Making Changes to Diet and Lifestyle

We often read how important diet can be to contribute to a healthier life, and this can become even more relevant after being diagnosed with cancer. I can honestly say that before my diagnosis, the importance of what food I consumed was not a significant factor I considered.

I tried my best to eat healthily, or at least my wife did, because if left up to me, my choice would be the fastest and most convenient way to refuel, with barely a thought on what the consequences may be to my health.

Trying to help my body fight the cancer

Fortunately, what came with my diagnosis followed by several recurrences is a realization that I must try to help my body fight off the cancer. My medical team is doing what they can on the clinical side, so I've taken to supporting their efforts with a complete overhaul of my lifestyle and diet.

Why is this important? I was informed early in my diagnosis through my oncologist that specific dietary components or nutrients can be associated with increases or decreases in cancer risk.¹

I didn't really pay too much attention to this statement at the time, because I felt my diet was acceptable, and I didn't expect to be still fighting off tumors eighteen months down the road. I have put together below what I've been doing to help beat my cancer. I'm not one hundred percent clear on how effective my lifestyle & dietary changes will be, but here are some areas I've looked at.

Smoking

If, as mentioned by my oncologist some time ago, approximately one third of cancer cases are estimated to be linked to dietary and other lifestyle risk factors, it is in no comparison to a study in 2011 that found smoking causes about half of all bladder cancers in both men and women.^2,3

So, with these findings, it's without a doubt that giving up smoking might be at the top of our to-do list. I smoked for many years from a young age, and ironically, I gave up some years before being diagnosed, which evidently may have been too late! I am also completely aware that even alongside the facts given here, smoking is never an easy thing to quit.

Nicotine is one of the most potent drugs found in nature, and because of this fact, we need to look at the challenge of quitting smoking as a big deal as beating cancer.

Exercise

It doesn't work for everybody, but there are several key benefits to exercising while living with cancer. The World Health Organization states that any type of physical activity can reduce the risk of various types of cancer and is fundamental to increasing energy, balance, and weight control.⁴

It's been noted across studies that strong evidence exists in support of exercise in oncology settings, especially for advanced cancers. Exercise interventions for patients with advanced cancer appear to be effective in improving physical function, quality of life, fatigue, body composition, and sleep quality.⁵

I ignored the blood in my urine for well over a year before being diagnosed. The lead consultant from my medical team told me that I would most likely have lost my bladder if it had not been for the fact that I exercised regularly. Cancer loves peace and quiet, and by doing some physical activity, we are able to help disrupt its development.

Alcohol consumption

This may be a surprise to some readers regarding the relationship between alcohol and bladder cancer. There have been several different studies carried out to detect whether alcohol is linked to bladder cancer.

To date, no study has concluded that alcohol is a contributing factor.

There is a case, however, for how much alcohol we should or should not consume when in treatment. Alcohol can undoubtedly hurt your therapy by contributing to and worsening side effects. It's advised to discuss your alcohol use with your physician or healthcare team to determine what amount, if any, is acceptable for your treatment plan.

Red and processed meat

Now, I'm a great lover of meats, but we've been told that we should not eat large amounts of red meat (beef, lamb, and pork), not only because they contain enormous amounts of calories in the form of fat that contribute to excess weight, but because increased consumption potentially increases the risk of developing cancer.

The World Health Organization has classified processed meats, including ham, bacon, salami, and frankfurts, as a Group 1 carcinogen (known to cause cancer), which means that there's strong evidence that processed meats cause cancer.⁶

This then gives red and processed meat the same ranking as cigarettes, alcohol, asbestos, and several radioactive substances! However, the flip side to this is the fact that we cannot avoid processed food altogether. The advice given by the WHO is to cut back on these foods and choose products without a lot of sodium, added sugars, and unhealthy fats.

Making a lifestyle change to reduce processed meat consumption will be very difficult for many and almost impossible for some, which leads us to some common advice, which is that some red meat can have a place in a healthy diet as long as you are mindful of the type and portion size.

Plant-based foods

The phrase "you are what you eat" always comes to mind when I think about what foods to consume. Quite a while before my diagnosis in 2016, we were being told to make sure we consumed our 'five a day,' which consists of 5 fruits and vegetables each day.

The University of Michigan, Rogel Cancer Centre states that in terms of cancer prevention, the nutrients found in plant-based foods — including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber — have been shown to reduce the risk of several types of cancer.⁷

The benefit of eating more plant-based foods is due to phytochemicals. Fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods contain phytochemicals. Phytochemicals can protect your cells from damage caused by environmental toxins and the body's natural metabolic processes.⁸

Doing all I can to fight off cancer

The above five areas have been adapted into my life, purely out of the circumstances I find myself in today. There is nothing within this lifestyle & dietary choice that guarantees success.

Cancer is a stubborn disease and too often deadly. So, I must do all I can to fight off this predator and use whatever I can at my disposal to protect myself. The foods we eat, alongside the toxins we are exposed to, undoubtedly can have significant consequences on our health and wellbeing.

My thinking is this: by changing my lifestyle and diet, the best-case scenario is that I become cancer-free. The worst-case scenario is that I live a healthier existence. Either way for me, it's a win, win.