Leo, first of all you should relax. Your father has to eat. The good cells
have to have the fuel to fight the bad cells, and where are they going to get
it, if not from food?
I am no expert, but I have been reading about nutrition and cancer since I
was diagnosed with acute leukemia earlier this year. My doctor has advised me
to eat what I feel like eating -- a "general diet". In hospital, my meals
include red meat, eggs, etc.
For cancer in general, from my reading I have found that it is recommended
that vegetables form the main part of the diet. I have a photocopy of a page
from some source unknown that gives the following foods in order of
importance: carotenoid vegetables; cruciferous vegetables; soy milk and soy
foods; beans, peas and lentils; breads, grains and cereals; fruits; citrus;
olive oil, canola oil and fish oil. The latter should be used sparingly, as
should salt and sugar. In general, meat and dairy products are not
recommended. Though of course if you are given antibiotics you ought to get
acidophilis from somewhere, either yogurt or in pill form. I say this because
I received two weeks of antibiotics during my last hospital stay, and nobody
bothered to recommend I order yogurt. Happily, my reading had led me to know
the importance of keeping one's intestinal bacteria -- the "good" bacteria --
in order. Antibiotics play havoc with those little fellows, I understand.
Now, Leo, as I said before, I am no expert. I am just someone with leukemia,
which led me to mol-cancer. There are other participants who no doubt can
give expert advice, and I hope they do. Perhaps they will comment on what I
have written.
I myself am taking supplementary Chinese medicine in pill form. I am also
taking vitamins, and heaps and heaps of soy milk. I also order soy products
whenever I visit my favorite Chinese restaurant here in New York, including
Tofu Hunan style, though of course that is deep fried and, I suppose, in
general not recommended for cancer patients.
In short, Leo, I think the most important food you can give your father is
your love and constant support. You are already doing that.
I hope you got a second opinion on your father's condition. Your own doctor
is probably right, but he would no doubt understand your seeking confirmation
from another physician.
Marty Auslander's advice on vitamins, as usual, accords with what I have
read. Do not be afraid of vitamins. You should talk to your physician about
this. I hope he/she is knowledgeable in such matters -- some doctors,
shockingly enough, are not. Large doses of C, for instance, as I know at
first hand, can cause diarrhea. Leukemia is very different from your father's
condition, but it IS cancer, and my doctor leaves me free to take whatever
supplements or Chinese herbs I choose.
I wish your father and you peace and progress. Search the web. There is a lot
of information there, good and bad. Sift through it. And please keep
mol-cancer informed. We are rooting for you.
Good luck, and God bless.
-- Ron
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