Dr. West, my 58 y/o sister has been dx'd (a little over a year ago) with Stage IV Adenocarcinoma ...her oncologist says it is low grade...well differentiated...oligo....it has not spread outside the lung. It is in the hilar and both lungs.
She had a PE several months after being diagnosed, but seems to have come through that set back quite well. She is on blood thinners taken orally.
In August 2013, she had a cyroablation of nodules in her left lung done in New York by Dr. Charles.
She was on chemo (Alimta). Her onc says she is now in remission and she is taking a chemo break now due to the awful side effects she has suffered.
She has now decided to go on the Budwigg Diet...?? It is a vegetarian diet and also uses Flax oil. She has lost about 30 pounds on this diet. I don't think she has cachexmia (? spelling)...I think she is losing weight on purpose on this diet as she said she feels better thinner. She was tired of being swollen from taking the steroids/chemo.
I am very happy that she has done so well on chemo..but am worried about this diet she is on. The person that gave people this diet died at age 97 and was supposed to have cured 98 percent of her "cancer patients" She was from Germany.
I wanted your input on this. I am afraid for my sister to NOT take chemo; but I do respect her wishes and who am I to say that this won't work...just wondered if you feel a vegetarian diet might cure or help my sister live a lot longer with Stage IV lung cancer?
My sister looks and feels great so far. Thank you.
Reply # - March 18, 2014, 07:20 PM
Reply To: Stage IV Adenocarcinoma
Hi jennyh,
It's good to hear that your sister had a good response to treatment (albeit a rough time with chemo), but her weight loss is concerning. Dr. West has said this about the budwig diet:
"I'll confess that I personally couldn't have less enthusiasm for this and would say that this is not a strategy that is considered to be a remotely valuable pursuit in the more "conventional oncology" community. That may not necessarily sway you, because not everyone is enthralled by the guidance of conventional oncologists, but take it for what it's worth." - http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php?topic=5774.msg38166#msg38166
In that same thread, Dr. Pinder added:
"I would say that I'm pretty cautious about any extreme diets in my cancer patients. Weight loss is often a harbinger of decline and can lead to inability to undergo treatment. I am much more concerned that patients eat a diet that will stabilize or improve their weight and contain sufficient nutrients to keep them as healthy as possible during treatment."
There is a good discussion of dietary recommendations for cancer patients here: http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2010/09/17/dietary-recommendations-fo… and another on vitamins, supplement and juices: http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/files/2009/02/dr-bufi-interview-trans…
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - March 18, 2014, 09:02 PM
Reply To: Stage IV Adenocarcinoma
Her cancer is one that I have a lot of expertise in. It is very likely an extremely indolent one that would be associated with a great outcome no matter what treatment is pursued or not, so it is often the kind associated with miracle outcomes because any ineffective idea will look good when the disease won't progress and the credit is ascribed to the ineffective idea -- whether that's an unnecessary surgery, toxic chemo, or extreme diet.
With the caveat that this is my opinion as a Harvard Medical School trained oncologist, I wish I could convey how dubious I am about the claim that the Budwig diet cures 98% of patients. I wouldn't consider it among the top 10,000 treatments for cancer. I would call it voodoo, but I think that is in insult to voodoo medicine. I think it's closer to a cult of delusion than a legitimate cancer therapy. I would venture to say that most respected cancer experts consider it a cruel joke because there is no actual valid evidence that it helps people, yet people feel incredible false hope about it.
-Dr. West
Reply # - March 19, 2014, 06:25 AM
Reply To: Stage IV Adenocarcinoma
My sister feels good on this vegetarian diet, with organic cottage cheese and flaxseed oil mixed in....I guess there can be nothing wrong with this diet and it is nutritious she says.
I am so confused....vegetables are probably better for her than meat, fats?? I don't know of course.
Reply # - March 19, 2014, 03:35 PM
Reply To: Stage IV Adenocarcinoma
I agree with Dr West and Dr Pinder - the food she is eating has little to do with the occurrence or treatment of lung cancer. Any unnecessary treatment will 'work' 100% of the time. Nonetheless, someone may feel better with a nutritious diet. As long as it is not causing diarrhea, severe weight loss, or depletion of finances, it may be reasonable to continue.