What Do We Change?

My sister was just diagnosed with mantel cell lymphoma... i was wondering if anyone knows what she should be eating to keep her immune system up so she is able to put up the best fight for her cancer.
any help will be greatly appreciated!!

My husband is a 15 year survivor of mantle cell lymphoma. He was diagnosed at the age of 33 in 1993. He is now 47 and has been cancer-free since 2001. We have done a lot with dietary stuff. We have always eaten a lot of fruits and vegetables and very little meat but since 2001 we have tried to eat as much organic everything as possible. He worked with a naturopath and his oncologist and after his last recurrence went on a very strict diet for one year. He was allowed no dairy, no red meat(which we still don't eat), only organic grains, fruits, vegies and nuts. He was allowed organically raised chicken and wild-caught fish. He was allowed no sugar or refined flour. We still eat a lot like that except that we eat sugar and refined flour a bit. The key to the diet was to take stress off of the immune system so your body had more energy to fight the cancer. He also drank one tsp. of raw organic cider vinegar in water 20 minutes before eating to optimize his digestion. The key is to help your own immune system kick into high gear to fight the disease. We wish you and your sister all the best. It is a tough fight but it can be won.

Thank you sooo much for this information... It's really good to hear the positive when there is soo much negative on the internet. Other than changing his diet what kind of treatment did he also do? Also did he get really bad pains in his stomach? My sister tends to get that and she is taking vicodin now to help with the pain. Is there anything else that you could suggest? I'm so happy for you and your husband!!

On 5/30/2008 annainportland wrote:

My husband is a 15 year survivor of mantle cell lymphoma. He was diagnosed at the age of 33 in 1993. He is now 47 and has been cancer-free since 2001. We have done a lot with dietary stuff. We have always eaten a lot of fruits and vegetables and very little meat but since 2001 we have tried to eat as much organic everything as possible. He worked with a naturopath and his oncologist and after his last recurrence went on a very strict diet for one year. He was allowed no dairy, no red meat(which we still don't eat), only organic grains, fruits, vegies and nuts. He was allowed organically raised chicken and wild-caught fish. He was allowed no sugar or refined flour. We still eat a lot like that except that we eat sugar and refined flour a bit. The key to the diet was to take stress off of the immune system so your body had more energy to fight the cancer. He also drank one tsp. of raw organic cider vinegar in water 20 minutes before eating to optimize his digestion. The key is to help your own immune system kick into high gear to fight the disease. We wish you and your sister all the best. It is a tough fight but it can be won.

thanks for your valuable diet information..it reinforced what I am half way trying to do.I cant say enough good things about acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as well. Best wishes ,Jane

Hello

I was so happy to read that your husband is doing so well and I hope you don't mind me writing to ask one or two questions.

My husband was diagnosed this year with MCL stage IV and has already received 6 chemotherapy (R-CHOP) treatments. He is now in the process of the collect of cells ready for a transplant next month.

Could I ask what stage MCL your husband was diagnosed with?

What was the treatment he received? And finally does he continue to receive any treatment now?

I really would be grateful for any info, as we are trying our hardest to find information on possible continued treatment after the transplant, we are discussing this with his oncologist right now.

Many thanks and continued good luck to you both

Debbie

Thank you so much for your post.  My mom was disgnosed with MCL in February 2008 and is in the midst of her HYPER-CVAD chemo rounds.  We are so scared, because everything we see on the internet shows survival of only 6 years or so with this terrible disease.  This is the first time I've heard of an actual survival story, and it is so inspiring to me.  What stage was your husband when he was diagnosed?  Are you aware of other people who have survived for a long time with MCL?  Is the diet you are referring to "macrobiotic".  I've been hearing so many miracle stories about this diet. 

Thank you so much in advance for your response.