Why no Sugar?

[Angela]

As I read posting on this board I have noticed several people referring to not eating sugar. I was wondering why. My doctor has not said anything to me about what I eat. Only to drink lots of water (which I don't like). Any information you can share will be appreciated.

Hugs and Smiles,
Angela

[kim]

someone on another message board told me that their onc had said that tumors feed on sugar.

[Lolly]

Angela,
Below is a link to an alternative medicine site which gives a good explanation of the sugar/cancer connection.
hugs,
Lolly

[Steph N.]

Here is a quote from the web site Lolly gave us:

"By slowing the cancer's growth, patients allow their immune systems and medical debulking therapies -- chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to reduce the bulk of the tumor mass -- to catch up to the disease.

Controlling one's blood-glucose levels through diet, supplements, exercise, meditation and prescription drugs when necessary can be one of the most crucial components to a cancer recovery program. The sound bite -- sugar feeds cancer -- is simple. The explanation is a little more complex."

I, too, was not given much nutritional info by my med onc (there now IS a very good nutritionist on staff who has been helping me with my calcium level which is borderline low). It was one of the nurses who saw me eating some chocolate pudding that felt ok with my mouth sores who made a comment like the above quote. You can believe that it took me just about 10 seconds to make the connection. I immediately cut my sugar intake by 50% and even lower. (Still have to have my semi-sweet chocolate from time to time!)
I think this cutting of simple sugars did have an affect on my liver mets.
Now I do not miss this sugar and still am careful to read labels and keep the sugar intake low.

[eleanor]

The way it was explained to me is that abnormal cells use sugar differently than normal cells and they also use alot more. Apparently sugar is like a fuel. This is the basis of a PET scan. You are injected with a glucose solution which will cause abnormal cells to "light up" because of the sugar absorbtion.
el

[Kathy]

Is anyone aware of any trials testing this theory. Seems like an easy one to test.