cancer is concerned, healthy eaters get cancer as well. It's a different matter when it comes to weight of course and I'd avoid smoking.

Don't over worry, just do your best, you don't want to be beating yourself up over your diet there's enough to worry about without that.

All the very best, Zena x

[GillianWright in reply to ZenaJ]

Hi Zena, it doesn’t seem to matter does it? I have always, as an adult, had a reasonable diet and my children are in on the healthy eating at the mo too so exploring it a bit more and seeing how we get on. Thanks for your reply, hope you are well 😊🌸x

[ZenaJ in reply to GillianWright]

I'm fine thanks Gillian, been in remission for nearly 5 years with Stage 3C. Had all the usual and doing well. I've never been a really bad eater and never smoked. I've never been to the gym but I do exercise by playing badminton, walking a lot and a bit of cycling. My children are off hand so I have more time. I like to hula hoop when watching a bit of TV.

It seems that what works for one doesn't necessarily work for others but we can only try. I wonder sometimes if all this changing of diet and routine make things worse instead of better. That's something else to worry about. Being as stress free of possible is the best medicine.

Sorry, once I start I do go on a bit.

Best wishes, Zena

[GillianWright in reply to ZenaJ]

Ah yes, stress! My consultant has spoken to me about a possible job change - I teach in an 11-16 Secondary School. Over the last 5 years or so the intake has changed dramatically and we now have a LOT of daily behaviour-related problems and incidents, including our first ever riot (and my first, in 30 years of teaching) last week. Other changes include lunch-break being reduced to 30 mins, increased workload, large class sizes and unreasonable deadlines. I like to think that I have progressed with the times, I love teaching my subject, I'm technologically up-to-speed, tackle things head on and get on with my job. We have 9 staff leaving this year, most because they cannot cope any more. Am trying to work smarter and plan less but can't compromise the quality of my teaching. Is my OC stress-related...? I'll never know but haven't ruled it out. When I had time off last year for two major surgeries and treatment I was able to see family and friends a lot more. Have tried to keep this up now I'm back at work and I think it helps. Totally agree that being as stress free as poss is a MUST x

[ZenaJ in reply to GillianWright]

What subject do you teach Gillian? My daughter teaches in a special school and is off with anxiety. She goes back after the Easter break. This was only partly to do with teaching and nothing to do with the children who are at senior school age but all live with autism and similarly related problems. Most of her class are in wheel chairs but this is her speciality and she worked years to get her Masters.

It's a pity to give it up after all your hard work but have a word with the head and they should be able to accommodate you. They wouldn't want someone else leaving. It's not only the teaching is it? it's the planning, marking etc.

Regarding the eating, I've just had a gin and tonic and a bar of chocolate. Well, it is Easter, isn't it? xx

[GillianWright in reply to ZenaJ]

I teach maths. I won’t be giving up! My colleagues are fab, and tbh a lot of the pupils are too. Besides, I have 3 children to get through uni yet 🤔. I hope that your daughter is feeling better, I’m sure the children will be glad to have her back. Have another g & t...cheers

[GillianWright in reply to ZenaJ]

P.S. just tracked back in some older threads and came across yours from about 8 months ago on a similar theme. Sorry to repeat but thanks for all your replies 😊x

[ZenaJ in reply to GillianWright]

It doesn't matter because things change all the time. I'm always changing my mind what I said then might not be what I think now and in any case we get new members on here regularly so it's good to bring things up again.

I didn't realise I'd been on here 8 months, seems only yesterday. x

[Emsymits in reply to GillianWright]

I’ve subscribed to Headspace which I’ve found a great intro to meditation. I’m lucky enough to have give up work as I’m trying to lessen stress. Mainly plant based diet with very little dairy and researched supplements. Onc says no proof but there’s enough circumstantial evidence for me. As long as it isn’t going to do me any harm why not? Occasionally treats as u have to live but I’m hoping every little helps. Having said that I’ve fallen off the healthy wagon the past few weeks so start again in the morning 😇

Em

X

[GillianWright in reply to Emsymits]

Good for you being able to give up work 👍🏼.

[Nicky100 in reply to GillianWright]

Hi Gillian...I’m really interested in your thoughts on stress and cancer! I write a post about it a while back as I’m convinced stress is the main ‘trigger’. I’m even thinking of writing some research on it. Do you feel your illness may have been triggered by stress? I think mine was. In fact I know it was. I’m trying to clear these stressors out of my life, which is hard! But there are things you can do that will really help. I discovered mediation, relaxation and recently, yoga xxx

[CallmeMum in reply to ZenaJ]

My special person was the healthiest person you could ever meet never smoked drank very rarely then at the most it was a sip of what she was drinking, her mum was the same they both still got cancer now my special person just eats what she wants as and when she wants still trying to be health conscious to a degree but also knows if you’re gonna get cancer then what you eat won’t make the slightest bit of difference!

[ZenaJ in reply to CallmeMum]

I think you're right. I was told a couple of weeks ago that my cancer was caused by the BRCA2 gene so I doubt that anything I ate had anything to do with it. x

[Yoshbosh]

Me again, Gillian.

Have you looked at detoxing your beauty products? I have completely changed everything I use from face creams to toothpaste to shampoo. If you are interested in your diet, you might be interested in this too. Just a thought...

Also, depending on where you live and if it’s your sort of thing, there’s a festival near Guildford in July called Trew Fields, which takes an holistic look at cancer and approaches to treatment. It’s more than just that too - they have music, comedy, yoga/relaxation etc. I went last year and it was excellent. They’ve expanded the line up this year.

Vicki x

[Emsymits in reply to Yoshbosh]

Hi Yosh. Could you pm me the details of the Trew thing if you have them? I’m in Kent and would be interested...

Thanks

Em

X

[Yoshbosh in reply to Emsymits]

Hi Em, have sent you a message with the link Vicki x

[GillianWright in reply to Yoshbosh]

Thought I’d replied...think I forgot to press the green button 🤨. Did a search for the Trew Field festival, it looks fantastic. It’s July 7/8 and I’m free then so will book some accommodation and get the train to Guildford. Brilliant idea, thank you. So that’s Bristol, Guildford and a film to watch, very positive and things to look forward to, thanks again, G 🤗💐x

[Yoshbosh in reply to GillianWright]

If you get tickets, I'll see you there, Gillian

[Eriksendi in reply to Yoshbosh]

I'm in this part of the country and have my treatment at The Royal Surrey. I will look this up and hope to make it too.

[Yoshbosh in reply to Eriksendi]

It was really good last year, Eriksendi - it’s looking good for this year too.

[Lyndy]

Umm...let me just swallow this Easter egg and then say eat healthy food as far as you can but eat what you like and don’t add to the stress by trying anything too faddy. Enjoy! xx

[GillianWright in reply to Lyndy]

Enjoy your Easter treat Lyndy x

[Neona]

I went for a private consultation at the London Clinic after my recurrence and one of my questions was " is there anything particular that I should eat?". The answer was "No". So I'm guessing that there just isn't any evidence that it makes a difference although I'm sure there are ladies who will disagree. I've been taking milk shake food supplements on prescription and the cramps and breathlessness that I had put down to low magnesium have stopped even though aural magnesium supplements didn't make any difference- so could be those extra vitamins like B12 in the supplements?

[GillianWright in reply to Neona]

Thanks Neona, have been looking at the B vitamins actually and the best foods for the B vits. Keep well x

[Hidden]

I had to change my diet after my operation due to complications with bowels afterwards. They have never returned to what they were!!

I now just eat a very varied diet with most of my plate taken up with vegetables. Too much fruit causes issues. I saw a dietician and she advised eating only fresh foods. Nothing processed.

I make my own bread, soups, sauces etc. Limit sugar. I only used to eat chicken or fish so that hasn’t changed.

I need to drink loads of water.

My oncologist said the same as dietician. Everything fresh and limit sugar.

When we eat out I tend to eat what I like. We all need treats!!

Xx

[GillianWright in reply to Hidden]

Hi Laurel, you have given me an idea about making soup again. I used to make soup quite often. I know it seems obvious but there’s so much to think about, I sometimes forget the most obvious and nutritious things to make. Thanks. Hope you are well, G 😊x

[Hidden in reply to GillianWright]

This is why this forum is so great.

I’ve picked up many useful tips !!!

I did invest in a soup maker.

Many a conversation at work about soup makers. Many think a waste of time as easy to make in a pan. It I love mine. So quick and easy ! Xx