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I’d like extend a big welcome to our guest blogger, Kate Flaherty – she is involved in outreach work to educate patients and families about complementary care and alternative medicine options during traditional cancer treatment.  Visit her blog, What Kate Ate, to learn more.

Quality nutrition is crucial for those in cancer treatment because the treatment itself can have an adverse effect on appetite. Getting the necessary vitamins and minerals can be tough but not impossible. Taking in the right foods is absolutely vital for those undergoing treatment for cancers like mesothelioma.

The side effects of traditional treatment will affect the way that a patient is able to eat. Waves of nausea can be frequent and difficult to handle. This is why it is imperative to eat the right foods when you are able to. Of course there may be good days when you want to treat yourself to something outside your nutritional regimen, but building upon a solid nutritional foundation can improve overall health and lead to an improved prognosis. As with anything, portions in moderation can be observed. Just remember that what you put into your body is going to be used to help repair the damage that is being done by the treatment and cancer itself.

Different foods can cause different reactions. Let your physician know if you start to suffer from stomach cramps, diarrhea and general upset stomach. Many physicians will recommend low fiber foods. Although this is generally recommended for all patients, it especially helps for those experiencing diarrhea. Though a cancer treatment team will recommend specific diet suggestions, some generally good options during treatment are:
 
· Eggs
· Lean proteins
· Tofu
· Shellfish and fish
· Peanut butter (creamy)

Try to avoid processed foods. Although convenient they will not do any good for the body. Fruits and vegetables with pesticides can do a lot of harm, so try to stick to organically grown produce. 

It is important to remember that a person having treatment for cancer has different nutrition needs than those who are not. A patient’s main goal should be to keep their strength up. Although treatment is designed to kill off the cancer cells it also hurts some of the good cells.

The best time to begin eating healthier is before you begin treatment. This will give your body time to strengthen itself. It is no secret that caner treatment takes its toll on the body. By being proactive you are giving yours the best possible care before treatment begins.

For further information, an excellent resource for nutrition before, during and after cancer treatment is the National Cancer Institute.

--Thank you for all the good information!  In addition to a healthy diet, many people find acupuncture and herbs very helpful in dealing with side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, swelling, and pain.  Similar to the way a healthy diet gives your body the raw materials to heal and stay supported during treatment, herbs can also be integral to support your body through the process of cancer treatment.  What has been your experiences with trying to eat well while undergoing cancer treatments?  What has been your experiences with Chinese Medicine in treating nausea and other side effects?

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I had an interesting tidbit to share about wine.  At a recent educational seminar, the instructor was talking about the heavy metal content in wine.  He claimed that he could tell if the patient was a regular wine drinker by signature levels of certain heavy metals present in a blood test.  After looking into it I found a study from late 2008 that tested heavy metal levels in wines from 15 nations.  You can read the full article here.  

The results showed that, of all 15 nations tested, only 3 countries had wine with safe levels of heavy metals:  Argentina, Italy, and Brazil.   All the other wines tested levels 50-300 times what was considered safe.  The highest contaminations were from vanadium, copper, and manganese.  Manganese accumulation in the brain is apparently linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease. 

Unfortunately, US and Californian wines were not included in the study.  It would be interesting to see the results of further testing, and also to find out the source of the measured heavy metals.

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The big buzz word in nutrition is Antioxidants.  I'm sure you've heard about foods that are high in antioxidants such as chocolate, red wine, and pomegranates.  This study, published in Nutrition Journal, measured the antioxidant content in 3100 foods and herbs. 

Antioxidants are related to prevention of DNA damage, cell repair, prevention of cancer, etc.  Most of the findings in food are already common knowledge, but some were surprising, such as:  espresso, pecans, walnuts.  The berry category also had high levels but included some strange foods - wild dog rose and Indian gooseberry....good luck finding those. 
Spices in order of antioxidant content:  cloves, peppermint, allspice, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, saffron.  ALL spices had very high levels of antioxidants.

The MOST antioxidant-rich category of foods was....herbal/plant medicine!! They studied traditional medicinal herbs from Peru, Japan, India, and Mexico. A formula called Goshuyu-tou (or I think Goshuyuto as it is more commonly referred?) made it on the Best Of list - which is a formula we prescribe in Chinese medicine. 

The authors go on to say that foods like the fruits, nuts, chocolate, and berries have 5-33 more antioxidants than meat.  Chinese herbs, like the spices and other plant-based foods we eat, can have beneficial effects far beyond their basic nutritional value.  Like the life-nourishing effects of a good diet, Chinese herbs can be another avenue to achieve a balanced healthy lifestyle. 


 
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