• Read Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillan; and Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer by Donald R. Yance.
  
  
• Nutrition is vital. Your body wants to be well, but it will need help. 40% of cancer patients die of starvation. Everything you eat must be nutrient dense, and you must avoid sugar. Patrick Quillan has excellent recipes and guidance in his book concerning this issue. Try to keep your foods as organic as possible. Juicing with organic vegetables is recommended.
  
  
• Be your own advocate or get somebody in your family to be your advocate. This is your body, not your physicians. Do your own research and ask your inner voice, “does this feel right to me?” Do not blindly follow recommendations that do not feel good to you or you do not understand. Physicians are gifted human beings, but they are human beings.
  
  
• It is so hard not to be fearful with a cancer diagnosis, but breathe, meditate, find an advocate and take the time to find a doctor you can work with. In 17 states, Naturopathic Physicians are fully licensed and can work with your oncologist to provide you with the latest information and guidance in supporting your health.
  
  
• Increase protein in the form of whey (PaleoMeal by Designs for Health). Cancer patients need to protect against weight loss, since weight loss is the direct cause of death for 40% to 80% of cancer patients. Whey protein selectively harms the cancer, while helping normal cells derive more oxygen.
  
  
• Anti-oxidants - Although anti-oxidants have been the subject of much controversy; Ralph Moss PhD. concludes in his book, “The data supports the idea that dietary anti-oxidants protect against harmful side effects, without interfering with the cancer-killing ability of conventional treatments.”
  Each patient needs:
  
  • Colored foods, such as blueberries, cherries, rose hips, hawthorne berries, should be added to the diet in smoothies, jam (Herbalists and Alchemists blueberry extract) and teas. They stimulate the bodies detoxification process, strengthen the immune system and are powerful anti-oxidants. Blueberries are one of the most potent naturally occurring anti-oxidants.
    
  • The National Cancer Institute recommends that all patients consume 5 servings of anti-oxidant rich foods a day.
    
  • As anti-oxidants, consider green tea, Vitamin E, and CoQ10.
    
• Medicinal Mushrooms (by Ecletic Institute)
  
  • Maitake - inhibits tumor growth for all cancers and has a protective effect on the liver.
    
  • Reishi - offsets negative effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
    
  • Shiitake - tonifies the immune system and is an anti-inflammatory agent against viruses and bacteria.
    
    
• Ashwaganda powder (by Avena Botanicals) - increases immunity, reduces inflammation, quiets anxiety and nervousness.
  
  
• Quercitin (by Vital Nutrients) - derived from the yellow skin of the onion; best taken 1 to 3 grams a day in divided doses. Inhibits cancer growth, assists conventional therapies.
  
  
• Essential fatty acids (GLA by Designs for Health: Artic Cod Liver Oil by Nordic Naturals) - People with hormone sensitive cancers should limit their intake of fat from meat and dairy and instead supplement their diet with unsaturated fats from fish, flax, evening primrose, and borage seed oils.
  
  
• Green Foods (PaleoGreens by Designs for Health) - contains cancer fighting nutrients including calcium, potassium, and many other minerals including iodine. It is difficult to obtain greens even when in good health. Therefore, it’s nearly impossible to consume enough green vegetables when already dealing with decreased appetite and nausea associated with chemotherapy.
  
  
• Ginger and chamomile tea to combat the digestive upset of chemotherapy. We have also blended our own proprietary herb blend called Recovery.
  
  
• Astragulus root (by Vital Nutrients or Professional Solutions) - Strengths immune system; providing deep immunity by increasing white and red blood cells in the bone marrow.
  
  
• AmericanGinseng (by Eclectic Institute) - adaptogenic, which help the body to adjust to stress.
  
  
• When undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, it is important to support bone health with calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. (Cal/Mag Essentials by Megafoods).
  
  
• Consider the role of alternative therapies such as Reiki, energy healing, massage, meditation, t’ai chi and yoga in healing your body.
  
  

Our blessings and prayers as you undertake this journey.