This post is for anyone who has developed cancer as a vegetarian or vegan.
Or for anyone who has tried adopting one of those two diets to reverse cancer, but isn’t making any progress.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned after nearly nine years of researching nutrition and natural therapies for cancer, it’s that there is not one perfect diet for everyone to reverse cancer.
There is a lot of anti-meat dietary dogma out there. Some think that vegetarianism is the healthiest diet. Some think veganism is the healthiest. Some think raw veganism is the healthiest. And some even think eating only raw fruit is the healthiest.
Now there is certainly a lot of research showing that a plant-based diet significantly reduces the risk of all chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, strokes, and more. No doubt.
But reducing the risk of developing a disease and reversing a disease once you have it may require very different approaches.
Many vegans I’ve met are vegans for an animal-rights reason, first and foremost,
not for health.
They don’t like the idea that an animal has to die to feed them… I get that.
But for some, a staunch animal-rights mentality prevents them from considering any valuable information to the contrary, specifically when it applies to health. They would rather continue to be sick then consider eating something that came from an animal…
But the reality is (drum roll):
Different bodies have different needs.
Some people have reversed cancer with a plant-based diet. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, some have even reversed cancer with The Primal Diet, eating only raw meat. That’s right. Raw. Meat. (Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to start eating raw meat)
Your anti-cancer diet depends on your body type.
For example: Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez MD has had remarkable success using nutrition and natural therapies to treat cancer. Along with pancreatic enzyme therapy, he has 10 basic diets that he puts his patients on based on their individual needs, ranging from pure vegetarian nuts and seeds to an Atkins-type red meat diet.
I personally adopted an 80% raw / 20% cooked organic vegan diet for 90 days. I have no doubt it was beneficial, but I couldn’t maintain a healthy weight, so my naturopath added some clean meats back into my diet. I was fine without meat, but I wanted to live, and I trusted his judgement. So I added some clean meat back to my diet about three times per week back in 2004.
I’ve met many other survivors that have reversed their cancer while eating animal products as well. So beware of anyone who demonizes animal food as unhealthy for everyone across the board.
That is just flat-out wrong.
There’s no place for dogmatism when your life and health is at stake.
You must be open to all options.
Enter Elaine Cantin
After trying a mostly plant-based diet to heal her breast cancer, which didn’t work for her,
Elaine discovered The Ketogenic Diet. She modified it slightly and super-charged it with the same specific anti-cancer foods I ate. As a result she successfully healed her recurrent breast cancer tumor in about two weeks.
There is some fascinating research about the benefits of The Ketogenic Diet.
This is a diet that is high in fat with moderate protein, and extremely low in carbs.
Similar to Atkins, but with no dairy, and less carbs. It’s also similar to The Paleo Diet. Epileptic children put on The Ketogenic Diet for 6-24 months showed a 90% decrease or elimination of seizures. That’s pretty impressive.
Check out this abstract from a 2008 Ketogenic Diet research paper:
“It is also necessary to emphasize that as well as the weight loss, ketogenic diets are healthier because they promote a non-atherogenic lipid profile, lower blood pressure and diminish resistance to insulin with an improvement in blood levels of glucose and insulin. Such diets also have antineoplastic (anti-cancer) benefits , do not alter renal or liver functions, do not produce metabolic acidosis by ketosis, have many neurological benefits in central nervous system, do not produce osteoporosis and could increase the perfomance in aerobic sports.”
A ketogenic diet mimics the healing effects of fasting. I causes the body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose and break down non-essential tissue like tumors.
I did not follow a ketogenic diet to beat cancer, but since it is clearly producing some remarkable results for some people, I think it’s worth sharing.
Enjoy!
Final Note: The ketogenic diet for cancer is a very new idea. It has bee shown to be effective for eliminating tumors for some people, like Elaine Cantin, in the short term, but we don’t know how well it works long term. Only time will tell.
Resources mentioned in the interview:
Elaine’s book!
The Cantin Ketogenic Diet: For Cancer, Type I Diabetes & Other Ailments
by Elaine Cantin
Ketostix for monitoring ketones in your urine.
Ketostix Reagent Strips for Urinalysis
Sunwarrior Natural Warrior Blend Raw Vegan Protein Powder
Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: The Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer
by Thomas N. Seyfried
Other useful links recommended by Elaine:
Website of Dr. Mary Newport MD
www.coconutketones.com
Dr. Mary Newport interview, talking about putting her husband on a Ketogenic Diet for Ailzheimer’s
http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/the-llvlc-show-episode-612-dr-mary-newport-updates-latest-on-ketogenic-diet-and-alzheimers-disease/15601
Find a physician who uses the Ketogenic Diet:
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/keto_physicians
Keto Researcher: Dominic D’Agostino PhD:
http://www.dominicdagostino.com/
http://ketonutrition.blogspot.com
Elaine Cantin’s facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/ElaineAlternativeHealthTips/?bookmark_t=group
(((c)))
Related post on this site
My High-Fat Diet and Why I Don’t Take Fish Oil
Post your questions and comments for Elaine below!
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it sounds to me like she just assumed the lump was a cancer recurrence, but she didn’t have a biopsy until after she changed her diet. maybe it was never cancer to begin with. or did I miss something?
Kim,
First I had mammograms, sonograms and a lumpectomy with lymph nodes removed as well as pathology after the surgery. I was told by both my surgeon and my oncologist that I had aggressive breast cancer and that my tests and the pathology (ie: what was taken out during surgery and tested in lab) were positive for cancer. Then later on, I was also told by my oncologist who examined me that I had recurrence.
It’s been over 2 years since I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer and per my oncologist, I am in complete remission. I never did any toxic treatments like radiation and chemo so what put me in remission? I had it in my breast, in my lymph nodes and I had vascular invasion.
Love,
Elaine
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this super important perspective :)
I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma 2 years ago. I was diagnosed at Stage III (last stage) and very aggressive. Given 6 months without treatment, 2 to 5 years with treatment. I’m now not responding well to treatment right now. Oncologist is talking about auto Stem Cell Transplant as soon as M-spike is down.
I would like to know if this would be helpful with MM (blood cancer). I have tried Budwig Diet and believe that it helped me with treatment since I didn’t have all the side effects as most other person had with the same treatment.
Please let me know if research show that this would work for blood cancer that are not tumor.
Lorraine,
Per the book from Dr. Seyfried titled cancer as a metabolic disease, sugar fuels all cancers and simplistic methods like ketogenic diets are recommended.
I wish you health!
Love,
Elaine
Lorraine ~ I remember when I listened to that last Cancer Summit Speakers, Dr. Gonzales mentioned some cancers do better with animal protein in their diet — blood cancers were one of them. I also know of a lady with Leukemia that followed a raw/vegan diet and her markers got worse.. she then added raw milk/organic meats (but still high plant), no grains etc.and home made organic beef broth to her diet and she is not only maintaining, but has lowered her numbers.. which is very good. So, I agree not all diets are created equal. I am vegetarian, but I agree with what Chris says about – there is no one perfect diet to heal cancer. I wish you health and healing.
Hi Elaine,
Could you please tell me if I can do the ketogeic diet with estrogen positive breast cancer. I’m 45 years old. Also,along with your book, what other books should I read? Thank you very much.
@ Lorraine Per the book CANCER AS A METABOLIC DISEASE from Thomas Seyfried PhD, from what I understand, all cancers are due to a metabolic disease with mitonchondria of the cell and glucose and glutamine fuel all cancers. Simplistic metabolic treatments like ketogenic diets are recommended in that book.
@ Kim, my oncologist is the one that said my lump was cancer recurrence. My oncologist per my tests is also the one that put in my medical file that I am in complete remission. It’s been over 2 years since I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
I am not a proponent of chemo or radiation since I have seen it kill people faster than help actually help most people.
I get that people’s bodies are different yet I remain a skeptic that animal foods would serve any benefit to fighting cancer. Animal protein is pro carcinogenic and toxins store easily in animal fat tissue. Raw meat might eliminate the risk of cooking carcinogens like heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Raw meat unlike for carnivorous animals clearly is not designed for human gut flora and can seriously pose a detrimental health risk that can lead to instant death or severe illness. The only benefit I could see from someone being on a ketogenic diet which can be done plant based would be the elimination of weight which would reduce body fat composition. Since fat increases estrogen this would seem to me the only added benefit. Cancer can also be fueled by sugar so eliminating refined sugar is always a good idea whether you have cancer or not. Carbohydrates have been demonized because they are lumped in the same group. It is very clear that complex carbohydrates with complex sugar bonds such as beta glucan have been known to be good on the fight against cancer. It has been shown also in studies lower calorie intake and less animal protein can reduce IGF-1 (known growth promoter for cancer). So logically less consumption of animal protein which is a stimulator of IGF-1 would be wise. There has been a movement towards these primal diets like it is the new tang flavor. I would advise against it based on my years of research. Maybe you will service some disease but the damage cause do the endothelium could eventually lead to death through atherosclerosis. People need to research the science before just throwing their body on some crazy elimination diet with no good pier reviewed studies. Of course the rise has been due to telling people to eat all the bacon and steak they want to lose weight. Anyone with any common sense would know that this is lunacy and a recipe for disaster. Yet I will add when addictions take over common sense it seems logical that it must be a good idea. I personally went through a cancer scare a few months back where I thought I might have deadly skin melanoma. I found several plant compounds like Dandelion Root which has been found to be far more effective on chemo resistant melanoma than any other cancer treatment used by the medical field.
Eating a plant based diet does not guarantee cancer free. Apple juice and French fries is plant based. How would that fight cancer? Eating high antioxidant foods and phytochemical compounds, low stress, sense of purpose, a strong will and community support can go a long way to beat cancer. There are no guarantees. Some will survive and some will not. The best options one can do is prevention and hope that the lottery for cancer does not come your way and when it does you better pack that body with all the healthful cancer fighting compounds you can and cross your fingers that it works. Sadly it won’t for everyone.
—————————-
Sited
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3018342
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17805983
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2673798/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1716275
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15798082
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18444130
http://www.cancer.gov/drugdictionary?cdrid=42493
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11023550
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20362293
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20089734 (don’t replace fats with more sugar)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2943062/
Johnny thanks for your comment.
The purpose of this post was to share the strategy that Elaine used to heal her breast cancer.
Your skepticism about animal protein doesn’t change the fact that this diet worked for her and other people we know.
Also nowhere in this post did she or I say it that this a diet that should adopted for life.
Clarifications…
IGF-1 comes from sources such a Whey (which is DAIRY) and Dairy is prohibited in the Cantin Ketogenic Diet.
The oils in the diet are coconut oil and olive oil which have been shown via research to be anti-inflammatory, have anti-cancer properties and be good for the cardiovascular system (that includes cholesterol).
As per explained in my book, my diet is non calorie restricted.
For the peered reviewed science behind my diet, please see the references listed under the video.
Chris and Elaine, thanks so much for the interview. It gives me encouragement and reminds me that I am not alone in all of this. I was diagnosed with breast cancer much the same as Elaine describes (but quite a large tumor) 7 months ago and believe as you that I could not accept the traditional treatments. I had a lumpectomy but wish I new then what I know now. That is so true that they scare you to death. I thought I had to hurry or it was going to spread and I was going to die. Why do they do that??
I was at my doctor today. She is a bit concerned that I have lost 35 pounds in 4 months on my diet (not prescribed by her but from my own research) and am nearing the underweight bmi (first time in my life!).
I have a few questions that maybe you can answer: 1) How do you know when the cancer is in remission? For me, I have no support from the oncologist because I did not take his advice. Is there any blood test or other tests one can do?
2) I am on a sugar free, grain free, soy free, dairy free diet,much the same as Elaine describes, but didn’t know about ketones.I also have been taking supplements from a naturopath (costing me $1000/mo). Is it possible the diet will work without all the supplements (enzymes, antioxidants, intestinal flora which are also fighting the underlying candida diagnosed by the naturopath)?
3)I measure pH occasionally in the morning, but am so disappointed that the acidity is still up there (around 6.4). Did you use this measure too or is it a good measure to use?
4)I am unsure if pumpkin is good for this diet. I have been craving it lately and eating it everyday in pie form (the pie is my diet friendly conconction with a bit of stevia). Do you know if pumpkin is okay to eat?
Thanks for your reply and both of your help.
Marilyn this is a reliable was to tell if your treatment is working, http://www.navarromedicalclinic.com/
Marilyn,
Sorry about what you are going through with your doctor. I would find another doctor if I was in your situation. My oncologist orders a series of blood tests and checks my liver and kidney functions as well. From the results of the tests, they tell you if everything is in normal range or if you need to check something else.
For your supplements, I would research and see if there is scientific backup for what I take and ensure there is no sugar in there.
On a ketogenic diet, you eliminate the acid through the urine so you should not bother checking urine PH as it is not a reflection of blood pH.
I eat pumpkin seeds but not the pie while on my diet
There is a support group for people doing my diet at the following link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ElaineAlternativeHealthTips/?bookmark_t=group
Health & Blessings,
Elaine
Bless you Patrick for posting this. Our cancer hospital is so irritated with us I doubt they’ll see us again. Even if they did, I would not trust them regarding lab numbers. We don’t have the money for a naturopath, but I believe we can afford this. There needs to be a little time for the nutritional things to work first, I suppose.
My husband is the one with hep C, the doctors told him he has cancer due to cirrhosis, and that there is a large mass, 10x11x10cm. They said the mass was CA because the alpha fetaprotein number is 29.9. I don’t know how to read those numbers so we are at their mercy.
My husband feels wonderful and decided to do alternative treatment rather than the TACE chemo procedure. I was appalled when I found the real statistic on PubMed regarding this procedure.
And thank you Chris, for this website. It has been a lifeline for me these past few days.
1) Yes. The Navarro urine test. And find another oncologist who will work with you on your terms and monitor your bloodwork once a month.
2) Supplements may be helping, I wouldn’t abandon them just yet. It’s important to “Do it all”
3) Don’t measure the ph of your urine, spilling acid urine does not mean your body is acidic. There’s a lot of misinformation about the acid/alkaline balance… Some cancer patients are actually too alkaline and need more acidic foods, i.e. meat. Typically those with immunological cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, sarcoma, etc.
4) Pumpkin does not work with a ketogenic diet. And it has very little anti-cancer benefit. I would not be eating any pies, stevia or not. Cruiciferous and Allium vegetable have the most potent anti-cancer nutrients. They should be consumed everyday.
“Some cancer patients are actually too alkaline and need more acidic foods, i.e. meat. Typically those with immunological cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, sarcoma, etc.”
Thanks for this bit of information! I’ve been healing from my sarcoma naturally for the past 7 months. (now cancer free btw!)I study and read every day about this topic, almost nonstop. This is the first time I have heard this, Chris. Could you please send a source link? I, too, have recently started a Paleo diet…high in fats, low in carbs. Seeing this new(to me) information is encouraging. Being type O, I craved meat to the point of no return. I went from vegan to vegetarian to now paleo. I am searching for that food source that is and has been aggravating my system. Obviously the processed foods are long gone…but until my acne clears up, I will never know what is toxic. Trial and error….until victory
So being on paleo now, you could guess that the vegan didn’t really work for me either. Like Elaine explained, the tumor grew as quickly as I ingested the gerson diet.
Best of luck to you all! May the wind always be a your back!!
Hi Melissa. Yes that metabolic typing info comes from the research of Dr. William Kelly and is currently used today by Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez and others.
http://www.drkelley.info/?page_id=47
Melissa could we e-mail privately please. I have leomyosarcoma and am on a trial drug which is not allowing me to have any herbal supplements but I can eat whatever I want. I would be interested in what you are eating. Thanks, Elaine
Marilyn, I worry about your extreme weight loss, it does happen occasionally on the Ketogenic diet. What you are describing is that your headed toward wasting syndrome.
I don’t have much experience with this, except for one person, Kelly Maul from Colorado. She was doing great with the diet. She was doing chemo and the Ketogenic diet. After a while she stopped chemo, the tumor kept shrinking, but after she started wasting it was over, she passes away very quickly. She fought until the end. This was her: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.maul.3?fref=ts
Check out Lori Lober, she had HER 2 positive breast cancer and did Western and Eastern medicine, HER 2 is ridiculously aggressive, and she’s doing amazing.
Good luck!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAkHYdQmVso
Elaine did you use enemas or any colon cleansing and detoxification in your cancer killing diet?
Hello Anna,
I did not do coffee enemas. I chose to do a gentle detox instead. I used things like MCP (Modified Citrus Pectin), seaweeds, garlic, turmeric, fresh lemon, Essiac, SAM-e, NAC.
To your health!
Elaine
Loved the interview with Elaine ! God Bless you Chris – abundantly !
God Bless you too Wendy! :)
Elaine – did you ever get genetic testing done? If you did, could you share general results?
It seems that the type of cancer is not as relevant as one’s genetics, in getting unconventional treatment. (I don’t think conventional oncologists are trained in the genetics of cancer beyond standard BrCA, for ex, for breast cancer…)
I know we all know not all diets work on all cancer patients. but – that’s because of our genetic makeup. If you could share any general results, I wonder if that would help people determine whether to go on the keto diet.
Hello Laura,
I did not do any specific genetic testing. I only had the testing from the pathology after lumpectomy.
I want to point out that the latest scientific research published May 2012 from Dr. Thomas Seyfried (Cancer As A Metabolic Disease) states that cancer is a metabolic disease and that it preceeds any genetic issues.
Love,
Elaine
Blessing to you both for getting out the TRUTH!!! I’ve been a fan of the raw Genesis 1:29 diet for years! After a year I experienced very low energy and sensed The Lord encouraging me to eat clean fish and eggs. I felt much better afterwards! I’m a type B blood type and have been enjoying Organic Greek Yogurt plain with 23 g protein and 9g carb per 1 cup serving and cultured cottage cheese with 28 g protein and 6g carbs. Would these be permissable on the Ketogenic diet????????????????????? THANK YOU !!!
Hello Lisa,
On my ketogenic diet, for various reasons, the dairy is prohibited so the yogurt and the cottage cheese would not be allowed.
Love,
Elaine
Lisa, a typical ketogenic diet DOES allow dairy. It just needs to be low carb. Your diet sounds excellent for health. :)
Really interesting interview thanks.
Have you read Peter Attia, M.D blog? He is following a ketogenic diet and really gets into the science behind it.
He’s the same guy who has teamed up with scientific journalist Gary Taubes to found NuSI (nutrition science initiative).
Gary Taubes was a speaker at the Charlie Foundation 3rd International Symposium in Chicago last Sept. :)
I don’t want to add or change anything about your message. I think it is great to share as much options and opinions to choose from and make up our own view on topics like health and in this case cancer.
But, most studies done on animal protein, dairy and any other conclusive study on animal resources are based on industrialized farms. This is contrary to our history of hunter/gatherers (uh, yes again, sorry) where animals were free and ate mainly grass, flowers, trees etc.
I want to make a distinction on this, because the view has to be complete for making informed decisions.
People who are trying to consume dairy and animal protein from cows, goats and sheep which are 100% organic, natural, grass fed are gaining better health in a lot of cases.
The meat and the milk (and therefrom cheese and yoghurt etc.) are containing very needed vitamins, proteins and minerals in higher concentrations. This because the animals already transform the grass (and other plants) into nutrients which are stored in their fats.
Skipping meat or dairy is just based on preference and that is OK, but don’t miss out on good meat and good milk if that is helping you with your health.
The problem is not about the animals or the dairy. It is about the industry that is wrong.
Thanks for the comment Aschwin
That is an important distinction and I agree 100%!
Cleanly raised organic animal foods are the only kind that I eat.
That’s what Elaine ate as well.
I am hoping that if I can still include some organic meat and cheese; not a lot — but strictly organic fats like butter, cottage cheese etc. — along with a very vegetable, grain diet for my husband, that this might enable him to gain back some weight. He has lost quite a bit due to conventional treatment which may be ending soon (I hope; it is not, ultimately, my choice). Any other ideas anyone has for allowing some weight to come back in a very healthful and beneficial way would be extremely appreciated. Thank you to all.
I don’t know if you know much about the GAPS diet? I have been on it for 2 years not for cancer but for UTIs among other things. Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride who created the diet has your same philosophy as you, that your body given the right conditions can heal itself. She believes all health stems from the gut.
The GAPS diet eliminates all grains, rice and oats. It encourages organic meats, fish, foul, natural fats, especially organ meats, lots of broths, fermented veggies, fermented raw milk. No sugar although it does allow honey, fruit and dried fruits. It also uses detoxifying protocols like juicing, coffee enemas, Epsom salt baths.
Getting to my point, your interview was very interesting as there quite a few discussions on the GAPS forums over the best cancer fighting diet. Dr Campbell-McBride does not recommend GAPS for cancer patients. This is part of her answer to the question is GAPS good for treating cancer.
“The time-proven anti-cancer nutritional treatment is the Gerson Protocol, …. Gerson protocol is a strict vegan diet with juicing and coffee enemas. Vegan diets are a form of fasting: they starve the body of any ‘feeding’ nourishing substances, while providing large amounts of cleansing, detoxifying substances. That is why Gerson Protocol has an excellent record of curing people with all sorts of cancers, in the most ‘hopeless’ stages.
….. GAPS Nutritional Protocol is a ‘feeding’ nourishing protocol. Yes, it provides detoxification too, but in a balance with nourishment. That is why I don’t use it in treating cancer.”
Having said that she very much encourages those on GAPS to tailor it to themselves and believes that our needs are very individual. There are some that follow a no dairy, a no nuts, a low oxalate version, a ketongenic version, an anticandida version or a low meat version of GAPS etc or some combination of these. Some of which sounds very much like your diet now Chris or the diet Elaine followed. As you say no one diet fits us all.
This is a link to a presentation Dr Campbell-McBride made explaining the importance of our gut flora and it’s role in our immune system She also explains, without this protective layer of flora the mechanism with which bowel cancer can develop. If you haven’t seen it I think it is well worth watching
http://vimeo.com/10507542
Thank you for this message. Will I need to eat like this forever? Can I do it til the cancer is gone and then go back to my healthy food habits that also include limited fruit and sugars and carbs? Thank you. Really appreciate this.
Becky
Hi Becky. You don’t have to eat this way forever, just for a season until the cancer is gone.
Hi Chris and Becky,
I’m just learning about this after reading Prof Seyfried’s book. Recently I had a conversation with Professor Seyfried and asked him the same question. It’s not such a clear cut answer. He told me of a woman who put her brain cancer in remission but upon stopping the diet, it came back again in 10 months and subsequently passed away. It really depends on the stage and aggressiveness of the cancer.
My daughter began this diet at age 1 with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN as well. It has been our mcrliae. She was seizure free for 12 months with one relaspe because the diet was off a bit for a few weeks, she is back on track without seizures again. We are so thankful. Our daughter was a ragdoll on all the various medications they tried. Within 24 hours of being on this diet, she rolled over for the first time at age 1!! IShe now can almost crawl and makes many sounds.
Real Happy for you and your daughter Ginger! :)
God Bless!
Elaine
Hi Chris. You mentioned that everybody has different dietary needs for their specific body types. How do we find out what we need? I’m new to this and I don’t have a clue. Do I go to a Naturopath or what? Trail and error seems scary to me. I’ve made your veggie juice today for the 1st time and yesterday your berry smoothie but based on the fact the everybody has different needs – I have to think…..Am I making bad decisions. Ps: I’ve cut out red meat and dairy as well completely until I know more about my condition.
Elaine,
I just finished reading Prof Seyfried’s book and wished that I knew this 7 years ago when my mom was originally diagnosed with Colorectal cancer. She is at a very advanced stage 4 cancer. How long did it take for the diet to work? We want to try it as she wants to “fight til the end” but I don’t want her to suffer if there’s no real chance. I know that anything natural takes longer but the science behind this is so overwhelming that I would tend to believe that it can happen quicker than any other alternative therapy.
Thanks.
Hi there I am 4 weeks post diagnosis of Breast cancer. on November 5th I had a lumpectomy of the 1.8 cm invasive ductal carcinoma and sentinel node biopsy which showed one of the three nodes removed was positive with a 4mm deposit. The cancer is stage 2A grade 3 and Er, PR and HER2 positive. MY oncologist recommended 6 months of Chemo with 12 months Herceptin alongside the second half. followed by 6 weeks of radio therapy then 5 years if tamoxofin…I have just refused all treatment as I cannot believe this is a better option that restoring my body or giving it the optimal chance of repairing itself,. I have been looking at the Gerson therapy and have adapted a sugar, salt free diet over the last 3 weeks with very little organic meat. I have been having 3 juices per day ie apple and carrot x 2 and Gerson green juice x 1 and are about to start the coffee enemas. I am very interested in your approach though and look forward to learning more about it I am in Australia. would I be better to visit a Natropath or is this something I can do alone… I am very nervous but then have a sense of calm about the whole situation. Im just a little unsure about where to go from here.
Marion how are you doing?
Hi there, My name is Joelle, 44, married with two precious little girls…I, as well, have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Stage 3A, 5-9cm tumor ILC estrogen positive and two lymph nodes positive so far. I am opting for double masectomy next month eventhough I only need one. I may be a BRAC carrier. I am doing DIEP with immediate reconstruction, surgery will be 9 hours and recovery 5 weeks…yikes! I will NOT be doing anything conventional beyond surgery and am applying to Dr. Gonzalez’s clinic. I am surprised that Elaine’s cancer was cured with the Ketogenic diet! this is great news as I fear becoming a vegetarian. While I do realize everyone is different, I had read that Gonzalez states that most breast cancers are put on vegetarian diets because they do better on them…Elain, my question is…Did you have metabolic typing done to see if this was the best diet for your body type or did you just experiment? Thanks so much and Happy Holidays!
I was so impressed with this article, I bought the book, I tried the diet for 5 days just to see if it was sustainable, with my 10 yr old T1D daughter in mind. In the process I realized this diet might help me repair my own immune system disorder.
It took 4 days to hit ketosis, and on day 5 I had high levels. I stopped after 5 days, and I have not been sick since. (even eating bad stuff I shouldn’t, normally would have made me sick)
I talked to my doctor and she is now observing me do a 30 day run on it. It is possible, It could repair/restore my immune system. She is very excited at the prospect.
- Gina
Hi Elaine I bought your book and just started this diet. I had a question. Do you reccomend taking a Glutathione supplement?
What causes Cancer
This link goes to the first of a 3 part series explaining Thomas Seyfried’s Ketogenic approach to treating cancer in a fairly straightforward way.
As even the kindle editions of the book “Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: by Thomas Seyfried” is more than a little expensive this link leads to a fairly indepth review of the book together with some fairly extended excerpts that may be helpful obyvatel’s review of Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: Thomas Seyfried
DEAR CHRIS: How comemovie stars like Patrick Swayzee or Robert Urich can die of cancer? I mean,with all the money these people have, how come they have not survived?
I mean, if anyone can survive cancer, it has to be people with money, surely?
YOURS FAITHFULLY, DESMOND.
SAT-FEB-9-2013.
Money really doesn’t have that much to do with it.
It’s all about the choices you make.
If a rich person chooses chemotherapy and radiation they will get the same results as anyone else.
Good Answer!!!
there are so many more things even a healthy immune system is battling in modern times: man made viruses, crowded conditions on plains, subways, higher amounts of stress especially financial. people who have been fed these processed fioods by there mom find it hard to realize there is sometbing wrong with them. when you are sick and lack the knowledge, resources and support, its very hard to come upon allthis information and develop a plan on your own. another thing to is the run of the mill dr does not ttake your complaints too seriously, just chalking your aches to age etc.. then things advance. you need to starve cancer cells, kill the pathogens involved, support you immune system, calm down and pay your bills.
Elaine, How long do you go on zero carb diet? My thought is it is very difficult to go on like this, may be a few wks on zero carb/glucose diet to totally kill the cancer cells, then we can go to moderate but healthy diet (full of antioxidant, organic, healthy diet- with min glucose/fructose/carb) for long term sustaining. I was thinking of phase 1 severe regime (zero carb/glocuse) to totaly starve and kill the Ca cells, then after few wks of sure killing all teh ca cells, then go for moderate healthy diet?
Dear Elaine,
I have been on a vegetarian diet for years but it didn’t help the tumours to shrink. Also did juicing and lot of fruits. I just tried the ketogenic diet for about a week now and have traces of ketosis. At what level up the ketostix chart the best for cancer. Is it high or moderate?
How long can one be on a ketogenic diet? Can one be off the ketogenic diet once the cancer is gone?
I have been Stage IV chronic lymphocytic leukemia for several years … having already gone thru chemo and having to decide on it again. I’m trying the ketogenic diet, but I get the impression it attacks cancerous tumors more effectively than reversing blood cancers. Can anyone speak to this?
Hi Elaine, I am glad that it works for you and you were stay away from chemo and other traditional med. Mai I ask your advice? Few days ago I got a pathology report, where I was informed that I had spindle cell neoplasm. Do you think that this diet can help to heal it?
Many thanks in advance.
Hi Chris and Elaine
Great to see the vids and all the comments & ur frank responses. Without any prior symptoms, I became sick in the water off Fiji last August and 3 days (that I lost ) later I was emergency air evacuated to Brisbane, and after an MRI scan was operated on, for what turned out to be a grade 4 Gliosarcoma (brain tumour). After spending some 3 weeks in hospital I was flown back to HK, albeit a little later than planned, and after some difficult decisions, and with the financial and emotional and spiritual support of my wonderful friends and family, and limited insurance cover, took a course of cyberknife radiation…every day for 30 days…POW , or ZAP. Before it had finished I began a 6 month course of chemo, ( temozolomide) for 5 days every month, which I have just completed. During that time I was on a strict vegetarian diet with heaps of fresh Fruit and vege juice every day, AND LIMITED CARBS WITH NOO SUGARin fact, semi fasting…did and have continued doing a lot of reading ,( I started with an excellent book by the late Dr David Servan-Schreiber, ‘Anti-CanceR, , which set me on the right path, watching videos, sharing with others on their websites and so on. And I am DEEPLY indebted to people such as Dominic D’Agostino, Chris and Elaine, to mention but a few. I should mention I am 60 years old and weigh about 60kgs, so around the middle of March,when my weight was down to less than 60kg after finding out about the Ketogenic diet thru Dominic first, after I made the decision to start eating healthy white meats and fish again, I then moved to organic red meat ( from NZ and Argentina (Non factory farmed) morethan2 or 3 months after I had eaten no meat/fish dairy etc and had been beginning to get a lot of muscle wastage. I should mention however that I do use flaxseeds as per the Budwig Diet and cultivate my own Kefir or Acidophilius culture which I received from a German friend several years ago. I should mention however that neither had I been having enough healthy fats such as EVO coconut oil, avocados etc etc etc, which has been rectified after reading Dominic’s blog and lots of links on his website, Elaine’s book, site and links and Chris’, website and links on that and keeping my protein/fat: carbs ratio about 4 or 5:0/1. In fact, apart from the flaxseeds and some almonds and ground sunflower seeds I have little to no carbs at all.
I just had an MRI scan before Easter and am waiting for my surgeon to give me a good analysis of that before I talk about that. But at this point in time I know the tumour has NOT grown and all edema has gone. One trouble I still do have however, is DVT in my left leg, and having to injec t myself with heparin every day for that. I think heparin contains a little sugar & other stuff, so I’d like to come off that, and the dex and epilim. And of course I’m hoping and believing that I won’t need any more chemo either. This is an amazing trip I’m on now, and if what I’m going thru can help anyone, I want to be of any assistantance I can. God Bless you all (oops, sorry if too long)