If I got cancer, I would do 3 things:
- Be really, really ticked off because I’ve spent so much time trying to be healthy that I’d feel like it was a personal insult. (I know there’s absolutely nothing we can do to bulletproof ourselves from disease and that bad things happen in a fallen world, and eventually I’d accept it as a cross to bear, but feelings don’t have to be rational all the time, right?!)
- Quit eating sugar 100%, immediately.
- Dive into research like a maniac to figure out exactly what else I should eat and do to live more years to parent my children!
That’s pretty much what I did 18 months ago when my dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and since there’s so much about cancer floating around this month, I was reading my posts from that time again to see what I wanted to re-share on my Facebook page.
It’s surreal, remembering the process of shock, denial, grief, acceptance, and then passionate pursuit of knowledge.
It seems like forever ago, another lifetime, another person even.
But the posts are packed with good information and good conversation, so I decided I should send them all back out again – because who knows which of my readers’ parents, spouses, siblings, children or loved ones (or selves) have gotten the C-word diagnosis in the last year. They need to see these posts.
Starting with sugar, because it’s so darn controversial.
I first discussed the idea of “sugar feeds cancer” – which is very prevalent in the natural health world – in this post about the Best Foods for Cancer Patients.
In that one you’ll read all the recommendations I made for my dad, including a free downloadable printable list, and how it went when I presented it to him and my mom.
Then I talked with the doctor – he pretty much disagreed with or poo-pooed everything I had to say, and I found myself disagreeing with him, as illogical as that might sound at first. You can read about what he says about cancer and sugar too:
“Cancer is like a blood-sucking parasite. It doesn’t care what it consumes and has no preferences one way or the other. Even if the patient is starving, the cancer will keep going.
If we could starve cancer by starving the patient, believe me, that would become the protocol – but it doesn’t work.”
I was reading this post the other day about the sugar-cancer connection, and when I shared it on Facebook, people had lots to say! From those who argued that all sweets, no matter the source (white sugar, natural sugars, fruit sugars) are equally evil, to those who just wanted to know what natural sweeteners to use, to those who disagreed that sugar feeds cancer at all, like this gal:
Cancer is an opportunist. It will steal from the body whatever nutrients come its way. It pirates healthy cells and has them build its own circulatory system, so, as my doctor told me when I asked “why–I have a great diet?” “Healthy diet, healthy cancer.”
Often these articles talk about sugar being used in Pet Scans as proof cancer is a sugar eater. The reason glucose is used is because the body absorbs glucose the fastest, which is why it causes weight gain.
Since cancer feeds itself first, slowly robbing the body of nutrients, it absorbs the glucose first. No doubt our lifestyle has changed over the last few centuries. Our thumbs do more work than our biceps these days.
Cancer can be fueled by higher estrogen levels found when people are overweight, a condition high sugar consumption often creates. The only way we will slay the cancer beast is by understanding the facts.
Good nutrition makes scientific sense. We don’t need to weaken the case with inaccurate facts. Nourish our bodies with good food and our minds with good information.
Some research rings in from various angles:
- Sweetened beverages definitely increase risk for weight gain, and THAT is an increased risk for some cancers. (source)
- Mole rats never get cancer – unless you mess with their large sugars (and small sugars can promote cancer) – says this National Geographic article. No wonder it’s so confusing!
- This professor tells the World Health Organization that sugar, added sugar, not fruit sugars, is under the gun – and that because it causes obesity, it is linked to certain cancers. But no one is confirming that sugar actually feeds cancer that is already there…
It’s tricky in my mind. Sugar may not directly feed cancer – but if it suppresses your immune system, causes weight gain, and does absolutely no good for your body – isn’t it better to cut it out if you’re fighting cancer? (And, um, all the time, except that dark chocolate just tastes so darn good?!?)
What do you think of this article?
I certainly didn’t include any sweeteners in the two recipes I developed just for Dad based on my research, and they didn’t need it:
Cancer-Fighting Red Cabbage Slaw Salad
After I found out my dad had cancer, I did a lot of research to help him fight cancer with food. I collated all the information I found, the research-based and the slightly off-the-wall, into a few lists of foods to eat often, sometimes, hardly ever and hopefully never.
I printed out a list for my parents, and I’ve created a PDF for you to print, too.
Cancer-Fighting Asian Soup
Finally, I did buy organics for my dad as much as possible, and here’s why.
And we created a special regimen to help him weather the effects of chemo, and let me tell you – he kicked butt. He hardly slowed down one bit, and now, a year and four months cancer free (after bladder removal surgery), he is still working 6 days a week, going to church, volunteering at the local nursing home – and he’s 77 years old. Dang.
And seriously – anyone know someone who might want to buy a car dealership in northern Michigan? We’d all like him to be able to retire soon and enjoy his grandkids more often!
If you’re worried about cancer hitting your family, I’d love to say that you shouldn’t worry – and if you’re a believer in God, you shouldn’t. Worry, that is.
But it might be valid to be concerned, or to be realistic about the fact that predictions vary from 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 – that’s people who will get cancer in their lifetimes. 
That’s a lot of people.
If you’re curious about the risk factors in your own life, I thought this 13-question (super quick!) quiz was a valuable minute of my life: TAKE THE QUIZ HERE.
My results ended up very encouraging, even though I was honest about my sweet tooth! 
Read all the Kitchen Stewardship posts related to cancer HERE.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links to The Truth About Cancer summit in this post.
Sue says
In The Truth about Cancer documentary series, it explains the difference in sugars like this:
Apparently sugar molecules spin either to the left or the right, cancer cells can only utilize sugar that spins to the right, and healthy cells only the sugars that spin to the left. Natural sugars such as whole fruits, raw honey, blackstrap molasses all spin to the left are healthy sugars. Processed sugars and sugars from processed foods spin to the right are unhealthy. God-made=healthy; Man-made=unhealthy
The Quest for the Cures: The Truth about Cancer is going to be free online again beginning October 13. I’ve learned so much about cancer from watching this series and am not afraid of it anymore. This series will empower you in so many ways: how to find the safest (no radiation) tests to see if you have cancer, how to prevent cancer (diet, lifestyle, & mindset), treat cancer (mostly with diet and getting rid of stress) and thrive (most people come out healthier when they see how their diet & lifestyle has made them sick). For me, the most difficult part of cancer, and the most controversial one, is convincing others that the conventional treatments for cancer just does not work long term, and the holistic treatments work best when you haven’t done the conventional treatments. I see so many people needlessly go through barbaric treatments (chemo, radiation, even surgery) which sometimes kills them or makes the cancer stem cells come back later even stronger.
As you can tell, I highly recommend it! Here’s the link to the series:
http://links.mp2201.com/a/144/click/416178/32366475/320a99cdcb1e899109e94f6b1780ef5a35481a2b/bbae747a5abf0cb5a8d997eb39e88c0fcd0428f2
I bought the DVD series & transcripts so I get emails and they sent a personal link (above)for me to share but if you’d rather go straight to the website, here’s the website: http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/
God bless!
Debbie says
Love this post and shared it with my cousin who was battling cancer last year when you first shared this information. She has since gone to her real home and is cancer free! (Although we who are left miss her terribly.) I’d also like to say that it wasn’t just her “belief in God” that saved her but her belief that Jesus took the penalty for her sins and rose to giver her eternal life! She lived in this truth everyday and was such an example to everyone! And she really enjoyed your blog! Thanks for reposting this. I hope it helps someone!
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Debbie,
What a touching way to describe your cousin leaving this earthly home – I did a little doubletake realizing what you meant, and I’m sorry for the space she has left here but joyful for her soul in Heaven!!
God bless you,
Katie
Carrie says
Katie, thank you so much. My sister was just recently diagnosed with breast cancer. My mom and I have been discussing this very thing. I agree with you Katie that sugar must feed it to some degree, so I really do appreciate all the time and effort you put into researching this and sharing with all of us! May God continue to bless your efforts!
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Carrie – God bless you all as you bond together and fight this thing! –Katie