On 2/18/2007
Rusdaughter wrote:
My mom was just diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. She has started on the macrobiotics diet (kushi) 3 weeks ago while we decide about treatment options. Anyone heard of this or had success with it? She is also taking Zeolite it is supposed to remove toxins from your body. Anyone have an opinion on this?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Dear Cancer Concerned,
I'm sorry to hear about your mother's diagnosis. As Director of Holistic Nutrition Services for CTCA, I feel compelled to write to you because the macrobiotic diet, while offering healthier alternatives to a processed diet, is often very restrictive. It is estimated that up to 40% of cancer patients succumb from malnutrition-related complications, not their cancer! Following a restricitve diet adds risk to the already precarious situation of someone with a late stage cancer. In my years of experience with thousands of cancer patients, lung cancer patients are particularly susceptible to malnutrition. Why? Because often they tire easily and it takes alot of effort to eat. They also may have tumors that are pressing on the diaphragm or stomach, causing early satiety (feeling of fullness). I recommend your mother begin a therapeutic nutrition program that details a series of "stages" for maximum effectiveness. The first stage I would recommend for your mother would be to ask her medical doctor to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prescription appetite stimulants. You must have a desire to eat before you will eat. Once that is accomplished, the second stage involves review of your mother's digestive capacity. Does she need to eat small, frequent meals? Will digestive enzymes help? Is she becoming intolerant to certain foods? Complains of nausea? All of these symptoms can be addressed with natural medicine. Once you have diminished side effects you can work on the goal of adequate calorie and protein intake. There are several more stages to nutritional therapy for lung cancer. Please consider consulting with an oncology nutritionist who has specialized training in the complementary medicine field. You may also find additional information about specific dietary strategies for lung cancer on my website.
Best wishes,
Kim Dalzell, PhD, RD, LD Author Challenge Cancer and Win! www.challengecancer.com