I am writing this blog for anyone who has or knows someone with cancer and is faced with the daunting prospect of chemotherapy. I am writing it because I am doing a personal ‘experiment’ based on early results from the latest scientific research – I am fasting for chemo.
In a nutshell, the idea behind fasting for chemo is to put your body into a state of ketosis so normal, non-cancerous cells stop dividing. The chemotherapy only targets dividing cells and so, because cancer cells will not stop dividing, they are hit by the chemotherapy whilst most normal healthy cells in your body….well… they hide.
You join me at an interesting time.
After diagnosis with breast cancer in May 2015, I have already been through three sessions of EC chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital and need to have five more.
Informed by very early results published in peer reviewed scientific papers, for the first two sessions I followed a strict 350 calories-a-day diet for the 48 hours prior to chemotherapy and continued this diet for 48 hours afterwards. I then slightly increased my calorie intake to 500 for a further 48 hours.
Whilst the drug was at its peak in my body there is no doubt I experienced side effects of deep nausea on the first occasion and actual vomiting on the second, which I managed as best I could using a cocktail of prescribed antisickness drugs. I also have to admit that I write to you having lost most of my hair, which is disappointing, but evidence suggests that to stop hair cells from dividing and growing, your body would have to enter starvation mode, which is not something I am prepared to do.
But I was astounded that I did not suffer with the other side effects associated with EC chemotherapy after fasting – my digestive tract and mouth were fine and I had a voracious appetite; my nails are as strong as ever; my skin seemed to be avoiding the ravages of the drug. All in all, once the chemo had more or less left my body, I felt pretty good. And people told me I was looking well.
I recently had a scan that suggested the largest of my two tumours has already shrunk by about 20% after just two sessions. I know how lucky I am and my heart goes out to those who do not receive such good news.
So what happened next and why start this blog now?
For the third session on 6th August I was not as strict with my fasting regime and the side effects were much more severe. Following treatment, my digestive tract was hit hard and I experienced nausea for nine days, followed by painful stomach inflammation and acid reflux – needless to say my appetite has not been voracious this time! As I write, the tips of my fingers feel dry and tender. I have also felt more generally unwell, acidic and have had random headaches and shooting pains. None of which I had experienced previously.
Clearly, the side effects I experienced after the session where I was more relaxed about fasting might have happened regardless due to a cumulative effect of the chemotherapy drugs.
But… what if the fasting really works? The lives of many going through cancer treatment could be improved dramatically.
I am in a position to be able to explore this question from a personal perspective and share my findings with you. So every Wednesday until my chemotherapy ends on 11th November I will publish updates here. In addition to my progress with fasting and diet, I will also share with you other aspects of my holistic approach to beating breast cancer. My next chemotherapy session is on 27th August.
I hope you will join me!
Della x
Further Reading
- Fasting and cancer treatment in humans: A case series report
- Fasting Cycles Retard Growth of Tumors and Sensitize a Range of Cancer Cell Types to Chemotherapy
- Fasting vs dietary restriction in cellular protection and cancer treatment: from model organisms to patients
Disclaimer
The information contained in this post or any other post on this blog is based on personal experience and should not be viewed in any way as medical or other advice. If you are considering fasting for chemo, please consult your health care provider.
Copyright © 2015 Johnson
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