In a previous blog, 4 years ago, I gathered medical reports about forms of diet that recognised medical studies have suggested to have an impact on the survival rate and length of Ovarian Cancer patients. Having done some further research on this topic, I am not suggesting to reject or even replace standard medical treatments, as some do, although elements of what, for example, cancer survivors like journalist and media entrepreneur Evita Ramparte live on are certainly reflective of medical studies (emphasising fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, less red meat etc.). While a positive attitude, not to focus on the cancer, but rather on the rebalancing of one's own life seems vital, one of the important suggestions which seem shared by medical studies is the impact of sports.
One note on Green tea during a therapy with Bortezomib: A study of 2009 found out that patients during this therapy should not dring Green tea because its content (EGCG) could counter-act the therapy - but they can start drinking Green tea again, once the therapy has ended (see N. Quirin, p. 6 below).
There is a variety of Products which are listed amongst those who either help spreading tumors or metastases, others work against inflammation, others stimulate bacteria to support the immun system or help deactivate unhelpful content of other food.
Amongst these are:
whole meal products:
Sour dough bread, whole grain noodles,
whole grain rice, basmati rice
various forms of muesli (oat, millet ...)
vegetables:
legumes (lentils, peas, beans, chick peas, soja beans)
all sorts of greens (sprouts, chinese cabbage, brokoli, cauliflower)
carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, beetroot, spinache
mushrooms (shiitake, champignons, oyster mushroom, king oyster)
fruits
red berries (strawberries, black berries, raspberries, cherries ...)
peach, mango, apricots, pomegranate)
citrus fruits (oranges, mandarines, citron, grapefruit)
herbs
tumeric (mixed with olive oil and black pepper)
curry
peppermint, tyme, marjoram, basil, oregano, rosemary, seleriac, parsley
garlic, onions, leek
cinnamon, ginger
nuts
walnuts, hazelnuts, pecan nuts, almonds
fish and meat
salmon, small macrels, sardines, tuna (even in the tin)
meat from free range, free range eggs (from time to time)
Drinks
water with lemon juice, tyme, orange peal or zest
green tea (see note on Bortezomib therapy), especially Sencha
ginger on hot water
1 glass of red wine with a meal (from time to time)
Sweets
dark chocolate (70%)
- Elisa V. Bandera, Lawrence H.
Kushi and Lorna Rodriguez-Rodriguez
published another interesting article on ‘Nutritional Factors in Ovarian Cancer
Survival’ in the journal Nutrition and
Cancer 61/5 (2009): 580-586.
First they show that relatively little research has been done in this area and
they mention the following studies:
In an important study and report on ‘nutrition during and after Cancer
therapy’, Stephanie Barrera and Wendy Demark-Wahnefried published in Oncology (Williston Park) 23 (2009 Feb) (2 Suppl): 15–21, found
out that ‘diet and nutritional factors play a large role in
influencing both the quality and quantity of life after the diagnosis of
cancer. The oncology nurse is well-positioned to: 1) oversee that the
nutritional needs of patients who are newly-diagnosed, undergoing active
treatment, or those with advanced disease are met; 2) facilitate referrals of
patients with more intensive nutritional needs to registered dietitians; and 3)
promote the importance of weight management and a healthful plant-based diet,
low in saturated fat and simple sugars, and high in fruits and vegetables and
unrefined whole grains, to patients who are likely to join the ranks of
ever-expanding population of cancer survivors who now constitute roughly 4% of
the U.S. population and who number over 11 million’. In more detail, they show
that ‘Current guidelines advocate a modest rate of weight loss (no more than
two pounds per week) during the time of treatment among patients who are
overweight or obese, as long as it meets with oncologist approval. Guidelines
established for weight management in the general population should be applied
to cancer survivors, and should include not only caloric restriction and
increased energy expenditure through exercise, but also behavior therapy. While
modest rates of weight loss can be achieved by portion control and by
substituting low-energy density foods (e.g., water-rich vegetables, fruits,
whole grains, and broth-based soups) for foods that are higher in calories,
more structured and intensive programs that include exercise and promote energy
deficits of up to 1,000 calories/day may yield better results. Previous studies
have found exercise to be a strong predictor of weight loss among cancer
survivors. Accumulating evidence also suggests that physical activity may
independently affect the course of colorectal and breast cancer, and also
affects the risk of secondary cancers at each of these sites, as well as for
endometrial cancers.’
One note on Green tea during a therapy with Bortezomib: A study of 2009 found out that patients during this therapy should not dring Green tea because its content (EGCG) could counter-act the therapy - but they can start drinking Green tea again, once the therapy has ended (see N. Quirin, p. 6 below).
There is a variety of Products which are listed amongst those who either help spreading tumors or metastases, others work against inflammation, others stimulate bacteria to support the immun system or help deactivate unhelpful content of other food.
Amongst these are:
whole meal products:
Sour dough bread, whole grain noodles,
whole grain rice, basmati rice
various forms of muesli (oat, millet ...)
Further resources on dietary recommendations:
Nicole Quirin, Ernährung bei Krebserkrankungen (s.l., 2011).
Nicole Quirin, Ernährung bei Krebserkrankungen (s.l., 2011).
Resource links for dietary
recommendations
American Heart Association
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American Diabetes Association
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American Dietetic Association
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Caring 4Cancer
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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American Institute for Cancer Research
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National Institute of Health, National Heart Lung
and Blood Institute
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Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative
Medicine
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Yang , L , Klint , A , Lambe , M , Bellocco , R Riman , T
. 2008. Predictors of ovarian cancer survival: a population-based prospective
study in Sweden. Int J Cancer, 123: 672–679.
-
Nagle , C M , Purdie , D M , Webb , P M , Green , A
Harvey , P W . 2003. Dietary influences on survival after ovarian cancer. Int
J Cancer, 106: 264–269.
-
Zhang
, M , Lee , A H , Binns , C W and Xie , X . 2004. Green tea consumption
enhances survival of epithelial ovarian cancer. Int J Cancer, 112:
465–469.
The main focus,
then of this article is on the BMI (Body Mass Index) with its evaluation of the
impact of obesity on stage of disease at diagnosis, as well as its effect on
survival: ‘Survival analyses need to include important covariates, such as age,
stage, grade, histologic type, presence of ascites, and treatment information.
Of relevance is not just weight or BMI prediagnosis or at the time of diagnosis
but also during and after treatment’. Again, there are only a limited number of
studies to have dealt with this issue that filtered into the above mentioned
guidelines.
More, however has
been done on physical activity and ovarian cancer survivors, although most
older studies deal with physical activity and cancer prevention and much more
research needs to be done on this topic. Yet, recently an important study appeared
as hard copy and ebook on physical activity and cancer with a special chapter
by Karen M. Gil (et al.) on ‘Physical Activity and Gynecologic Cancer
Survivorship’ (pp. 305-15). The chapter concludes that, although, physical
activity improves life’s quality, the impact on overall survival has not been
established yet and needs further research.
Similar
results can be found in the study by Vivian E. von Gruenigen, Heidi E. Frasure,
Mary Beth Kavanagh, Edith Lerner, Steven E. Waggoner and Kerry S. Courneya who have
published their study on
'Feasibility of a lifestyle intervention for ovarian
cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy’, Gynecologic Oncology 122/2 (2011): 328-33.
The result of their study was that with 27 patients enrolled there was a ‘moderate to strenuous
physical activity’ which ‘was correlated with higher physical well-being during
chemotherapy’. And they conclude that ‘Lifestyle counseling during adjuvant
chemotherapy for ovarian cancer is feasible and may improve physical activity
and diet quality’. To learn more, they suggest further trials.
Likewise, Stevinson, Clare PhD*; Steed, Helen MD†;
Faught, Wylam MD†; Tonkin, Katia MD‡; Vallance, Jeffrey K. PhD*; Ladha, Aliya
B. MSc*; Schepansky, Alexandra MD†; Capstick, Valerie MD†; Courneya, Kerry S.
PhD*, looked at ‘Physical Activity in Ovarian
Cancer Survivors: Associations With Fatigue, Sleep, and Psychosocial
Functioning’, International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 19/1 (2009): 73-78
and found out that ‘Ovarian cancer survivors who were meeting physical
activity guidelines reported more favorable outcomes of fatigue, peripheral
neuropathy, sleep, and psychosocial functioning.’
Already before a
similar team, Clare Stevinson et al., ‘Associations between physical activity and quality
of life in ovarian cancer survivors’, Gynecologic Oncology 106/1 (2007): 244–50, to find out that ‘few
ovarian cancer survivors are meeting public health physical activity
guidelines, but those that are meeting guidelines report significantly and
meaningfully better quality of life. Clinical trials investigating the causal
effects of physical activity on quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors are
warranted’.
