For anybody, a cancer diagnosis comes as a shock. It is an incredible shock to the patient and it is a no lesser shock to the patient's relatives. What follows the diagnosis cannot be described in words. No one can understand the fear unless he or she has been diagnosed.
A cascade of questions follows the diagnosis. Why me? What went wrong? How did this happen? What caused it? Could I have done something differently? Is there anything I can do to slow the progress of the disease? What are my chances? Can I be cured? How can I mitigate side effects of chemotherapy? What can I eat? etc. etc. etc.
Fear, guilt, uncertainty about the therapy and its outcome follow the patient like a dark shadow.
Once the therapy has been chosen by the oncologist, the patient has to deal with horrifying side effects. Depending on the type of therapy or the drugs used, the patient experiences
- weakened immune system
- high blood pressure
- anemia
- loss of appetite
- changes in taste
- indigestion
- constipation
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- increased urination
- kidney dysfunction
- muscle loss
- skin and nail changes
- hair loss
- fatigue
- confusion
- overall weakness
to name the most common and visible ones.
Patients who asked their oncologist for nutritional advice are often told that they can eat anything they want but might need to lose weight if they are obese. The more lucky ones are told to try the Mediterranean diet that is known for its overall health benefits.
Why is food even important during cancer treatment?
We all need nutrients, but people undergoing cancer therapy even more so. They need to build up strength and stamina, strengthen their immune system, and nourish their bodies that are being weakened by cancer and the cancer treatment drugs. Some foods might be better than others, so how do we choose the right ones?
Although the food industry does not want us to know, many of the food items that we consume daily contain unhealthy ingredients, some of them carcinogenic or cancer growth promoting. Some of the worst foods and substances for cancer patients or anyone who wants to stay healthy, for that matter, include:
- sugar and refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, cornflakes, cakes, cookies, pastry, donuts, or ice cream
- processed meats like hot dogs, corned beef, ham, bacon, or summer sausage
- fried, deep fried and charred foods
- conventional dairy
- alcohol.
Anything processed and packaged is full of added sugar, high fructose syrup, or artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated fats, preserving agents, artificial coloring, chemical flavors, and flavor enhancers. Just check the list of ingredients. Some ingredients might not even be listed if they are present at an incidental level. Some are listed as "spices," "flavors," "natural" or "artificial flavoring" that can combine countless chemical ingredients and are usually considered to be the manufacturer's protected "secret" formulas.
Understanding how fast food, junk food, and packaged foods of all kinds, are affecting our bodies, we all shall agree that in order to prevent chronic disease, heal from cancer, or stay healthy for as long as possible, we must eat food that is full of vital nutrients and free from disease- or inflammation-causing chemicals.
Many nutritionists would suggest that patients eat more fruit and vegetables, preferably organic, add some fish and chicken, beans, whole grains, nuts, and spices to their meal plan, and drink plenty of purified water and organic green tea. But what if the therapy makes it impossible for the patient to even hold the food down?
I am an advocate of a raw food lifestyle that includes foods like raw fruits, vegetables and sprouted nuts that are rich in enzymes, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and various health promoting phytonutrients. I understand that roughage in raw foods might cause some discomfort in patients with compromised digestive tracts due to chemotherapy. However, turning a salad into a juice, healthy smoothie or a nutritious raw soup, would make the raw food more easily digestible and still deliver the nutrients needed for optimal health. Just juice or blend the ingredients in a blender, add a few drops of virgin olive oil, some chopped fresh herbs and organic spices, and voilà! Your raw soup is ready.
Some immune system modulating nutrients, like vitamin C and vitamin D for instance, must be supplemented daily. Supplements like Pectasol, graviola, curcumin, sulforaphane, medicinal mushrooms, fiber, laetrile, hydrogen, probiotics, alpha lipoic acid, green tea, and melatonin, are also often included in the protocols since they all support the patient's immune system.
Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut can help restore healthy gut microbiome and help with digestion and nutrient absorption.
Natural solutions like ginger tea made of sliced fresh ginger rhizome and purified water, might help the patient manage nausea without horrible side effects.
Patients undergoing cancer therapy may experience severe dehydration. They must replace the lost fluids and electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium. These minerals are vital for maintaining key bodily functions. The best way to replenish the lost electrolytes naturally is to add a tiny pinch of pink Himalayan salt and some freshly pressed lemon juice into a glass of purified water. Fresh coconut water straight out of a fresh young coconut works as well. By all means avoid sports drinks since they are either loaded with sugar or are full of artificial sweeteners and flavors.
Dr. Lodi, whom I consider to be one of the most interesting personalities in the field of integrative oncology, has a full protocol for cancer patients that involves, among others, raw food, juicing and fasting. The patient must change the "terrain" in which cancer proliferates, and make his own body inhospitable to new cancer cells.
Oncogenesis is a complex process, but patients can learn new strategies that promote healing and recovery.
To support the immune system, healthy eating habits are vital for any patient undergoing cancer therapy, but in order to heal, the whole lifestyle must be changed.
A health coach would suggest
- weight loss (where necessary)
- increased physical activity (wherever possible)
- emotional well being
- stress control
- restorative sleep
- infrared sauna
- liver detox
- colon cleanse
- environment free of toxins and harmful chemicals
- life free of destructive relationships.
If you want to heal, surround yourself with people you can trust. Find a support group. Find a registered nutritionist who understands cancer. Stop watching the news on TV. Resolve your conflicts. Declutter your house. Find a hobby that would enrich your mind and soul.
All this might seem overwhelming at first but you can do it gradually, one item at a time. Ask for help. Hire a coach. Hire a personal trainer. Mobilize family members to do the tasks you are unable to do anymore. Create an environment in which you can heal and return your body to a healthy equilibrium.
Your disease is not a punishment. It developed over time in an environment that wasn't conducive to health. To get healthy, you have to revise your beliefs and change your habits. Qualified people can show you how to do this but no one can do it for you. You are the master of your own universe.
As Dr. Lodi says, you are not your diagnosis. You can activate your healing potential, but the healing will take time, so be patient. Trust in your body's ability to heal. You are magnificent. Persevere! Don't ever give up.
By Dominique Allmon
*I am not affiliated in any way with Dr. Lodi.
Post scriptum
I wrote this short article for my husband who was diagnosed with stage IV renal cell carcinoma in Fall 2021. His therapy began in January 2022. We did a lot of research and were completely inundated with often conflicting information at this initial stage of his treatment. My first visit to the cancer treatment center left me in shock. It was a very long day, but there was time for a quick lunch at the center's cafeteria. The cafeteria was a place where patients and their relatives, doctors, nurses and the center's personnel would normally have lunch. There was hardly anything I wanted to eat. Like in most American coffee shops, there were a few salads, some sandwiches, and not too many healthy dishes on the menu. What shocked me the most were the sugar loaded cakes and deserts. Information that sugar is really a toxic substance seemed to escape those who run that establishment.
Old habits die hard and there is nothing more difficult than changing the way people eat. If you were diagnosed with cancer, you need to reconsider your choices. In many cases you will have to give up many of your favorite foods and exercise self-discipline. Your healing journey will probably be the most difficult thing you have ever experienced, so stay strong.
Dominique Allmon©2023
Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease. You must consult your oncologist before including any new supplement or food into your daily routine. Some supplements and foods might interact with your medication or cause allergic reactions. Caution is advised.