Improving diet to starve cancer ?

[NeedHelp000]

Hi all.
that topic should say to reduce risk of cancer but I can’t edit the title…..
this may sound crazy but honest opinions please.
So a recent routine smear test came back HPV positive with abnormal cells. So I am awaiting an appointment or a colposcopy.

I won’t lie, I’m petrified and sick with worry.
anyway it got me thinking about changing my diet to reduce my risk of cancer- if that’s even possible! I know there is a lot of theories behind it.

I don’t have an unhealthy diet.
I make all meals from scratch. I do mainly follow a low fat diet but I do have a lot of artificial sweetener as a result of this. Fry light, diet fizzy drinks, sweetener in my coffee, sugar free squash, fat free yogurts etc. so this is one area I can change. I do think a zero sugar zero sweetener diet will be hard but am willing to give it a try!

i don’t each much red meat and I don’t drink much alcohol so they won’t be difficult to cut out.
processed foods like hams and cured meats will need to go…..

what do you guys think ?
my husband thinks this is a big lifestyle change and should wait for the results of the colposcopy before I decide as I may not have any cancerous/pre cancerous cells.

thanks in advance x

Get used to drinking it without. It's hard at first but you get used to it really quickly and then wonder why you ever sweetened it but try honey if you really need something

My oncologists for both my cancers have told me that this is a load of bollocks.

any suggestions as to what to add to my coffee instead of sugar/sweeter?

my dad used to add a little honey to take away the bitterness of real brewed coffee

I also have HPV and abnormal cells. Try not to panic, it's quite common and for most people will either clear by itself or with some simple treatment.

That said, a healthy diet is always a good idea. I'm just trying to eat as many fruits and veggies as I can and cut down on ultra processed (although not completely).
Also, have a look into AHCC supplements, there have been some scientific studies about their benefits on clearing HPV and I've also read lots of anecdotal good stories about them.
Also have a read about the potential benefits of the coil (IUD).
If you haven't already check out Jos Cervical Cancer Trust, lots of info and the forums are very helpful too.

Best of luck and hope it all works out well

Have a look at the Canceractive charity website, loads of info about all sorts of things like this and all evidence-based. You can search by cancer type and there will be stuff about HPV.

Just add milk. Get used to the unsweetened taste. You won't miss the sweetness after a while.

What is??

Honey is a good idea thank you

Thanks. I’m going to read up on how to clear HPV

I did sugar free for a long time. My advice is just go without until you get used to new flavours. No sugar. No sweeteners. I had fruit & dark chocolate and that was it. Felt great for it after a while & I'm still not that keen on sugary things now.

Broccoli particularly and other cruciferous green veg have been proven to have cancer preventative qualities.

Don't go fat free! Big mistake.

This is for general good health though. I wouldn't be worrying too much, OP. It sounds like everything is in hand.

Thanks so much.
I needed that reassurance! I already have the mirena coil in.
I’ve never heard of AHCC so will look into that.

The best thing to reduce your cancer risk is eating a well balanced diet - a variety of fruits and vegetables with them making up a third to half your plate every meal, eat more nuts and pulses, healthy fats, limit processed foods, get a good amount of fibre (eat whole veg and fruits and don't juice them/remove their skin etc). Also exercise regularly including weight bearing exercise. Keep a healthy weight. Don't smoke or drink alcohol.

Look at the diets of people in Blue Zones for inspiration.

You can't 100% eliminate the chances of getting cancer and the older you get the more likely you are to get it but you can lower your risk. Same with many diseases like heart disease (which incidentally you have more risk of getting and dying from than cancer but people don't seem to worry so much about it!).

Following
I also have hpv and abnormal cells
I don't smoke but my diet isn't great and i have a very sweet tooth.

From cancer reaseach uk web site

There’s no evidence that following a “sugar-free” diet lowers the risk of getting cancer, or that it boosts the chances of surviving if you are diagnosed. This link explain in some detail why.

https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2023/08/16/sugar-and-cancer-what-you-need-to-know/

Low alcohol and plenty fruit and veg, plus exercise and not smoking are the only things that have any evidence base for lowering risk of getting cancer

I do think cancer is luck of the draw / genes but this is what I live by in the hope it helps…

No sweeteners at all/nothing ‘diet’, I rarely have cordial but if I do buy as a treat it’s got sugar/ fruit in
Organic as much as possible but definitely Milk, cheese, yoghurt, eggs & meat
i get fruit/veg that I feel pesticides can’t penetrate as much (banana/avacado/oranges & the rest I either get organic or peel it.

Also, myself & 3 times f my friends have had abnormal cells & then a clear smear after.

So did mine as did my dietician.

I also had two different cancers and was vegetarian 🤷‍♀️

I suggest keeping to a healthy diet but don’t punish yourself by cutting out everything you like - I have seen many women do this.

Ask your doctor or consult a dietician (not a nutritionist as anyone can call themselves that)

There’s a lot of weird stuff about cancer on the Internet and a lot of it is designed to get claws in your purse. ‘

Best of luck

Maybe he is. I didn't give him a label, just described what he eats, in response to a question anout using diet to control cancer

Still not a vegan diet.

Good grief. I never said it was 😆

Put more milk in, milk is slightly sweet. You'll get used to the taste over time.

Hopefully your colposcopy will be fine and the hpv will clear itself up. I have had 3 different cancers, including cervical, and am determined like you to be as healthy as possible to avoid a return. I found the Marsden Cancer Cookbook, which I borrowed from my library, very informative. It focuses on eating during and after treatment but there's lots of useful info. It may mot be the most up to date resource now, but I found it inspiring.
BTW, I drink my morning coffee black with sugar ;)

I’d highly recommend Outlive by Peter Attia - very detailed and evidence based. It covers all aspects of longevity, including cancer. A good diet can reduce your chances of getting cancer by 12-13% so definitely worth doing - though unfortunately most cancer seems to be unrelated to lifestyle, so however healthy you are you can still get it. The evidence that the right diet improves your chances of surviving cancer once you have it is less clear but there is some data to suggest it may help.

Have cancer and had healthy diet, no family with breast cancer, exercised, normal BMI, don't drink, don't smoke, only risk factor I had was stress. Oncologist doesn't believe in special diets. Exercise is encouraged 3 to 5 hours a week halves reoccurrence risk. I would cut the sweeteners but otherwise your diet sounds fine. There's an interesting program on Netflix on how to live to 100 and key factors there were largely vegetarian diet, exercise, part of a supportive community, having a purpose so many of them had kept working or volunteering.

I love oat milk

Oat milk isn’t great as it’s mostly carbs and really spikes your blood sugar, especially if not drunk with a meal, and it’s pretty nutritionally valueless. There are links between insulin resistance and some cancers. The impact of the microbiome on cancer and cancer treatment is just beginning to be understood too, and plant milks are often UPF with emulsifiers in them, particularly the barista ones.