Nutrition in Cancer Prevention & Treatment

Created by: Cameron Segura RD

Today it is estimated that cancerous tumors may start in our early 20s and
progress through adulthood until later diagnosed in our 50s.Cancer is the 2nd
leading cause of death in America. Tumor progression may persist through
hundreds of different genes being modified by lifestyle (diet/exercise) in order to
change a healthy cell into a cancerous one. This review provides the scientific
evidence that diet plays a major role in the progression of cancer.

2 servings of nuts/week may protect against pancreatic cancer-British journal
of cancer, 2013
Which nuts fight cancer better? Walnuts, Pecans, & peanuts- decreased
human liver cancer & colon cancer cell proliferation British Journal of cancer,
2013
A follow up of the nurses health study involving the daughters (The Growing
Up Study) showed that those who consumed peanut butter, nuts, lentils, corn
found to have a fraction of the risk for fibrocystic breast disease (increases
risk of breast cancer) Breast Cancer Research Treatment, 2013
Those eating one or more apples a day had less colon, breast, oral, larynx,
kidney, & ovarian cancer. Planta medicine review, 2008.
Curcumin found to sensitize tumor necrosis factors and up regulate death
receptors of cancer cells. Carcinogenesis journal, 2005.
Higher intake of soluble fiber was associated with a significantly reduced risk
of breast cancer, 62 % lower chance. European journal of nutrition, 2012.
Positive association between breast cancer risk and saturated fat intake in
postmenopausal women. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1990.
25 men with prostate cancer awaiting prostatectomy were given 3
tablespoons of flaxseed/day 1 month before surgery; researchers found lower
proliferation rates and higher rates of cancer cell death. Urology, 2004.
Meta-analysis showed that those who have the highest consumption of coffee
compared with those who drink no coffee had a 50% reduction in liver cancer
risk. Gastroenterology, 2013

 Compounds found in broccoli have inhibitory effects on several types of

cancer cells growth, including leukemia, prostate, breast, cervical, lung and
colorectal cancer, and shown to decrease metastasis. BMC Cancer, 2010
Diets that revolve around whole plant foods-vegetables, fruits, whole grains,
& beans, cut the risks of both cancer and chronic disease. American Institute
for Cancer Research.
The combined effect of moderate and/or vigorous intensity physical activity,
low consumption of fat, processed foods, refined cereals, complex sugars,
and more fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes showed a 95% protective rate in
postmenopausal women for breast cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology,
2007.
Red wine may serve as a nutritional, aromatase inhibitor, which has been
associated with elevated breast cancer risk associated with alcohol intake.
Journal of Womens Health, 2011.
After 6 months of eating freeze dried strawberries in 36 patients with precancerous lesions of the esophagus (esophageal caner prognosis is very
poor, 10-13 % survival rate >5 years) 29 treated with 60 grams of strawberry
powder daily experienced a decrease in histologic grade of the precancerous
lesions. Cancer regressed from moderate to mild and from mild to completely
absent. At the end of the study 52% of the patients walked away
disease/cancer free. American Association for Cancer Research, 2012.
Epidemiologic evidence suggests that a diet rich in plant-based, high fiber,
low fat foods can provide protection against barrettes esophagus and
esophageal adenocarcinoma. International Journal of Cancer, 2011.
Americans are diagnosed with 8-14 times the rate of melanoma, 10-11 times
more colorectal cancer, 9 times more endometrial cancer, 7 -17 times more
lung cancer, 7-8 times more bladder cancer, 5 times more breast cancer, 9-12
times more kidney cancer. U.S. men get 23 x the rate of prostate cancer than
men in India. Why is this happening, what is different about the American
diets? Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer, 2011.
Smoking cessation, consumption of diets rich in fruits and vegetables,
avoidance of excessive sun exposure, and exercise can prevent the majority
of cancers. Unfortunately, these simple lifestyle changes remain elusive in a
majority of the population; as a result, each year hundreds of thousands of
Americans develop metastatic cancer. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 2012.
Methoinine may need to be restricted in cancer growth. Methoinine
restriction in cancer can be achieved eating a predominantly vegan diet. Why
is this not being implemented in cancer preventative measures? Despite
many promising preclinical and clinical studies, dietary methionine

restriction and other dietary approaches to cancer treatment have not yet
gained wide spread clinical application, most clinicians and investigators are
unfamiliar with nutritional approaches to cancer. Journal of the American
College of Nutrition, 2001.