Radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy generate free radicals that eradicate cancer cells. Recent studies show that supplementing with high doses of antioxidants could neutralize these free radicals, thereby reducing the efficacy of treatments. We strongly advise against taking such supplements during treatment. However, food does not contain enough antioxidants to interfere with chemotherapy. In addition, plant-based foods are not just a source of antioxidants. They are also rich in a variety of anticancer molecules that could interfere with processes that trigger the onset of cancer.

If you’re in a panic from being diagnosed with cancer, your first course of action is to trust and strictly comply with your doctor’s advice. Doctors are highly qualified professionals in their field of expertise and they possess the required insight to select treatments appropriate to your condition.

The nutritional approach for cancer basically focuses on prevention rather than cure, because no single scientific study has been able to demonstrate that food can eradicate an existing cancer. However, eating well does lend a number of benefits for cancer patients: it can help maintain immune function, reduce inflammation, fight fatigue, remain positive, etc.

Furthermore, we can’t exclude the possibility that certain food combinations rich in anticancer molecules could also impact tumor growth, thereby slowing their progression, especially during remission. Although this remains to be proven, there are no contraindications if you add such foods to your daily diet because they contain nutrients essential to health without producing side effects. In other words, don’t bet your life on them, but you have nothing to lose when it comes to fighting cancer using every weapon available to you. With this in mind, the foods listed in our books offer a good starting point for people looking to change their eating habits and include vegetables rich in anticancer phytochemicals in their daily diet.

To reduce the risk of relapse, cancer survivors must adopt an optimally balanced lifestyle combining healthy eating and regular exercise. In its latest report, the World Cancer Research Fund listed 8 recommendations:

1. Keep your weight low within the healthy range, i.e. a body mass index ranging from 21 to 23.
2. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. Regular exercise positively impacts your general health, while reducing fatigue, anxiety and depression that often afflicts cancer survivors.
3. Avoid soft drinks and high-energy foods with high concentrations of sugar and fat (fast food).
4. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole-grain foods. We recommend 5 to 10 portions of fruit and vegetables, specifically those containing high concentrations of anticancer molecules (cauliflower and garlic, berries, green tea, turmeric, red wine, algae, mushrooms, probiotics). These foods could play a key role in secondary prevention by interfering with the growth of tumors that survived the cancer treatment.
5. Cut down on red meat (beef, lamb, pork) by reducing your intake to 500 g per week and replace them with fish (ideally omega-3 rich fatty fish), eggs or plant proteins. In addition, completely eliminate deli foods because they significantly increase the risk of cancer.
6. As for alcohol, opt for red wine and limit your consumption to 2 glasses for men and 1 glass for women.
7. Limit your intake of products preserved in salt (cured fish for example) as well as foods with high salt content.
8. Do not ingest supplements or other natural products to prevent cancer relapse.

Websites touting so-called effective cancer treatments are in fact legion (supplements, diets, etc.). Always be wary of remedies that all too often prey on the hardships of patients and their loved ones. Their solutions have not been scientifically tested and their efficacy remains to be proven. Keep in mind that oncologists are dedicated to saving as many lives as possible and the methods used in hospitals reflect the latest and most effective treatments known to science.