What is a Ketogenic Diet?
I first heard about it when I was diagnosed by a friend who was using it on her own health journey two years ago. She told me that since I was so depleted that I should use a modified approach, to help my body restore. I cut way back on carbs and alcohol. I declined desserts or would have the tiniest bit.
Last winter I had chest wall rads at the proton center as part of a trial. I met several people with primary brain cancer including an 11 yo boy and a young doctor who's wife was devastated. A good friend of mine had his wife pass away two years ago from a brain tumor; he works in cancer research locally and he gave me some pointers he learned from their experience. Little did we know what was coming in my future -- HER2 brain mets.
I researched a ton of complementary and emerging practices that could help outside of what oncology was offering to help increase the effectiveness of treating brain tumors. One thing that jumped out again was the brain's glucose-rich environment and using ketosis to alter things.
The ketogenic has been around for almost 100 years. It is a current treatment for certain types of epilepsy that is resistant to treatment. My hair stylist actually uses this diet for her epilepsy. This website is a cornerstone for information about the Ketogenic diet:
http://www.charliefoundation.org
I read this article on Mercola soon after my original diagnosis and found the video at the end really intriguing. His list of lifestyle changes isn't too bad but his woo-woo "it's a big business" is a bit out there so ignore that part. Oncologists are just technicians and they offer the proscribed treatments. If anything they are just complacent. One MO at a leading cancer hospital told me "you can eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream during treatment if that is all you want." Stupidity and ignorance but you don't have to follow their lead.
Cancer: Forbidden Cures | Natural Cancer Treatment
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...reatment.aspx#
This is the book that several others have mentioned here on the boards, I haven't read it yet.
Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer
http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Metabol.../dp/0470584920