The Metabolic Approach in Conjunction with Standard of Care

My integrative oncologist had me doing interval training (hiking = natural intervals) 2-3 X per week, stretching (pilates or yoga) 2-3 x, walk every day, Omega 3 pre- and pro-biotics, many plant based antioxidants like quercetin, curcumin, ALA, Ubiquinol, Calcium D glucarate... a TON more... (for longer list see "Success stories" thread in TNBC forum, page 6). Melatonin, metformin. Sleep in cold room, pitch black.

Diet was nearly vegan/ whole foods... Low meat, low dairy, one egg yolk max per week (whites ok). Super Greens powder, Whey protein isolate. Focused on filling my plate with anticancer vegan whole foods like alliums, cabbages, ginger, mushrooms, fermented foods, greens, colors, berries, nuts. Avocado & oils. Deep Sea fish. No booze sugar or 'white' foods. All nutrient dense. Quinoa/sweet potato as nutrient-dense carbs, during 'rebuild' after fasting. But otherwise, low carb/ edge of keto.

I was not recommended to take enzymes.

My only deficiency upon diagnosis was D-- and that was odd since I go outside for exercise AND drank milk with D. Is there an enzyme that unlocks D3? I am A blood. I used to eat meat but now eat almost no meat.

I have loosened up now after crossing year 3 post Dx...kept up supplements for 2.5 years.... then tapered. Did vitamin C intermittently after treatment too. I still eat very well. I still work out 4-5 x per week, which is enjoyable. I intermittent fast now daily and do a fasting mimic 5 day 'fast' once every 3 months. These practices are sustainable as I like having no aches and pains and being more lean. Now I'll have a piece of cake or an alcoholic drink when I feel like one... but way less then before. .

I was obsessive about following many of these recommendations to the point of having great anxiety. I was vegan and had green smoothies daily and took all the right supplements. It was very stressful actually and took up too much time thinking about it.

I have toned it down and now just keep "health" in the back of my mind and have relaxed a lot. For over a year of doing intermittent fasting and eating well but only stuff I enjoy. I eat eggs daily, fish and occasionally have chicken (Longo says those over 65 need more protein and these are easy sources. I mostly avoid fake stuff. I have reversed my type 2 diabetes (internal medicine doc said I am "in remission") A1c is 5/6. I have halved my BP meds and could probably stop them. I lost 80 lbs and although I assume xrays would still show damage from osteoarthritis I have no pain.

I listen to relaxing podcasts and meditate sometimes. I use the 'Breathe' app on my Apple Watch to periodically remind me to breathe deeply during the day. But the most significant thing I am finding is that I can't get anal about it all. I am 74 so I am not going to extend my life that much but love feeling comfortable.

The only thing that hasn't improved is my neuropathy in hands, feet and legs. I guess that is here to stay.

Thank you for that study, moth! I'm sorry about the insane fatigue. I get cranky too when I have to fast for labs. Anecdotally speaking, I have friends who swear by fasting the day before and 12 hours after their chemo that it reduces their side effects, but I am amazed they can go that long without eating. I wonder if it's a water fast or more? I have been meaning to thank you, moth. You always take the time to reach out to the new ladies here who are newly diagnosed and terrified as we were at that moment. You have such a kind heart. I"m glad you have dogs to walk. We have always had german shepherds but not right now. I really miss having dogs.

I am going to look into the sauna. I'm at risk for lymphedema (11 nodes and now radiation damage). I wonder if it would be safe for me to heat up my arm. We're in California, so I guess I could drive out to Palm Springs and bake in the shade for an hour or two

Wrenn, I love your healthy attitude. Have you ever tried EDTA chelation to see if it will improve the neuropathy? Increases microcirculation and comes with health benefits, including for heart disease, diabetes, stroke/dementia prevention. (I'm laughing because yes, this is anecdotal from my IMD. My new friend moth, I'll find you a study over the weekend. You and Waves might already have seen some good ones. I really enjoy researching

Speaking of, I better run. Heading to my weekly chelation to detox from another week of radiation damage to my poor tissues.

Blessings,

Esther

Santabarbarian,

You mentioned doing HBOT throughout radiation. May I ask, how did your skin hold up? Did it help reduce other side effects like fatigue? I am thinking of asking my IMD this week if she would advise it for me. I am a bit scared of what's to come because I feel some burning in my armpit after three weeks in, and still have four more weeks to go. I do run around with a wedge holding my arm out like the little teapot.

I just read about HBOT in Dr. Stengler and Dr. Anderson's book, Cancer Outside the Box (2018). It reads, "A number of scientific reviews have outlined the ways in which HBOT is not only beneficial in cancer therapy but also in helping to control side effects of standard therapies." They don't mention during which specific treatments and I haven't read the studies footnoted yet because I'm trying to assemble a file cabinet so I can feel like I accomplished something today.

Have a good Sunday,

Esther

My skin did not hold up. (It might have been worse without it?) I looked napalmed. Not painful, but awful looking. But it did heal incredibly quickly with 3 sessions of HBOT -- it was all better in about a week. I had 6 weeks of rads, and my skin held up till last ~10 days of it.

There's a product called domeboro... an astringent recommended by my RO.... that was relieving to my sore skin.

I had proton rads so that might be different.

HBOT is wonderful for fatigue. My main chemo SE was being very anemic. Every time you leave HBOT you feel normal-- oxygenated-- and that is a great boost. I would also fall asleep during the treatment and wake refreshed. Last my HBOT therapist was a HEALER. You know the medical people who are unfailingly joyful, kind, personal. It always made me feel better just to see her.

Thanks Waves, this is great! I'm going to save the link.

Loved the plumeria, by the way. That's my favorite flower.

Love,

Esther

That is the first time I’ve heard about exercise oncology. I was advised by two oncologists, several oncology nurses, and TNBC suvivors to walk everyday during my chemo treatment. They thought it would help with my immune system. So, I walked almost everyday (except the day after infusions) for at least an hour. My partner and I woke up early and walked at a local school track (we wanted to be able to park a car near by in case something happened). I don’t know if it helped with my immune system since ANC was low throughout chemo, but it really helped me psychologically to just get outside. I was a runner before dx, but after dx I appreciate the walks and hikes much more. Again, I don’t know if it’s more psychological than physical, but I just feel better after a morningwalk.

Great thread, don’t know how I missed it. I will have more to say when I have a little more time, but let me just say, wrenn, the change in your A1C numbers is amazing! So good to see what’s possible with some lifestyle changes.

I had started a little thread of my own to obsess over my rising glucose numbers. I STILL don’t have my A1C result from the home test I did and the lab at my cancer center could not do a test for me today. My A1C was 4.5 in 2018 when I last tested, no idea what it might be now but I doubt it’s going to be less than 5 again, I’ll be ecstatic if it’s still under 6. I have slacked on exercise and fasting compared to 2018 and let’s face it I am 3 yrs older. But I do have room to improve

Anyway, congrats to all of you on your efforts! I’ll be back!

Thanks! I'm just getting to the "Power of Sauna" chapter in the Metabolic Approach to Cancer book by stage IV Ovarian Cancer survivor, Dr. Nasha Winters.

My doctor uses an infrared sauna and highly recommends them. A fellow patient at my twice weekly 50gram IV Vitamin C appointments says she and her husband just bought an Infrared Sauna by Relax. Her husband is going through radiation for cancer just like me and she says they really love their sauna. They actually put it in their kitchen.

Heidihill, I loved your post. You're amazing. What you have done is what the most experienced integrative oncologists note among most successful for "keeping cancer metabolically at bay." Right on! I need to bump up my exercise and focus more on building muscle mass. I hadn't even thought of that aspect with regard to avoiding lymphedema.

Olma, I hope by now you got your A1C numbers back from your recent lab test. My IMD runs those numbers every few months. My MO never did.

Blessings,
Esther

Breast Cancer Topic: How shifts in temperature prime immune response

I posted this 10 years ago! I thought then I had to try to turn on those immune cells. As I posted elsewhere yesterday (Divine's infrared sauna discussion thread) I did take steps to heat myself up involving exercise. It's not so much a metabolic approach but an immune-response approach which has metabolic benefits. Lol. Whether it's heat or cold, when your body has to stabilize temperature you burn a lot more energy.

That's wonderful, Heidihill. Impressive too, because it was harder to find solid information back then. I didn't see the infrared sauna thread. I'll have to check it out.

Love,

Esther

Good article, Waves,

I like that it mentioned, what do you do if you have already lost too much weight? At this point, I would love to gain a few pounds so I can do a one to three day water/fluids fast without sliding further down the scale. I know it would help my immune system immeasurably.

Blessings,

Esther