Stop eating sweet fruits?

I heard that sugar feeds cancer. So I stop eating food processed with white sugar, candies, and soda.  I wonder should I stop eating sweet fruit like watermelon, dates,honeydews,  pineapple, and any sweet fruits?

Should I also cut down dry beans, rice, breads, cakes, and most flour make food since they  contain carbohydrate and will turn into blood sugar quickly? I am a cancer stage IV. My ONC doctor told me forget that, eat anything you like. Does he mean I don't have much time left, just eat anything I like and enjoy life?  I do find out eating lots of watermelon cut down the rash and side effects of Erbitux I took, especially the inner heat, face burning and dry skin.

Mimi,

 My oncologist told me the same thing.  I think that they don't want you to lose weight while you're on chemo, but there is a study done by Dana Farber that shows that the Western diet contributes to colon cancer recurrences.  I think that you should eat the healthiest diet possible.  Cut down on processed sugars.  I wouldn't worry as much about fruits.  There is also a study that shows that a reduced carbohydrate diet reduces the chances of a recurrence as well so it wouldn't hurt to reduce the carbs. 

Exercise also plays a part in reducing your blood sugar.  If you can exercise for 30 minutes a day, that should also reduce the chance of a recurrence.  I think the key is that a reduced glucose level, reduces the body's production of insulin, which has been shown to accelerate cancer growth. 

Jack

Hi Mimi,

I think your oncologist just meant that you need to eat a good, balanced diet to keep your weight up during chemo and other treatment.  It doesn't do a whole lot of good to cut sugar completely out of your diet ; the reason is that the liver converts stored food from glycogen into sugar for energy whenever it is required.  It is more important that you get a proper balance of protein, carbs and fats, including all the food groups, than to try to exclude all sugar from your diet.  Cancer treatment takes a lot out of a body and any cushion you can build up is very good for you.

Good luck in your continued treatment,

Joan L

 HI 

 Sugar turned into insulin does feed cancer, you just need to cut out as many sweet things as possible, check out on google,,, sugar and cancer,,,, also check out ...asparagus and cancer,,,, tumeric and cancer... linseed oil and cancer....  iron and cancer.... and alkaline and acidic body ,.... my wife has had cancer since 2002 and I have done a lot of research on cancer and the  body,,, hope this is all a help to you ... keep going do not give up, be positive  and try to laugh often as this helps a lot,,, also make sure you take a good multi vitimin,,and lots of veg and nuts and grains...

  BEST WISHES ,,,, Rob and Barb

Good Evening Mimi;

I heard that sugar feeds cancer.

Yes it does! And it also thrives in an acidic environment. And it doesn't survive in an oxygenated one.

So I stop eating food processed with white sugar, candies, and soda.  I wonder should I stop eating sweet fruit like watermelon, dates,honeydews,  pineapple, and any sweet fruits?

Limit them yes. If you want to eat fruit daily, try Granny Smith apples. But definately cut out the candy and soda. To sweeten my tea or coffee i use NU-STEVIA. Tastes sweet but is really a root product.

My ONC doctor told me forget that, eat anything you like.

The vast majority of these guys haven't a clue about diet and its effects. They aren't taught it, they only know pills and I. V.'s.

Does he mean I don't have much time left.

I think you're reading too much into his comment. And even if he did, I hope you're not the type to lie down and give up just cause some doc told you so.

It reminds me of the old joke: "What do they call the guy who graduates LAST in his medical class?"

I'm in BARBROB's corner on this one.

Limit the sweets, exercise daily and lower your stress levels.

You keep fighting the good fight.

Take care;

Kevin

In my opinion, what he means is, cancer cells, just like normal cells, need energy (defined as carbs and fat) to survive.  Sadly, cancer cells are more efficent than normal cells and will get their energy first.  It's like a pond full of aggressive fish versus nonaggressive fish.  The aggressive fish eat first.  Too many of both fish result in skinny fish.    Sugar is a simple carb...breaks down into energy faster than complex carbs.  Thus, cancer will get its fill fast and furious with simple carbs (sugar)...but will in no way consume all the energy (remaining carb and fat)....assuming you're eating a balanced carb protien diet.  Your normal cells will fill as well.  The simple carbs remianing will turn to fat...also much faster than complex carbs.  What he's saying to you is, your body needs energy....another way of saying carbs (simple and complex, fat).  You can't avoid feeding cancer cells...period!  You must take in carbs (energy); cancer cells are more efficent thus will feed first; and your normal healthy cells will feed second.  You can apply the efficency model to the whole PET/CT argument as well.  The cancer cells feed/fill first.  That is why your clucose levels have to be 95 or higher before injection of the radioactive clucose.  If you were to flood the body with that stuff, your entire body would glow as the normal cells consumed the clucose remaining.   Ever wonder why cancer patients lose unexplained weight and become tired?  Some of that is because, as the cancer spreads, it becomes more numerous.  The more numerous the more efficeint cells become, the less energy remaining for the healthy cells.  I apologize for all the misspelled words...I'm on dex, tired, and just babbling.

My doc feels the same way your doc does and he has studied for many many years...PhD and M.D....hemotologist/onco...blood guy

Best of luck to you

Hi Mimi,

First, feel free to eat fruit, as it contains a long chain polysaccharide molecule.  In short, it takes energy to break down the longer chain "sugar" (hence, the name polysaccaride).  From there, the "fruit sugar" is  synthesized into glycogen in the liver for energy.  What does this mean?  It means, feel free to eat fruit as it takes a lot of energy to break down fruit.  Best to have a fresh apple or orange or pineapple or kiwi fruit.  Berries -- especially blue and black berries -- are an excellent choice.  Avoid dried or processed fruit (i.e., canned fruit). 

The key here is to keep your blood sugar as low as possible within the normal range -- i.e., 100 to 104 fasting blood sugar.  In short, don't eat refined sugar under any circumstance, as refind sugar is not good for you under any circumstance, whether or not you have cancer. 

I have a graduate degree in sports medicine.  And in sports medicine, we call white and all refined sugars "white death."  This is no joke.  Cancer loves the "white death" stuff.  So avoid refined sugars -- including syrups and malt and dexterine additives -- at all costs. 

There are options if you have a sweet tooth and dislike reducing your caloric intake (i.e., you need to keep eating during chemo). Using Xylitol will keep your blood sugar 100% stable. 

Unbeknownst to me, my second husband had uncontrolled diabetes when we met.  And within a month after we were married this past January 2009, he was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer (I asked him to get a colonoscopy because things just were not right with him).  Boy did I open up a can of worms, but without addressing this problem, he likely would not be here today. 

Being a control freak when it comes to health promotion, I've been monitoring his blood sugar like crazy.  And guess what, we're able to control it with a strict low GI Index diet. No refined sugars under any circumstance.  And though he's only got one PET/CT scan result under his belt and at that time declared NED (i.e., we find out tomorrow the results of his second PET/CT Scan), for the past 3 months his CEA rates remain very low at point 8 last count.  That, plus he's been gaining weight and has the appetite of a horse ... er ... when he's on his one week off chemo.  So, we're optimistic that the chemo is working IN COMBINATION WITH A GOOD BALANCED DIET that has eliminated all refind foods, including "white death" sugar. 

 Strictly speaking, your oncologist is not wrong in saying eat anything.  Their ocology literature shows that there is little connection between food and survival rates for Stage IV cancer survivors.  But that literature is also very old and not very indepth. 

But the research literature -- coming in from my field, and a totally different medical discipline based on "optimal sports performance" -- says eliminate all "white death" sugar, as mutating cells loves the stuff.  This is well researched in sports medicine, as we're always trying to squeeze extra performance out of atheletes like Lance Armstrong.  

I have access to most medical research online, mostly because I edit medical journals for a living and must double check and confirm the references and to various studies cited in the research studies that have gone through and passed blind peer review.  And I've been really reading the oncology literature since my second husband's Stage IV diagnosis this past March.  As my field is in enhancing health -- I can say with absolute confidence that you must strive to eliminate all mono-saccarides (short chained white sugars and refind carbs.  Then stick to a LOW GI INDEX diet. 

Simply Google this term: Low GI Index diet.  For an excellent sugar replacement that won't spike your blood insulin levels, you may wish to Google the term: Xylitol.  

Take care and good luck!

Paula Jean   

On 7/1/2009 Paula777 wrote:

Hi Mimi,

First, feel free to eat fruit, as it contains a long chain polysaccharide molecule.  In short, it takes energy to break down the longer chain "sugar" (hence, the name polysaccaride).  From there, the "fruit sugar" is  synthesized into glycogen in the liver for energy.  What does this mean?  It means, feel free to eat fruit as it takes a lot of energy to break down fruit.  Best to have a fresh apple or orange or pineapple or kiwi fruit.  Berries -- especially blue and black berries -- are an excellent choice.  Avoid dried or processed fruit (i.e., canned fruit). 

The key here is to keep your blood sugar as low as possible within the normal range -- i.e., 100 to 104 fasting blood sugar.  In short, don't eat refined sugar under any circumstance, as refind sugar is not good for you under any circumstance, whether or not you have cancer. 

I have a graduate degree in sports medicine.  And in sports medicine, we call white and all refined sugars "white death."  This is no joke.  Cancer loves the "white death" stuff.  So avoid refined sugars -- including syrups and malt and dexterine additives -- at all costs. 

There are options if you have a sweet tooth and dislike reducing your caloric intake (i.e., you need to keep eating during chemo). Using Xylitol will keep your blood sugar 100% stable. 

Unbeknownst to me, my second husband had uncontrolled diabetes when we met.  And within a month after we were married this past January 2009, he was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer (I asked him to get a colonoscopy because things just were not right with him).  Boy did I open up a can of worms, but without addressing this problem, he likely would not be here today. 

Being a control freak when it comes to health promotion, I've been monitoring his blood sugar like crazy.  And guess what, we're able to control it with a strict low GI Index diet. No refined sugars under any circumstance.  And though he's only got one PET/CT scan result under his belt and at that time declared NED (i.e., we find out tomorrow the results of his second PET/CT Scan), for the past 3 months his CEA rates remain very low at point 8 last count.  That, plus he's been gaining weight and has the appetite of a horse ... er ... when he's on his one week off chemo.  So, we're optimistic that the chemo is working IN COMBINATION WITH A GOOD BALANCED DIET that has eliminated all refind foods, including "white death" sugar. 

 Strictly speaking, your oncologist is not wrong in saying eat anything.  Their ocology literature shows that there is little connection between food and survival rates for Stage IV cancer survivors.  But that literature is also very old and not very indepth. 

But the research literature -- coming in from my field, and a totally different medical discipline based on "optimal sports performance" -- says eliminate all "white death" sugar, as mutating cells loves the stuff.  This is well researched in sports medicine, as we're always trying to squeeze extra performance out of atheletes like Lance Armstrong.  

I have access to most medical research online, mostly because I edit medical journals for a living and must double check and confirm the references and to various studies cited in the research studies that have gone through and passed blind peer review.  And I've been really reading the oncology literature since my second husband's Stage IV diagnosis this past March.  As my field is in enhancing health -- I can say with absolute confidence that you must strive to eliminate all mono-saccarides (short chained white sugars and refind carbs.  Then stick to a LOW GI INDEX diet. 

Simply Google this term: Low GI Index diet.  For an excellent sugar replacement that won't spike your blood insulin levels, you may wish to Google the term: Xylitol.  

Take care and good luck!

Paula Jean   

Hi Mimi,

Here's a URL to where you can buy Xylitol online. 

http://shop.emeraldforestxylitol.com/google-xylitol?gclid=CP

If you're into the science of such stuff, here's a pretty good URL to wikipedia on Xylitol.  My only warning is this: Don't believe everything you read online on Wikipedia, but I can verify that this is pretty accurate in terms of the science involved.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol