The Ketogenic Diet/Sugar Influence in Cancer
 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0605190158.htm


If anyone practices the ketogenic diet, I'd love to share ideas and meal plans. I went crazy with sugar and ate wantonly over the last two months...it has had a direct effect on me. Weight still in check, but metabolism off, very off.

Thanks
Karen

Re: The Ketogenic Diet/Sugar Influence in Cancer
 

Karen,

Interesting that you're posting things I have recently talked about with a doctor. In my very long thread today I didn't mention that after I had my appts with the rad onc, and other onc in Kelowna, I then travelled to a place outside of Van called Fort Langley, where there is a board certified naturopathic oncologist. He was recommended to me by another doctor in Van a few years ago.

I really liked him. His office is actually more integrated, which I think is definitely the way to go. Here is the website http://www.integratedhealthclinic.com/ Click on the tab that says CancerCare, then on the tab on the left called Cancer treatment and DCA is there. He suggested a ketogenic diet and I have a handout on DCA in my papers. We have to be so proactive in our healthcare, don't we? When I was going over my history he was writing, but stopped, looked up, and said "are you a nurse?". You know, with our healthcare systems, be it a small town or a big city, we have to stay on top of our health. When I went through early stage treatment I trusted the healthcare professionals to look after me. When the cancer metastasized I realized I had to become very involved and this site has helped me to do that with its invaluable information and members. Our province has had so many cutbacks with healthcare and education that people are falling through the cracks. Every time Vancouver has a big party I know we're going to lose something important in our area as a result.

Anyway, after my consultation with him, I am in the process of processing. As with anyone I talk to, I like to gather information, then make a decision. He recommended metformin as a possible treatment (I had missed the clinical trial for breast cancer by two weeks) and said all of his metastatic breast cancer patients are on it. He explained about it being an ALK and mTor inhibitor, as well as aspirin because it is a COX1 inhibitor. (I think? I will have to listen to my tape)

I can identify about the sugar-when we were in Vancouver I ate and drank things I don't normally have, and I had such tiredness you would have thought I had drank alcohol and all I had was sugar, chocolate and tea!

Re: The Ketogenic Diet/Sugar Influence in Cancer
 

This is very interesting and I will pour over it for sure, Karen. Good for you for finding this!

I will just add that I decided from all my reading that cancer does love sugar. When I thought back about friends who metastasized, they were binging like crazy, M & Ms were a staple, and lots more.

So I went -- for 4 yrs -- without any sugar. People used to say to me, Really, you don't want just a bite??? It is soooo delicious!!! I refused, smiling... They'd say, YOU HAVE SUCH WILL POWER! And I'd think, NO. I WANT TO STAY ALIVE!!!

The first time I reintroduced sugar (a piece of my grandson's birthday cake -- I had even refused to take a bite of any of my GrandOnes' bday cakes or my own for 4 yrs!!!!) I was as you describe Caroline.

Literally, I felt light-headed and a bit drunk. And though I drink a glass of wine a day, okay or two, I have never been drunk... I was flying high -- on sugar!

I now have a modicum of sugar. On some days, I'll eat a few dark chocolate kisses or a 250 calorie brownie on rare occasions... That's it. Chocolate lover that I am, I really don't want to feed any cells that are thinking about going awry...

Andi

Re: The Ketogenic Diet/Sugar Influence in Cancer
 

Ive read about Metformin and cancer. The inhibition of M-Tor is one mechanism of anticancer action. There seems to be another. Metformin, by inhibiting certain enzymes indirectly inhibits an enzyme with a very long name: Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Apparently this Enzyme is a key enzyme in the Gluconeogenesis pathway. Cancer cells are sugar hungry because they metabolize sugar inefficiently in an anaerobic manner. They produce a lot of lactic acid by this anaerobic sugar metabolism and this lactic acid is converted back to glucose via the gluconeogenesis pathway. If this pathway could be inhibited it stands to reason that this would be therapeutically beneficial in cancer treatment in combination with other modalities. Metformin seems to do this, at least to some degree. It would make sense for a doctor to prescribe it for oncology patients.

Its an antidiabetic drug, but it doesnt lower blood sugar directly like Insulin or Diabeta does. There is little danger of hypoglycemia when given alone. Practically none. It can cause serious lactic acidosis but that only seems to occur with decreased renal function. It is effective in diabetes because it inhibits gluconeogenesis and prevents glucose release from the liver and gluconeogenesis is what you want to inhibit in cancer.

Paul

Re: The Ketogenic Diet/Sugar Influence in Cancer
 

Karen, God bless her, always had valuable information to share. Thought as long as I was busy bumping things up, I'd bring this up too! In loving memory of our dear friend...

Gone way too soon. But cavorting no doubt in the heavens, yet by our side...