nutrition and cancer

pfal6

My dad just got diagnosed with stahe 4 cancer. He will be getting all the traditional treatments but i want to reasearch some more non-traditional or homeopathic treatments. I know diet changes can help. Any advices or tips or website recs would be greatly appreciated!

RubyTue

I'm sorry for your father's diagnosis and wish him the best going through treatment.

When you say "you know diet change can help" do you mean in reference to counteracting the effects of chemo/radiation or with actually curing the cancer?   And stage 4 of which cancer?  There are a bunch of different cancers, all with different treatment.  For example, you might consider CoQ10 to counteract the effects of ABVD chemo, b/c of the effects adrimycin has on the heart.  But if you don't have hodgkins, you won't be getting ABVD, so that advice isn't useful.  If your father is interested in homeopathic options (and make sure he is), consult a local homeopath with the diagnosis and treatment plan in hand.  They will know more about the exact type of cancer and what can help counteract the effects of the traditional treatments.  Chemo is poison, and its a cat and mouse game trying to kill off the cancer before damaging anything else.  Oh, and google kyle's poo tea!  The meds they give to stop the vomiting from chemo can really plug you up.  Poo tea is a natural way to keep it flowing ;-)

eta: Be sure that whatever he does, he works in consult with his oncologists.  Some foods interact with treatments in a way that is not good, vitamin C is one.

hmarch

Hi, I am so sorry about your dad!

Please call 1.800.227.2345 for the American Cancer Society, they are available 24/7 and have everything from Doctors and Nurses to insurance specialists. Even if you or a family member want to cry at 3 am. I used to work for ACS and they do wonderful, wonderful things everyday. Or you can visit www.cancer.org and search for your local office or even search nutrition information.

Also if you call your local office or the 800# you can ask for a Personal Health Manager for your dad which will help keep your organized. Cancer involves more than just treatments, as I am sure you know now. The PHM is like a binder specifically tailored to your dad with information about his specific cancer, a place for insurance info, places to keep track of medicine and doctors appointments, best of all it is FREE.

I loved my time with ACS and I am proud of what they do so seriously take advantage of all their services. I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any more questions, some of my best friends still work there.

Good luck!

Durve2008

There is a pharmacist/nutritionist at Invite Health Called Jerry Hickey - he is really amazing. You could email him about your Dad's situation and ask him what he recommends.  I listen to this guy on the radio on my drive to work everyday...he is excellent.  You can go to the Invite Health website and email him from there.

 I am really sorry to hear about your Dad, I'll send a special prayer your way  

brdlvr

Try the book Anti Cancer a new way of life by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD.  He diagnosed his own brain cancer and has conducted a lot of research, but stresses you still need to work with the chemo and radiation treatments in conjuntion with the research.

blue_elle

Gersen Therapy - Dr. Gersen believed that the body has all the necessary means to heal itself when provided the proper nutritional care and environment. I don't know much about it beyond what I saw in Beautiful Truth, but I thought it was interesting. Google it and you should see the site for the institute.

fizzybauberswed

Just wanted to say I'm sorry about your dad.  My mom passed away from colon cancer. There is a lot of information out there and there are as many "cure-all" products, so just be careful.  It's important for him to keep up his strength during his treatments and there are quite a few vitamin supplements that can help.  Definitely check out the Cancer society website and perhaps talk with a nutritionist.

Mrs.MauiBride24

fizzybauberswed:

Just wanted to say I'm sorry about your dad.  My mom passed away from colon cancer. There is a lot of information out there and there are as many "cure-all" products, so just be careful.  It's important for him to keep up his strength during his treatments and there are quite a few vitamin supplements that can help.  Definitely check out the Cancer society website and perhaps talk with a nutritionist.

Ditto this.  Unfortunatley taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable state is common with nutrition/cancer "cures."

I would ask his oncologist for a referral to a "Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition" (RD, CSO) re: nutrition/cancer.

http://www.oncologynutrition.org/oncology-resources/oncology-nutrition-links

This is a great resource:  http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/eating-well-nutrition

 Find a CSO:  http://www.oncologynutrition.org/certification-cso/find-a-cso

And be sure to inform his oncologist of any vitamin/herbs/supplements he is taking because they can interfere with treatment.