Nutrition and Cancer Archive Questions

Below are Mindy Athas’s answers to Nutrition and Cancer questions
received through the Ask the Expert feature.

This content is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended
to be a substitute for individual medical advice in diagnosing or treating a
health problem. Please consult with your physician about your specific health
care concerns.



Now displaying records 1 to 8 of 8.

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Q : 1 06/22/2008	I was recently diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ. Can and should I take soy products, and which are best? My understanding of soy is that it is okay to have up to 3 servings/day of real soy-that is: soy milk, soy cheese, soybeans/edamame, tofu and miso. A serving is about 8oz of soy milk, 1oz soy cheese & soy beans, & 4oz of the other foods. Using soy protein isolates: those "soy" foods such as soy hot dogs/meats, textured vegetable protein (such as in soy "eggs" and "meat"), Boca burgers, soy bars, etc. is NOT recommended. So, if you like soy & are willing to stick with the original foods (milk/tofu,etc) then you are fine with those as long as you stay within the 3 servings/day. Soy does have antioxidant capacity & is deemed safe in those quantities per current literature. I would say, use in moderation as you like but limit or avoid the soy protein isolate foods. If you don't like soy, then choose other antioxidant-rich foods instead. There is no need to add it to your diet if you don't already use it. Do remember to eat plenty (5-9 servings/day) of fruits & veggies!
Q : 2 06/21/2008	My friend has cancer and has decided to follow the natural route, but I am a bit concerned. She is eating limited vegetables, only a few types of fruit, brown rice, and pasta. Her only protein is fish once a week and cheese. She drinks sherbet made with icing sugar, and tartaric acid mixed in water each day. Is this diet healthy? Isn't sugar bad for cancer cells? Actually her intake of fruits & vegetables appears high in antioxidants, which is very good. She also gets some protein from the vegetables (2gm/serving), and the carbohydrates (3g/serving), and lots from the beans (7g/serving: same as animal protein), but she certainly could up her intake of fish & cheese to at least 2-3 times weekly. She could also add nuts, seeds & peanut butter, all of which would give her protein, antioxidants & also some heart-healthy form of fat. The brown rice (and wheat pasta) are good sources of fiber, as are the fruits & veggies. In terms of sugar, there is limited science to support avoiding it: cancer cells eat the same "foods" as all the other body cells. They are just cells gone bad. They do not follow the "rules" of the body & have "gone wild." But it is fine to avoid white processed sugar & items made from it, such as pastries, donuts, etc. Eating natural sources of sweet such as honey, molasses & real maple syrup are good alternatives & also provide antioxidants. Antioxidants found naturally in foods/drinks help to protect the body by strengthening the immune system, but that does not apply to supplements, pills, tinctures & powders. So drinking brewed green tea is good, but taking a green tea capsule is not. In terms of the sherbet & icing, these are concentrated forms of sugar & are probably OK, as they provide extra calories in a concentrated form. This can help with maintaining her weight. Overall, I would focus less on the sugar intake & encourage more antioxidant-rich foods, including olive oil, green/white/black tea, dark chocolate/cocoa, all fruits/vegetables & 100% juices (especially the dark & brightly colored ones), beans, some soy (milk, tofu, soy beans/edamame), fish & other omega-3 rich foods. She could also add eggs (perhaps the omega-3 version), some other forms of dairy (milk, cottage cheese, yogurt) or other animal protein, as she likes. She should be eating every 2-3 hours all day via 3-4 meals + snacks. Small, frequent mini-meals are ideal. Drinking plenty of fluids, including lots of water, is important for hydration & also provides additional calories & antioxidants. (Think 100% juices, milk, vitamin water, iced teas, etc.) Other important things to focus on are physical activity (as able), getting 8 hours of sleep at night in a dark room, and doing activities she enjoys: keeping her happy & stress-free. These things also improve immunity, and a strong immune system helps fight off future cancer cells. She should try to maintain her weight, if possible, and try to avoid any nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Hope that helps! Try to be supportive of her food choices & let her eat what she likes.
Q : 3 05/03/2007	My mother is cancer patient, and she had 90% of her stomach removed last year. She is about 90 lbs now and it appears she is having problems keeping food down. Are there other alternatives for cancer patients who have a feeding tube? We have tried supplemental drinks as well. If she already has a feeding tube, I am assuming it is in her small intestine (a J-tube). If this is the case, she should be able to meet all of her nutrition needs via the tube feeding. If she is losing weight with the tube feeding, then a dietitian in your area needs to evaluate how many cans she needs per day; you may want to increase her intake by 1 to 2 cans if that is the case, but check with her health care provider to make sure. If she has a feeding tube but is not tolerating the cans of tube feeding, then she needs to be seen by a doctor right away to fix any problems with the tube or its placement. If she is vomiting up tube feeding that came from her small intestinal feeds, that could mean the pyloric sphincter between her stomach & small intestine may be loose/open, allowing food to travel up/backwards. This also is a medical problem that a doctor would need to evaluate. So, first I would have her feeding tube placement checked by her doctor. If her problem is vomiting from food she has eaten by mouth, that is another issue. The stomach is mainly a holding area for food to be pre-digested before it goes into the small intestine. Enzymes, secretions & contractions in the stomach help to grind up the food to make it more liquid. When the stomach has been resected (removed as you said), then all the work goes to the small intestine, which can adapt over time to take over this function of digestion. Depending on what is left of her stomach may affect how easily her small intestine will adapt. One of the most important things she can do is to eat very, very small portions: 1 fistful of food at a time. This will help her body adapt & also ease digestion & the risk of vomiting. It is common to have fullness, weight loss & vomiting after this type of surgery. She will need to learn to eat differently than before: much smaller portions of food but eating more often (every 2 to 3 hours all day long). Some tips for her eating: eat foods separately from liquids. Have her eat a handful/fistful of protein-rich food (like tuna salad with crackers) & chew it for a long time until it turns watery/mushy in her mouth. Then about 30 minutes later she can sip on some liquids (like tea w/honey or water). Then repeat this process in about 2 hours. The goal should be 6 to 8 small "snacks" daily which she can build up over time to little meals of 2 fistfuls of food each. Foods to eat: grains (bread/cereal/noodles/rice), protein foods (eggs/fish/chicken/meat), dairy foods(milk/yogurt/cheese), fruits & vegetables. If she has any symptoms of a condition called "dumping syndrome" (bloating, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, sweating, and rapid heartrate, which can happen 30 to 60 minutes after eating & again at 2 to 3 hours after eating) she would need to avoid sugar-rich foods such as sweets, juices, candy, cookies, pies, baked goods ),sugary drinks. Sometimes very hot or cold foods may also cause this problem. Some people also cannot tolerate milk products. If this is a problem, use Lactaid milk or soy milk. It is OK -- even good -- to use supplemental drinks. She may only be able to drink 4 oz (1/2 cup) at a time; just have her keep trying. Using Boost Plus or Ensure Plus may be a good option, as they are higher in calories. Again, the main points here are: check w/doctor about the feeding tube, eat very small portions but eat often, separate foods & liquids by 30 to 60 minutes, & consider avoiding sweets if signs of dumping syndrome.
Q : 4 03/13/2007	Can you please offer some expert opinion on the vitamin supplement Juice Plus? It is being shamelessly promoted as a cure and prevention for cancer and what I have read about it has really shocked me. It looks like a total scam. Can you please comment on this product and check out the information at a few of these sites. A lot of people are pushing this product to cancer patients and if the marketing is as dishonest as it seems to be, more expert opinion is badly needed to protect patients. Thanks in advance. It seems to me that anything that sounds too good to be true is usually not true. Some things to keep in mind: dietary supplements are not tightly regulated by the government, so you could have variation between bottles & even within one bottle of this supplement; also, there are things in whole foods (phytochemicals especially) which we are unable to just pluck out & put into a capsule-which is why eating the whole food is so much better. Also, this supplement (as are most) can be very expensive (versus eating more whole foods). My recommendation is to eat more fruits & vegetables (fresh/frozen/canned) & drink more water, and take a regular (& inexpensive) multivitamin/mineral supplement of which you could take a chewable to ease digestion. In terms of curing or preventing cancer, if we had the answer to that one-well...the science is just not there yet. My advice is to eat more dark green leafy vegetables, more brightly colored fruits, & add beans, fresh herbs (like cilantro), spices (like curry powder), whole grains, and green tea to your diet. A better place to spend extra money (rather than on supplements) might be on organic fruits/veggies & hormone/antibiotic-free meat, chicken, dairy & eggs. As for the consumer: it is truly buyer beware: we all need to become more savvy about what we read, as we are all tempted by the allure of the magic bullet. Good luck.
Q : 5 02/20/2007	My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2006 at age 34. He was treated surgically and did not need chemotherapy or radiation. We want to see a nutritionist who can help us learn to live a healthier lifestyle to help prevent any future cancer recurrances. Can you please tell me whether we can make an appointment with your office or do you only work with patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments? Since you were treated here, I can meet with you here at the hospital (maybe when you come in for follow up w/ your surgical oncologist?) I can also email you info or I can speak w/you on the phone. (My number is 410-328-5462). Let me know what kind of info you would like. I have an antioxidant diet & also high calorie/protein info, or whatever else you need.
Q : 6 01/22/2007	I do eat right, the best I know how, and stay with my vegetables. But when I was told that I have an abnormal Pap smear, I got confused. So where did I go wrong? You did nothing wrong! Sometimes pap smears are abnormal & this can be common: just follow up with your doctor to see what the test may mean. It is important to talk to your doctor or other health care provider to see what you need to do next. Keep eating vegetables & also fruits, but remember: there are many factors that can cause illness & your diet is only one of them. Good luck & take care!
Q : 7 01/19/2007	My Dad is starting TEC chemo treatment and is supposed to not take milk, milk products, or calcium-rich foods. Can you give me a list or resource for calcium rich foods. Also, there was a note regarding scalp cooling which may help prevent hair loss. What is this and is there anything else we can do? I am not familiar with scalp cooling, but you can try researching it on the Internet. Some good websites to try: www.cancer.gov, www.cancer.org, www.aicr.org. As for the calcium question, it is mostly found in dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, cream) but also in smaller amounts in green leafy vegetables (collard greens & broccoli). It is also found in sardines or canned salmon w/bones & in any prepared foods that state "cheese" in the ingredients (like pizza or mac-n-cheese). You can also search any specific foods on this website: www.calorieking.com. Remember, too, that most multivitamin/mineral supplements contain calcium; read the labels. Otherwise, make sure your dad is eating small, frequent meals every 2-3 hours all day with plenty of fruits, vegetables & whole grains/beans & nuts. And make sure he is drinking water: 8-oz. 8 times per day; this will help him get through his chemo. Good luck.
Q : 8 01/11/2007	My mom is 72 and was just told she has advanced breast cancer. I'm considering having her get treatment at you facility sometime soon, but until then would very much like to know how I can help my mom feel better. She is getting her third day of some type of radiation tomorrow. Today, she told me she has lost her appetite and is feeling very week. What kinds of food would make her feel better? Thank you so very much! One of the best things you can do is to offer her small portions of foods & drinks every 2 to 3 hours all day. Eating very small portions of foods may be easier for her to handle. Find out if she is having any nausea, upset stomach, gagging or choking on foods, vomiting or dry heaving, or diarrhea. These "stomach" upsets can be caused by cancer treatment or the disease itself, and many times a doctor or nurse may have some suggestions to help. In terms of poor appetite, this is very common, and she needs to know it can come & go, so she will need to eat despite not feeling like it. It is OK to eat or drink small portions as long as it is frequent: she should not go more than 4 hours without eating. Keep snack-type foods handy: dried or fresh fruit, nuts/seeds, crackers, cheese, small-sized yogurts, individual snack packs of pudding & applesauce, popcorn, etc. Encourage her to drink milkshakes (homemade or store-bought) or supplements like Ensure Plus or Boost Plus. You can add protein powder to shakes too. Also try to get her to eat some protein every day: tuna salad, eggs, chicken, peanut butter, beans, and dairy (milk) products. She can also try Soy milk, ice cream, pizza, soups, and juice to keep her calorie intake up. Hope this helps. You may also want to get her into some type of support group so she knows she isn't alone. Good luck!! Mindy!

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