Since passing on the news about Z's illness, we've had a number of helpful emails, and in particular, many people have useful thoughts about the importance of diet when cancer has been diagnosed. I'm copying some of the emails below, for reference and to make it easier for folk to read the full story.
Any comments at the end will be very welcome!
Thanks all
Pete
+++++
I have read Pete's helpful blog, and very much agree that Zander needs food to build up his resources before, during and after his radiotherapy. However, 'cream with everything' implies an approach to
cancer nutrition that is likely to minimise survival. I'm responding this time by email, but in fture will use the blog to put summaries of useful information on anti-camcer nutrition as I get them done.
I was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer, involving my right arm lymph nodes in Sept 2011. After an operation, thankfully I had no metastases.
Having a physical science background as well as my applied psychology qualifications, I set off to read the research literature - aided by my husband, Richard, who is still an active biological chemist researcher attached to Glasgow University, so is able to get papers I can't. I have also found useful sources for keeping up to date, and have consultations with a GP in private practice. who has nutritional qualifications, and been Director of the Bristol Cancer Care Centre, where she has been
instrumental in collecting a comprehensive data base of cancer research.
I have amassed a lot of useful information. The mechanisms of tumour growth are well known, and there has been an explosion of research which can be described as anti-cancer nutrition. This complements the conventional treatments, and much increases survival times. It also much
reduces the chances of getting tumours of all kinds, so is a cancer- preventative healthy diet.
I have changed my diet a great deal and altered my lifestyle, (and I've been fortunate in having a great deal of support from my husband, daughter, and many friends, and neighbours etc).
I have already been supplying Zander with information, and loaning him books. However, there is a lot to take in. I'm currently aiming to summarise what's useful more coherently. I will pass it on to go on Pete's blog in hopefully manageable chunks.
It is wonderful that Chris and Nadia have arrived back in Edinburgh at this time, and Nadia is able to provide the home cooked food Zander needs. And, of course, Zander will be in charge of what he wants to integrate from the anti-cancer nutrition, and his food preferences are important, enjoyable food boosts our immune systems which helps fight the cancers. I am much more optimistic for Zander than the oncologists.
All the best, Rose
+++++++++++
I agree completely with Rose. I have eaten a plant based diet for 25 years for ethical reasons but the health reasons have become more and more apparent. There is now accumulating research showing not only that cancers are less common in vegans but also that a plant based diet can at least slow the progress of many cancers.
So no cream!!
John
+++++++++++
I hesitate to join in with this exchange on nutrition... but, having
cooked for and eaten with Zander over many years I have observed that he votes with his feet when it comes to eating!
Until recently he was losing weight, now that seems to have been reversed. I think the most important consideration is that he eats well: a healthy, balanced diet that he enjoys, and that he continues to gain weight.
In my experience of feeding my own family members, who had lost a lot of weight through illness, the key was finding foods which they liked and which tickled their taste buds to get the ball rolling:
- eg)I knew that my dad liked raspberries and strawberries, so I gave
him them before a meal.
- Whereas my mother responded to tiny delicately presented meals, when
she was very unwell, so that she didn't feel overfaced.
Everyone has different tastes. I would suggest that 'Zander could make a list of foods that make his heart sing' I would add, that Ratatouille went down well after the first endoscopy.
And Rose a list of foods that she thinks Zander would benefit from.
I would certainly refer to these.
With love and best wishes
Anne D
++++++++++++
Any comments at the end will be very welcome!
Thanks all
Pete
+++++
I have read Pete's helpful blog, and very much agree that Zander needs food to build up his resources before, during and after his radiotherapy. However, 'cream with everything' implies an approach to
cancer nutrition that is likely to minimise survival. I'm responding this time by email, but in fture will use the blog to put summaries of useful information on anti-camcer nutrition as I get them done.
I was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer, involving my right arm lymph nodes in Sept 2011. After an operation, thankfully I had no metastases.
Having a physical science background as well as my applied psychology qualifications, I set off to read the research literature - aided by my husband, Richard, who is still an active biological chemist researcher attached to Glasgow University, so is able to get papers I can't. I have also found useful sources for keeping up to date, and have consultations with a GP in private practice. who has nutritional qualifications, and been Director of the Bristol Cancer Care Centre, where she has been
instrumental in collecting a comprehensive data base of cancer research.
I have amassed a lot of useful information. The mechanisms of tumour growth are well known, and there has been an explosion of research which can be described as anti-cancer nutrition. This complements the conventional treatments, and much increases survival times. It also much
reduces the chances of getting tumours of all kinds, so is a cancer- preventative healthy diet.
I have changed my diet a great deal and altered my lifestyle, (and I've been fortunate in having a great deal of support from my husband, daughter, and many friends, and neighbours etc).
I have already been supplying Zander with information, and loaning him books. However, there is a lot to take in. I'm currently aiming to summarise what's useful more coherently. I will pass it on to go on Pete's blog in hopefully manageable chunks.
It is wonderful that Chris and Nadia have arrived back in Edinburgh at this time, and Nadia is able to provide the home cooked food Zander needs. And, of course, Zander will be in charge of what he wants to integrate from the anti-cancer nutrition, and his food preferences are important, enjoyable food boosts our immune systems which helps fight the cancers. I am much more optimistic for Zander than the oncologists.
All the best, Rose
+++++++++++
I agree completely with Rose. I have eaten a plant based diet for 25 years for ethical reasons but the health reasons have become more and more apparent. There is now accumulating research showing not only that cancers are less common in vegans but also that a plant based diet can at least slow the progress of many cancers.
So no cream!!
John
+++++++++++
This broth is surprisingly good stuff and I make it regularly. It is a delicious drink in place of tea or coffee or an extra. So
far I've only made it with chicken, getting all that luscious
gelatinous substance from the bones and connecting tissue. This may be
away to nourish Z while he is undergoing treatment.
I like it. Z might like it too. It'd also be good for B.
Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD MMedSci(neurology), MMedSCi(nutrition) says in her book-
"Homemade
meat or fish stocks provide building blocks for the rapidly growing
cells of the gut lining and they have a soothing effect on any areas of
inflammation in the gut. That is why they aid digestion and have been
known for centuries as healing folk remedies for the digestive tract.
Do not use commercially available stock granules or bullion cubes.
Chicken
stock is particularly gentle on the stomach and is good to start with.
To make a good meat stock you need joints, bones, a piece of meat on the
bone, a whole chicken, giblets from chicken, goose or duck, whole
pigeons, pheasants or other inexpensive meats.
The bones and
joints provide the healing substances, not so much the muscle meats. Ask
the butcher to cut the large tubular bones in half so you can get the
marrow out of them after cooking.
She just adds salt and
pepper corns, roughly crushed, brings to the boil and simmers on low
heat for 2 1/2-3 1/2 hrs. Or in a slow cooker, overnight.
After
cooking, remove bones, sieve to remove all the small solids. Strip off
all the soft tissues from the bones as best you can to add later to
soups. It's important to eat all the soft tissues on the bones. Extract
bone marrow while still warm. The gelatinous soft tissues provide some
of the best healing properties for the gut lining and the immune
system. You patient needs to consume them during the day and with every
meal. The broth should last in the fridge for at least 7 days or can be
frozen.
Do not use microwaves for warming up the stock. Use a conventional stove.
It is important to consume all the fat in the stock and off the bones as these fats are essential for the healing process.
You can add some probiotic into every cup provided the stock is not too hot. "
She
also says to use this stock to make vegetable soup. Any combination of
veg. avoiding very fibrous ones. The fibre irritates the digestive
tract. Cook the vegetables well so they are really soft. When vegs.
Are cooked, add 1-2 tablespoons of chopped garlic, bring to the boil and
turn off the heat. Add any soft tissue from the stock bones. The
patient can eat this soup as often as he wants all day.
Probiotic
food she recommends comes from juice of good quality sauerkraut or
fermented vegetables, from good quality yoghurt, sour cream or kefir.
Different substances in the whey are good for those prone to diarrhoea.
For constipation, the juice from fermented vegetables is best.
Introduce these probiotics in small amounts and build up gradually.
The important thing is to cut out all fribous stuff including grains and anything made from them.
It is worth looking at her website. www.gaps.me she also gave a good lecture which is on YouTube at wisetraditionsLondon2010
Dr.
NCMcB has a clinic in Cambridge where she treats children with
behavioural problems. Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D. Dyslexia, Depression,
Schizophrenia, A.D.H.D. which does not sound like a help for cancer,
but her focus is on what we eat and how it effects our brain as well as
our body.
I've sent this to you because I'm not sure how to put it on the blog.
Love
K
++++++++++++++ K
I hesitate to join in with this exchange on nutrition... but, having
cooked for and eaten with Zander over many years I have observed that he votes with his feet when it comes to eating!
Until recently he was losing weight, now that seems to have been reversed. I think the most important consideration is that he eats well: a healthy, balanced diet that he enjoys, and that he continues to gain weight.
In my experience of feeding my own family members, who had lost a lot of weight through illness, the key was finding foods which they liked and which tickled their taste buds to get the ball rolling:
- eg)I knew that my dad liked raspberries and strawberries, so I gave
him them before a meal.
- Whereas my mother responded to tiny delicately presented meals, when
she was very unwell, so that she didn't feel overfaced.
Everyone has different tastes. I would suggest that 'Zander could make a list of foods that make his heart sing' I would add, that Ratatouille went down well after the first endoscopy.
And Rose a list of foods that she thinks Zander would benefit from.
I would certainly refer to these.
With love and best wishes
Anne D
++++++++++++
Your messages make good sense; I guess he needs a bit of what he
likes and a bit of what's good for him... tending towards the latter,
but remembering to include the former :)
I'l try to assist
Nadia in working out a reasonable diet for Zander.
love,
Chris
++++++++++++
What Zander likes is important for his diet, and he is unlikely to
benefit from things he doesn't like, and his diet needs to be
nutritionally healthy diet. However, he is also dealing with a difficult
cancer which the radiotherapy will reduce but not get rid of, so also needs an anti-cancer diet.
There is now much research that shows which substances in common foods will encourage his oesophageal cancer to grow, and conversely other common foods that will attack the cancer, by denying it necessary food, by interfering with the extra blood vessels it sets up, and even killing
the cancer cells directly. While anyone of the array of foods won't do it on its own, together as part of a healthy diet they can make a large difference to survival.
Examples of things to cut out: Food containing nitrates - commonly used as preservatives e.g. bacon, which when digested produces nitrites in the body (30% of the nitrates become nitrites). Nitrites have been identified as one of the causes of Z's cancer.
High glucose in the blood is strongly associated with lower survival rates because this is the main food for all types of cancer. High glucose comes from sugar, honey, finely divided carbohydrate, like
refined flour etc. So a major help in fighting the cancer is minimising sugar etc - sugar free cooking will help a lot, with eating a variety of fruits which contain cancer-fighting substances. (There are new sweeteners which can replace sugar without calories.)
I will produce a much more detailed account in the next day or two with the positive side of diet possibilities, for Zander, Chris and Nadia to take into account.
With love Rose
cancer which the radiotherapy will reduce but not get rid of, so also needs an anti-cancer diet.
There is now much research that shows which substances in common foods will encourage his oesophageal cancer to grow, and conversely other common foods that will attack the cancer, by denying it necessary food, by interfering with the extra blood vessels it sets up, and even killing
the cancer cells directly. While anyone of the array of foods won't do it on its own, together as part of a healthy diet they can make a large difference to survival.
Examples of things to cut out: Food containing nitrates - commonly used as preservatives e.g. bacon, which when digested produces nitrites in the body (30% of the nitrates become nitrites). Nitrites have been identified as one of the causes of Z's cancer.
High glucose in the blood is strongly associated with lower survival rates because this is the main food for all types of cancer. High glucose comes from sugar, honey, finely divided carbohydrate, like
refined flour etc. So a major help in fighting the cancer is minimising sugar etc - sugar free cooking will help a lot, with eating a variety of fruits which contain cancer-fighting substances. (There are new sweeteners which can replace sugar without calories.)
I will produce a much more detailed account in the next day or two with the positive side of diet possibilities, for Zander, Chris and Nadia to take into account.
With love Rose
++++++++++++
No comments:
Post a Comment