Eat to beat

Hi I have had a 10 year battle with melanoma and at moment seem to be winning. I was told to have a varied diet as the it is better to have a wide variety of bacteria in the gut. I follow a Mediterranean style diet with plenty of fish,olive oil,lean chicken,fruit and vegetables. I don’t deny myself cake on occasions . I also drink wine mainly on a weekend. I was told to avoid probiotics as they limit gut bacteria 

I also was told to avoid antibiotics if at all possible. I eat berries with my breakfast and lunch. I firmly believe in getting outside in the fresh air walking.as this is good exercise but also relieves stress. Hope this helps and good luck with your treatment.

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I’ve really upped my time outside as going for walks twice a day now as with lockdown working from home has made me stew much more and walking in the countryside has really helped. I think that the Mediterranean diet looks much more ‘me’ and easier to follow as well but I’ll do whatever it takes to beat this thing - even if it’s eating gruel three times a day for the rest of my life. I’ve cut out all alcohol due to its sugar content (despite feeling like a glass every now and again would help the mental side of coping-think I’ll adjust and possibly have one occasionally as I come to terms with it). What berries do you eat as aware some are laden with sugar? 

thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Means a lot 

any other help welcome from anyone 

Hi Sadsac,

At the annual melanoma patients conference last year an NHS specialists spoke about the question of diet in relation to melanoma. The substance of the talk was as you might expect, eat fresh, heathy food in a wide variety wherever possible, follow your instincts, and also eat to enjoy, as mental well being is really important to good health too. I'm not sure, but that might mean eating gruel three times a day isn't going to be on menu -at least not mine!  The only really reccomended thing was vitamin D as it helps to boost your immune system. I asked my oncologist & cancer doctors about diet they have said the same, with varying degrees of enthusiasm about vit D supplements.  I decided to take it in pill form -particularly throughout the winter due to the lack of sunshine.

You may find that your doctors will put you onto immunotherapy at some point, and these treatments can change what you will find best to eat due to odd side effects (they vary from one person to another).  I'm sure they will give you great guidance on all that if the time comes.

I hope that helps even if its just a little, and if you find out anything else post it up and I'll be interested to read it.

Take care

J

Thanks J. I think I might have seen something along those lines on a YouTube if it was a Professor from Leeds I think. Makes sense I agree. It’s still v early and I’m adjusting to it. After the 1B diagnosis I read Jane McLelland’s “How to Starve Cancer” and she recommended a long list of supplements (to suppress the ability for the Cancer to get energy), as well as the Care Oncology Clinic to block its energy sources as well as to eat a low GI diet. Might be worth a read for you 

I eat blueberries,blackberries,strawberries and raspberries. I do also think a positive attitude helps but I realise that is hard to achieve especially in these difficult times. My dad used to say there is always someone worse of than you and I tend to think that way. I get enough vitamin D naturally in the Summer but might consider taking a supplement in the Winter. Personally I myself wouldn’t go down the route of filling myself with a cocktail of vitamins but try to do it naturally by eating well. Just my view. Try to look after your mental health. I did yoga from u tube during lockdown but now tend to get out more. Take care 

I’m going to give yoga a go as the nights shorten like you at the moment I’m getting enough hopefully from outside. Think I’m going to take VitD as nhs recommend everyone does nov to April and esp for us. Thanks for the berry advice. 
there is always someone worse off than you I completely agree. 
take care