Just curious about this, since I’ve always seen so much info on linking sugar to cancer. Wondering if anyone’s been able to eliminate sugar completely (in all its forms) white flour, “stuff w sugar in it”, etc. And if you did eliminate it, did it help you? Any change in scans or tests over time? I know when I stop it completely, I feel so much better and I could swear much of the pain has gone away in the past, whereas in the times I’ve eaten it I feel like it was literally helping to grow the tumor, when I had one. Anyway, love to hear any anecdotal stuff from you all - thanks~
Diet: anyone completely off sugar? - SHARE Metastatic ...
Diet: anyone completely off sugar?
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Verbena1
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So true. I honestly dont know of any women that are battling bc/mbc getting any type of financial help. All the money Susan G Komen raises is suppose to go for research however I think it goes to the president and vp of this organization. I have yet to see a company raising money to help women who have had to quit working due to the disease and helping women buy groceries, pay electric bills or buy things needed to help them live without stress. The money raised for a cure is in the billions and has been for years however where is it??? I dont understand....More women are being diagnosed and at extremely young ages but still no cure nor any financial help....??
I agree with you 💯.
That’s why I’ve never contributed to any of the “_____ for the cure” initiatives. As grateful as I am for the path I’m currently on, I think many of these fundraisers are a racket, mainly because they’re not really looking for a cure. The people participating, the organizers, the survivors, the families - their hearts are all in the right place, but I think it’s just a well crafted story loop that will continue to bring in huge profits forever, without ever really getting to the heart of the problem.
Unfortunately I never use to eat sweets but now since starting treatment I crave sweets like crazy. I have gained 20lbs 😭 In the beginning of diagnosis for eight months I was so diligent and ate a high alkaline diet but after I had to have emergency surgery and had to learn to walk again I basically gave up the rigid diet. I need to do better and get back on track and get this extra weight off. 😫
I thought that was just me. I can’t seem to shut off my appetite! My doctors are always asking me if I feel hungry and if I’m eating enough, and they’re happy when I gain weight. I tell them I’m almost never not hungry these days…
I cut way back on anything with added sugar which was mainly sweet tea which I drank all the time. Now I allow myself 1 glass a day at dinner, have cut the amount of sugar in it to half, and use raw organic sugar. I mainly try and stay away from anything processed. I have always cooked mostly from scratch and use fresh vegetables most of the time. I do a mix of organic and regular as well.
sounds like you’ve been able to maintain some good balance with your diet overall, which is great. I have always really struggled w sugar consumption and I do try to be balanced about it…stevia is often my go to now, I feel like it’s sweet enough but I don’t get that crash that sugar gives me.
good points. Yes it’s nearly impossible to avoid sweeteners in all their forms, although I’ve heard of a few who have on occasion.
I don’t get too rigid where it comes to stuff like fruit or if once in a while I eat something sweet, I don’t get too hyped up about it. Years ago ago things were definitely very different in regards to food; for one they weren’t dumping as many unpronounceable ingredients in every publicly traded food product like they are now.
My personal feeling is that there will likely never be (noteworthy) money going toward a cure - as much as we’ve advanced re: the efficacy of some of these drugs, profit is still the overarching priority, and I hate to acknowledge it but this disease is more than a little profitable.
So I follow and metabolic approach largely to date taken from Jane McLelland’s book How to starve cancer (She’s just got a new edition out). I’ve also listen to talks by Chris Woollams who runs cancer active and I’ve just started reading a book by Nasha Williams again about taking a metabolic approach to cancer
All of these three cover the fact that one of the few sources of cancer is sugar. I also read about oestrodial which is the primary driver for me being ER+ and HERC2- where carrying excess fat particularly around your middle will raise your levels of oestrodial which fuels my cancer spread. So I focus on eating a Mediterranean diet (but at the moment I am avoiding all meat and most diary) so I largely eat vegetables and fish 🐠 3x a week. I’ve also tried to cut out sources of sugar in all its form so focus on a low GI diet. I have then enchanted this approach with a number of supplements as recommended by Jane.
My cancer tumour markers are down > 85% and they have seen an improvement in the lung mets and all the bone mets are stable. My Oncologist has become increasingly interested in what I am doing as the results I am getter are significantly better than expected.
So for me I would say it works I am treating food as a key part of my healing journey and I listen to people like Kristen Chick who has a lovely book and does some great talks as well as I’ve just started reading a book by Tim Spector The Diet Myth which is all about gut health as being meh to your overall health so I also focus on diversity of what I am eating trying to eat more than 50 fruit, vegetables, herbs, nuts and seeds in a week to help improve my gut health
Verbena1 in reply to
That’s really interesting; congratulations on your markers and results! I really believe there’s a huge connection w diet and sugar, and I’m always happy to hear of positive correlated results like yours. Thanks for posting the books also, I don’t know about them but am looking them up!
Adele_Julia in reply to
Is her name Nasha Winters? There is no Nasha Williams that I've been able to find. Heart hugs !
The Metabolic Approach to Cancer. I found this on Amazon.amazon.com/Metabolic-Approa...
in reply to Adele_Julia
That’s the book I have
I started with Jane McLellands book How to Starve Cancer (make sure you get the new edition it’s just out) then having put into practice a lot of Jane’s recommendations
Jane Mclelland’s new version of her book is now available. If you buy it to get it from her Website and use code EMPOWERME to get 40%. She’s titled it How you Starve Cancer then Kill it with Ferroptosis
I then have moved onto Dr Nasha Winters. She has a more encompassing approach looking at every aspect from toxin exposure to stress, but from a diet perspective she has become synonymous with a keto diet but that wouldn’t be recommended for a MBC patient as metastatic breast cancer is also driven by fat as well as sugar.
Lakeview4Serenity in reply to
I just picked up this book " the cancer diet cookbook" by Dianne Dettraz and I have been reading the info on her website therusticdietitian.com. It was recommended by a practitioner at UCSF Integrative Medicine center. She recommends removing sugar, refined carbohydrates, processed meats, bad fats. She also indicates that the 80-20 rule applies and what matters is what you eat 80% of the time not that you strictly follow these rules 100%. I have started to change my diet in this direction this past week. It is too soon to tell if it impacts the cancer but I feel a lot better because I'm not "crashing" after dinner anymore.
I think natural sugars are part of a balanced diet, as long as I am maintaining a healthy weight. If I get something "with added sweeteners," I consume less of it. For example, I mix sweetened tea with unsweetened tea, or have half a piece of cake or pie, or only one cookie. At 75, I am less concerned with extending my life than enjoying the time I may have left.
I have definitely cut back on sweets and foods with added sugar. I don't keep cake or cookies in the house. If I am out at a dinner somewhere and dessert is offered, I will have one item as a treat or occasionally will go for ice cream with my husband. I don't use any of the alternative sweeteners as I think they can cause some issues. I have smoothies in the morning that contain a fruit mixture with kale and spinach and other healthy ingredients. I agree with Sandra that everything needs to be in moderation. I eat healthy and get exercise. I also wish there was more money spent on research to help all of us with MBC. There are getting to be more and more people with this disease and many of them are getting it at a younger age. It seems to be an epidemic.
I've heard its better to cut down sugar. I use honey and maple syrup in cooking, but I think we shouldn't beat ourselves up and should have the treats we crave. There are other factors at play! Xx
I asked my doc about this when I was in my first year post-diagnosis. He told me the science didn't show eating sugar did anything in our outcomes. He DID say that I should eat a healthy diet to help my body, but not to worry if I eat dessert. Well, with my Coke-a-Cola habit, 7 years later I'm still here. Just eat a healthy diet.
I have gone to a ketogenic diet for the past 4 months. I have a CT scan scheduled for later this month and I'm curious what it will show with the diet change. I was eating lots of fruit and carbs . It amazes me what things have added "sugar" in them. I bought garlic salt made with sea salt and it had sugar added to it. For the life of me, I can't understand why garlic salt would need sugar in it. Reading labels is so important.
Makes sense, fruit I still eat, but it never seems to make me feel bad. I have the same issue with the “added sugars”, it’s sometimes impossible to find anything without it. I end up just making everything myself - salad dressing, mayo, etc
Recently I was at a yogurt place and asked about the yogurts that were labeled as “no sugar added”. I was told there was still a decent amount of sugar in the milk they use as a base, but that they don’t add any sugars after that. So it’s really not much better!
Hi,
I've always had a sweet tooth, which I have had to really work on since my diagnosis in 2018. I believe in the metabolic approach to treating cancer, so have read Jane McClelland's book (the first one) and taken steps to eat a healthier diet and lead a more balanced lifestyle.
While I am on the fence as to whether sugar actually drives cancer, I do think it can be a contributing factor in disease, leading to obesity, which in turn can make you more susceptible to other problems down the road. I have had a variety of blood tests done and I found it interesting to learn that my cancer is driven by fat (as well as being ER/PR+HER2-) so I have also focused on adding more healthy fats to my diet, such as avocados, olives, olive oil, flaxseeds, flaxseed oil and so on. But I would not make any drastic lifestyle changes without consulting a doctor. We are all different, even if we have the same cancer type and diagnosis.
Sophie ☺️
Verbena1 in reply to
that’s interesting I didn’t know about it being driven by fat - I also have the same cancer types as you do…I’ll look into that, thanks for mentioning it~
in reply to Verbena1
I'm not an expert, but I do know that cancer can be driven by a number of factors. According to the tests I had done a couple of years ago mine is driven by fat. So my integrative doctor recommended I start eating healthier fats. One of the issues I had was that I wasn't really getting any healthy fats (olive oil, olives etc). Now I eat a lot more.
Sophie
Ycats277 in reply to
So your blood test showed what grows your metastatic breast cancer? And it showed that fats grow ER PR positive breast cancer.? The fats that you eat or the fat in our bodies already. I’m confused apparently, can you be more explanatory please I’m so interested in what you said. I believe that sugar is not good For cancer and I believe that cancer loves sugar. But the fats I need to have more information on please.
in reply to Ycats277
I don't know if I can help that much, as I'm just repeating what my integrative doctor wrote in my report once the blood test results were back. I was diagnosed with ER/PR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer with the PIK3CA mutation (I had genomic testing to find out about the mutation) back in 2018. My integrative doctor ordered blood tests, which I had done privately.
Based on those results he put together a plan for me, which included off-label drugs, supplements and various lifestyle changes. One of his recommendations was to add healthy fats into my diet. I've always preferred to avoid adding oil to my food, so I've had to readjust my thinking. Now I add olive oil, flaxseed oil, olives, avocados, seeds and nuts to my diet on a regular basis to address the issue and hopefully cut off a fuel source for my cancer.
I agree that sugar is not good for cancer. It's not really good for anything, so it's best to try and cut down. That's not been easy for me, as I've always had a sweet tooth. But in my case it looks like it hasn't fuelled my cancer.
Sophie
I cut out all refined sugars, refined carbs, and dairy from my diet. I do get a lot of natural sugars in my daily fruit smoothie. I also cut out meat but do have fish occasionally. I drink a daily green juice as well. I don’t miss the meat as much as I do the pasta and rice and occasionally take a bite of whatever the kids have.
It’s incredibly hard to cut out all sugar - it’s in pretty much all processed food. I do try to make a lot of things myself but it gets tiring. The upside is that I lost about 10 lbs from eating this way.
I was vegetarian before diagnosis but now broadly follow an organic vegan keto diet. It’s almost impossible to eat out on that basis, which is a challenge as the world opens up again! I think the connection between the gut microbiome, immune system and chronic disease is pretty compelling and I hope more research is focused on this going forward. I don’t know if my diet choices will impact but my energy levels remain very high. The only minor downside is that I have lost quite a lot of weight which may not be regarded as so much of a negative!
The gut connection to health is really interesting; I have more research to do sound that but I keep seeing the connection made. Glad your energy levels are up due to how you’ve been eating!
Eating out is definitely a challenge. It’s sad what passes for a salad at many places.
Very true! I find Middle Eastern restaurants tend to be a little easier. I live in London so there are a good range of vegan and organic places which are not keto and there is a also a keto restaurant but it’s neither vegan or organic 🤷🏻♀️😂 And on top of that my culinary skills leave something to be desired!
I haven't eliminated sugars completely but I have really cut down. This summer I have had a lot of guests so have gone off my healthy diet but as of today I am back cutting back on sugars. I feel better without the sugars and fats. I also don't have much dairy - only occasionally hard cheeses. I do eat chocolate because Dr. William Li in his book Eat to Beat Disease believes that good chocolate is a super food that helps people heal from cancer. I think he also believes beer is good but I don't like beer so don't drink it. But I think properly made beer can boost the immune system. Once or twice a month I eat meat. And occasionally I have chicken and also occasionally I have eggs. I have been doing very well - my markers are low and I so far have had no progression. So I think cutting back on sugar, meat, white flour, eggs and dairy are helpful in keeping the cancer at bay. I don't think being too severe is good but just cut back. I try to eat tiny servings of things I am not sure is good for me.
Good luck with your diet. I know it is hard to control the cravings but it is worth working at it as it could make the difference in your quest for healing. Hugs Marlene
Thanks Marlene - really happy to hear you’ve had no progression!
the sugar, white flour and (cooked) dairy are something I really work at moderating too. The meat and fat I still do, although with meat I eat as clean as possible, and not all the time.
I like that take on chocolate - I love dark chocolate (Lily’s is really good and only uses stevia) but I had to give it up because I have a habit of over eating it, despite my best intentions…
Thank you Verbena for your response. Yes, I too struggle with sugar and I also have butter from time to time. I wish I could kick it but I find it hard. I feel good but wish I could lose a bit of weight - even 5 pounds would make me happy but it is also not easy because we do have lots of guests and I love to bake. We just have to keep trying to do better and eat cleaner. Hugs Marlene
it's baloney that sugar feeds cancer. The misunderstanding comes from PET scans and how rapidly dividing cells uptake circulating blood glucose at a faster pace for imaging. This PET scan tidbit has caused non-scientists to erroneosly conclude that sugar "feeds" cancer---and thus the myth propagates endlessly. If you are overweight, here is some excellent news. Research does show that if you are already fat when you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you will live longer if you stay fat. It' s called the "obesity paradox" and you can research it. I weigh 300 pounds and I have been stable on 125 mg. Ibrance + 2.5 mg. Letrozole for over seven and a half years. I am a retired professor with a Ph.D from UCLA . Stay safe and eat cake!
Tell that to this guy
I’m not a doctor, but just because there aren’t tons of funded or published studies to support the idea of sugar not being beneficial to cancer, it doesn’t make it any less true.
Using personal experience only, it’s been obvious myself and many others who have benefitted from stopping it. But it’s true that you can’t make people believe it, and definitely not most of the oncologists I keep hearing about.
I remember reading once that in a war that took place decades ago , sugar was used as a war tactic to weaken the people and make them easier to conquer. Pretty brilliant strategy, if it’s true.
Some of the most dangerous opinions that I’ve gotten throughout my allopathic treatments over the last couple of years, have been the kind that sometimes tend toward relying on outdated information, and don’t allow for the possibility of new information to be looked at.
There are growing numbers of people who are benefitting from off label drugs, alongside or in place of former oncologic treatments, many times as a last resort, and I also see countless stories of people healing with things like these, or something like cannabis oil, yet as one of my more progressive minded doctors told me the other day,
“We don’t have the studies, so we can’t advocate for it. And they won’t do the studies.”
That's great news! Where did you read about the obesity paradox?
Thanks
Lucie
I first heard about it while attending a conference presentation at UC Berkeley maybe five years ago. Here is a citation to get you started:
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