Has anyone drastically changed their diet since their diagnosis? Has it helped?

Hi Sophie

I’ve started to take CBD oil capsules and turmeric paste which I make myself..it’s called golden paste and has black pepper and coconut oil in it..it’s anti inflammatory and I’m sure it helps with pain as I didn’t have it for a week when on holiday and I noticed the difference

I’m eating pretty much the same..not one for cakes and biscuits..I like fruit and veg

I must confess to drinking wine regularly as I enjoy it and it relaxes me..quality of life etc

I think sometimes it’s easy to become obsessed with diet which focuses on mbc and I’m trying to put my diagnosis on the back shelf if possible

Barb xx

I haven’t been told by my onc or breast care nurse about a diet , just said a balanced diet , but at HAVEN they said apply the 80/20 rule and eat healthy 80% of the time. I’m vegetarian (not vegan) and snack on nuts, dried apricots , pumpkin seeds , olives, humus , low fat cheese , black grapes and dark chocolate (my fav /treat is Godiva 72% from Sainsbury’s as its smooth not dry ). I have porridge with blueberries and peanut butter on gluten free brown toast for breakfast before taking my ibrance/Letrozole with water .My weaknesses are ice cream , cheese and the odd slice of home made cake when in cafes , but i try not to eat too much ! I eat plenty fruit and veg , and I avoid tea and coffee one hour before or after a meal as it affects the absorption of iron .I have hot water with a slice of lemon instead of tea/coffee .I agree with the 80/20 rule as you have to have some pleasures! x

Since starting ibrance my tastes have changed. I haven't eaten chips (French fries?) or fried food since February, I no longer crave sweets and chocolate, I can now take or leave cake and biscuits - all foods I couldn't resist while on tamoxifen.

I've also stopped eating potatoes and bread - I've realised that I've never liked them but eaten them almost daily for 50 years! I've also lost the taste for red meat. I keep planning to eat more green veg but don't seem to get round to it. I'm still eating quite a lot of fruit which I've always done.

I haven't lost any weight but I have stopped gaining it and I do feel better.

Well, I am the worst carb addict I know. Not overweight but would live on cake and cookies if I could. My oncologist nor anyone on my medical team has ever in 2 1/2 years suggested that I change to any Keto, vegan, sugar free , etc diet. I chose to give up recreational alcohol with the occasional glass of wine every once and a while. Never was a real drinker.

My oncologist swears there is no scientific evidence to support that sugar causes, feeds or promotes cancer cell growth.

HERE’S MY RANT.... Why is it that every one else all of the sudden becomes a damn expert on how “I” should eat?!?!?

I have actually come to avoid some of my friends because of this 😢. I am judged because I am not paying out of pocket for stem cell treatments and eating a keto diet????

Soooo, nope, I haven’t really changed my diet. If this disease is going to take me out at some point, I’m going out on my own terms until someone can give me a darn good reason to do something different.

Hi, read that turmeric or curcumin contains phytoestrogen which might not be good for ER+. Not sure if it's true. You might wanna check it out. Thanks

I avoid all sugars, except a tiny bit of maple syrup in my morning coffee. I rarely drink wine anymore and don't eat meat, only organic turkey or chicken. I have an instant pot and have a recipe for an ok chocolate lava cake that I use 85% chocolate for and that's my desert with some fruit. No white flour, no white rice. Lots of quinoa, veggies and two daily fruits. I do eat out at least once a week and cheat because that's usually not very low fat.

That sounds great! My in-laws in America have been raving about their instant pots, so we looked on Amazon and they are available in the UK too, so my husband ordered one. It should arrive early next week. I like the idea of making yoghurt and main meals.

Hi Sophie,

I usually eat a pretty clean diet but do have my moments. I ordered a couple of books from Kris Carr and am going to transition into eating a more plant based diet. It makes me feel like I am in control of something. She is very inspiring don't you think. Also, check out Chris Wark. He is also a cancer thriver and is very inspiring. Maybe we can keep each other motivated. She recommends the buddy system. My friend has someone who doesn't use their juicer so am going to get that from them in the next week so looking forward to trying some of Kris's recipes. Good luck and I think eating better can only be helpful.

That's the book I am reading and doing the same. I am out of town next week on a work assignment so am going to spend some evenings meal planning and figuring out what to buy when I get back. I will have to eat as well as I can while out of town. I have heard that the magic bullet is not a juicer but like Kris thinks, it's better than not doing it, so I would go for it. Juicers are pretty darned expensive so am happy that I have one given to me. I would love to go see a dietitian. I will have to look for one in my area.

Have a good weekend.

Kim

Good for you! It finally feels like I am taking back control. I am feeling stronger, don't have loads of pain like I did, and I feel healthier too. I told the dietitian that I actually feel a lot like I did before my diagnosis. That's annoying about the expense of juicers! I might just stick with my magic bullet for now. I would definitely recommend seeing a dietitian if you can. It felt very empowering seeing her today, and getting some tips and recommendations on how I can improve my health. I'm off to a cancer conference tomorrow, which includes talks, information on cancer services available in my area and lunch.

Enjoy your weekend,

Sophie

I've been meaning to do the same thing, see a dietician. Thanks for the encouragement that it felt worthwhile. I eat pretty healthy already but feel I need to balance things out better. My husband does a lot of our cooking because of my schedule and cooks more meat and less veg than I prefer.

I eat the way I always did. I try to add more fruit but I’m guilty of overindulging in chocolate. So many people suggested smoothies and cure all’s and I find them overwhelming. If you eat something and it doesn’t cause you issues then eat it. The healthiest of people get cancer so anyone that suggests a diet change will fix you has no idea what they are talking about IMO

I was just diagnosed with stage IV which means I have to be serious about making

diet changes (was stage III for 5 years). I have dropped decaf and honey and halfnhalf

for straight green tea. I have stopped sweets (candy, ice cream, cake, pie, cookies).

I am losing weight at rate of a pound a week, since I have no large appetite anymore

{although I know if I had some ice cream it would revive to a pint of the stuff quickly. But

ice cream leaves me feeling yucky afterwards, which is a strong clue I dont need it.)

I was only diagnosed a couple of weeks ago, so I am a little worried that, once I lose excess

weight I dont want or need anyway, that I will continue to lose and go too skinny.

I avoid bread (have a few saltine crackers with soup instead), eat organic soups, fish,

organic hamberg, organic spinach and brocolli and sometimes corn, organic carrots,

and squash. I still add loads of butter and bad salad dressings, however. Drinking

water as much as I can (never really did like water much, so it's hard for me...but it does cut my

food craving a lot, when I drink a lot of water). I am pain free, still, but my lungs are

being affected and my breathing is difficult. I am about to start Letrozole, so I am a baby

compared to you guys, for bravery. I am afraid of both directions, taking chemo and

not taking it. Feeling not up to all this, as I have had a lucky life for 81 years, without pain,

or the threat of losing my life short range, before. All new to me. My only girl just had

my only grandchild 8 months ago, and I am going to miss all that, perhaps.

Dear SophSP, Onc says I might not have any side effects. I think he's annoyed at me for

refusing Letrozol for the past 5 and a half years (before my cancer metastasized, as now).

I am wondering if the Letrozol can get rid of pleural effusion? That is my primary

problem, right now. Can't breathe well, fluid build up in right lung...???

Dear Arkait,

I'm sorry to hear that your oncologist is blaming you for refusing Letrozole. You were not to know that your breast cancer would metastasise. At times like this, our medical team should be helping us and supporting us, not telling us off. I don't know anything about pleural effusion and whether Letrozole can help with that. I would write down your questions so that you can ask your oncologist about that and see what can be done to drain the fluid from your right lung. If you are having trouble breathing I would make that your priority right now. Can you ask to be seen this week?

Please keep us updated. I hope you are soon able to breathe normally and without difficulty.

Sophie x

I drastically changed my diet to All plant based organic. No oils, no meat, especially no dairy. When you eat dairy it is like sitting across from your cancer at a table and feeding the cancer. Cancer loves dairy. My diet is variations on the theme of beans, Marinara Sauce, organic rice noodles, hummus smoothies with organic pea protein powder organic berries almond milk and I toss some Kale in the blender. A good place to go is to watch Netflix movie Forks over Knives (there are no suffering animals in the movie so don’t be afraid to watch it) Get the Forks over knives App with recipes. Go to Debyjizi.com. She has a lot of info on a plant based diet and references to the Doctors who have researched and recommend this lifestyle.

The book Radical Remission which is excellent outlines ten areas of lifestyle that people who have radical remissions from Stage 4 cancer have in common like plant based diet, meditation, exercisea spiritual beliefs and other changes that have been beneficial. The author’s last name is Taylor. I haven’t been On the diet long enough to tell you whether it is working or not but I will check back after my next scan. Good luck with your changes.