Can anyone point me in the direction of reliable research concerning fasting and sugar free diets preventing cancer reoccurance. I am in the middle of treatment for an aggressive type of cancer triple positive Grade 3, so want to give my body its best chance.Thank you

Hi I read lots of stuff in the early days until one of my friends who is a retired nurse said to me “ the internet is a library with no librarian”.I have seen a nutritionist who specialises in cancer patients and she said the important thing is to eat a balanced diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and adequate protein ( fish is great) and to eliminate or cut drastically alcohol.I don’t believe there is a scientific conclusion that eliminating sugar can prevent cancer recurrence and as others have said there is sugar in many natural foods like fruit which are good for you.Eliminating or drastically cutting down on processed foods that contain sugar ( like cakes and biscuits) is a win win as it will help your healthy heart.

I am not sure that there is a reliable (ie scientifically credible) about the benefits of a sugar free diet, assuming you could achieve that, as distinct from a low sugar diet, which is more achievable. Glucose (the form of sugar used most in the body) feeds every cell in the body, and is so important to the function of your brain that the body has several back up strategies to keep blood sugar levels normal. Even without any carbohydrate in the diet, your body will make sugar from other sources, including protein and fat. The notion that sugar ‘feeds’ cancer cells is nowhere near as clear as it sounds! There is some support for limited fasting, which in combination with a good, balanced diet (vegetables, fibre protein) may be the best bet for any of us in keeping healthy. Remember too that, if you are having chemo, your taste buds can be affected, another challenge for healthy eating, but at least a finite one. Best wishes

@MBHPJ Soon after I finished my treatment, I was invited by the Cancer Council, to participate in a programme called "Healthy Living After Cancer". It was run by the University of Queensland. It took 6 months & was done over the phone. It consisted of many parts, one being Healthy Eating. It went into depth about the foods you should be eating & those you should avoid. I remember asking the very question "What foods should I eat to prevent recurrence?" to which the reply was "There is none!" As mentioned above, they told me just eat a healthy diet & get regular exercise. It was a wonderful programme & I learnt a lot from it even though I have always been a healthy person. Good luck xx

MBHPJ said: Totally agree with the healthy eating which I am trying to do!!!! Have had a single mascectomy and have one last AC to go next Friday then on to weekly Taxol. How about you? @MBHPJ Yes, me too, although in giving up drinking since my diagnosis I must admit I have found comfort in after dinner chocolate 😬...have also upped intake of fruit and veges though...I’ve had a triple lumpectomy on left boob, and have just started letrozole. Just waiting on genetic testing to confirm whether to have mastectomies or radiation.I tend to agree with @afraser about the sugar...seems sensible to cut down or cut out added refined sugar and processed foods ...but sugars/carbs are in fruit and veg and whole grains too and I can’t believe it would be healthy to eliminate them.

@MBHPJ There's certainly a heightened awareness of self as we work our way through diagnosis and treatment. BCNA website offers an insight into the topic Hope you find it helpful Take care and best wishes"Healthy eating | Breast Cancer Network Australia" https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/healthy-eating/

Fasting and Sugar free diet to prevent return of cancer.

Caz1
Member
4 years ago
Hi @Halla, She was very good. I saw her when I was doing chemo, so it’s been a while, but she was sensible, reassuring and straight forward about food. Went through everything I was eating and was realistic and understanding with good suggestions about it. Quite up to date with research. Quite young too! Glad I saw her. :)
Caz x
Halla
Member
4 years ago

Caz1 said:

@Halla I love podcasts haha!

There are a couple more I have queued up to listen to if they are any good I will let you know
The first one is actually made by the dieticians I saw at oncore nutrition
:)

Hey @caz1 how were oncore nutrition?
MBHPJ
Member
4 years ago
Thank you everyone. @Caz1 I have just come back to this post today- perfect timing it is a rainy day in Sydney so plenty of time to listen to a few podcasts.
Caz1
Member
4 years ago
@Halla, there are heaps of breast cancer podcasts. I’ve just rediscovered breast cancer.org which is excellent too. I listen to podcasts ( not just breast cancer) all day long and when I’m too tired to read :) My family roll their eyes cos I’m alway saying “I heard a really good podcast
today “ but I learn so much!
good luck and let me know if you find anything game changing
Caz xx
Halla
Member
4 years ago
So do I @Caz1! Thank you! I’m going to queue them up. I have listened to all the upfront ones already so I need those new ones :-)) I listen to them every night going to sleep and if (when) I wake up in the middle of the night
Caz1
Member
4 years ago
@Halla I love podcasts haha!

There are a couple more I have queued up to listen to if they are any good I will let you know
The first one is actually made by the dieticians I saw at oncore nutrition
:)
Caz1
Member
4 years ago
Caz1
Member
4 years ago
Halla
Member
4 years ago
Yes please tell us what podcasts you like @Caz1 🙏🏻 That would be great.
Caz1
Member
4 years ago
@MBHPJ I’m interested in this too- I’ve read about this and listened to various nutritionists speak about it. Personally I Believe there is something to the intermittent fasting thing where fasting for 14 hrs and eating within the other 10 slows down your metabolism of your cancer cells. But within that 10 hours I eat a balanced diet, eating my mostly low g.i. sugars and balanced everything else. Mind you ,I sought the help of a nutritionist who has an interest in cancer.

i don’t know how to send links of the relevant podcasts onto this , but let me know if you want me to give you the names of the ones I listen to!

Caz x