Hi Jacki,

So glad to hear that Julian's chimera results are 100%!!!

As far as your question regarding diet, I must admit, I am very curious to see what others post. I have posted questions specific to aspertam becuase since AML, my diet pepsi addiction has returned. Cliff and my med team tell me there is no proff of a correlation between artifical sweetener and cancer.

Also, I asked about sugar and my ONC who has 35 years specilizing in Acute Luekemia scoffed. He said ALL cells feed on sugar. without sugar either consumed directly or generated in our bodies, our bodies would die.

After nearly two years battleling AML and taking a keen interest in my contemporaries in hospital and on this support group, I have observed the following. The proponderence of people struck by this decease are healthier than the average and certainly younder than the average of 70. The only 73 year old I know is Larrissa who as bee a vegan all her life and was told ny her med team she had the body of a 50 year old.

My med team has assured me time and time again because I ask allot, due to my three daughters, this is not inheritied. It is environmentally caused primarily by benzine exposure. Not everyone exposed will get cancer but some of us are more sensitive or had the right trgger at the right time-no one really knows.

Now don't get me wrong, I believe in eating healthy and exercizing. In fact, I have done cardio at least five days a week sinse I was 21 I have slacked off latley) and I eat all frusits and veggies and get most of my protein from supplements and bean vice a ton of meat. I certainly would consider my self, prior to AML, living a healthy lifestyle. Again, most of my contemporaries are the same. Look at our recent addition who is 37 and in the top ten world wide in triathetes.

I personally think whole natural foods are best but I love ice cream and diet pepsi. I cut all artifical sweetners from my diet five years before DX and my ONC said it made no difference. In fact, in Europe they are looking at the link of leukemia and pesticides becuase so many vegans are dxd there. Even organic vegs have been found with trace pesticides. I'm not trying to be a downer or lasafare with my health. All I now is all my ladult ife, for whatever reason, I have had a strange fasination with cancer and its causes even though until my Father who smoked for over 70 years got lung cancer, there was none in my family. There are staticitics that show people who are taller than average are more prown to cancer, people who expereince puberty early are more prown, these are on the american cancer society site.

For me, I beleive I lived in constant fear of cancer. When it happened, a part of that fear was destroyed because what I feared most happened, and I lived. And I did not get an easy ancer like I thoguht I woud like breast I say this in jest of course). I got Luekemia!!!! I believe, for me, AML changed me in so many ways for the better. Most importantly, my relationshp with my creator-Almighty God. I called myself a born again Christian for 23 years prior to AML but I really surrendered it ALL to God on that day. My biggest fear was realized, and amighty GOD showed me grace, mercy and love beyond anything I deserve.

So srry to take your question down this rabbit hole but for me your question is connected to the cause becuase we are trying to keep it at bay. If cutting sugar and grain from our diet will keep it away, why didn;t that work for those out there who got it in the first place. IMHO, all things in moderation. And try everyday to show God's love to the world.

Below is a link on some of the beliefs diet's connection to cancer-debunked:


http://www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/cancer-information/cancer-topics/prevention-and-screening/food/cancersugar.html

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-causes/art-20044714

http://www.livescience.com/40677-suzanne-somers-health-advice-wrong.html

As usual Julie, I'm with you .If somehow given the choice to have not been inflicted with this disease I wouldn't take it. Of course Julian is a totally different instance, no child or parent should ever have to go through this. As far as diet goes give the little guy what he likes. At least till he gets back his normal appetite again. My docs keep telling me eat whatever you like. And when the appetite returns go to a normal healthy diet. It didn't seem like any of the docs had much use for vegan or paleo type diets to me. My sister in law brought me a book when I was in the hospital called the China Diet ( I think). My doctor saw it and laughed. She told me the most important part of eating right was common sense. Everything in moderation.

Praying for Julians' complete cure.

DaveJ

DaveJ,

I agree with you 100%. I think that following a heart-healthy diet is the most important regimen of all. That means low fat, low salt, lots of fluid, salads and vegetables, and healthy oils (olive, canola etc.). Essentially, if we follow the Mediterranean diet, we are in good shape. I am not a sweet eater, but I think that the major issue with sugars are that the excess is stored as body fat leading to obesity and such maladies as diabetes and heart disease. I don't think there is anything wrong with ice cream in moderation, with the understanding that most ice creams are laden with fat. Moderation is key and we should all be exercising daily to our individual capacities. I know that we all lost a good deal of muscle mass during our AML treatments. The goal is to build lean muscle through the intake of healthy protein foods (chicken, turkey, occasional red meat) and to keep physicially active.

For decades, researchers have tried to label coffee as a negative beverage. Much to their dismay, study after study have shown that coffee consumption is good for physical and mental health. There are no studies linking Neutrasweet with cancer. I have to admit that diet Pepsi is my favorite drink. I should mention, however, that carbonated beverages should be consumed in moderation, because the acidic pH of these drinks promote bone demineralization. AML chemotherapy, especially when coupled with total body irradiation, is not good for the bones, although the initial 12% bone loss is regained to a large degree with exercise and Calcium/Vit D intake. Everyone on DS should have an idea of where their Vit D levels stand. 30 is a minimum, but we should all try to have levels around 50, which generally means oral supplementation. I take one Citrical twice a day as well as Vitamin D. A dose of Vit D, starting at about 1000 IU would be good, with dose increases depending on the blood levels measured by your doctors.

I want to wish all of you the best of health in 2015. There will be ups and downs as we all continue to travel the road. For most of us, the road will straighten out with time.

XO
Cliff

Thankful to hear that Julian is doing well and thank you Jacki for posting the diet questions.

During this past hospital stay, my brother decided to entirely change his diet to a no carb ( no white rice or flour), no processed sugar, no meat diet. I am not too happy with all this because since he's already lost so much weight that the diet change will cause him to lose more weight.

I thank Julie for the link with MD Anderson and sugars because he feels that processed sugars stimulate the cancer cells. He has a friend with a different cancer more than a decade out who fasts one day a week.

I agree with Dave and everything in moderation!