Fasting around chemo

Have had six rounds of chemo - I didn't fast and I don't think it would have helped...I was encouraged all along the way to eat whatever and whenever. x

Hi Luce,

I did include fasting as part of my cancer treatment, but only after taking professional advice to make sure it was the right approach for me.

I also did a lot of my own research into lifestyle and nutrition because I wanted to prepare both my body and mind before starting chemotherapy and stay as strong as possible throughout treatment and surgery. (I was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer.)

I was incredibly fortunate to work with an experienced nutritionist, so I really can't stress enough how important it is to seek professional guidance. What worked for me won't necessarily work for someone else, but I do think it's worth exploring carefully rather than making any hasty changes—you already have so much to process.

One of the most helpful resources I found was "The Ketogenic Kitchen" by Domini Kemp and Patricia Daly. Both authors have experienced cancer themselves, and I found their recipes and meal plans invaluable during chemotherapy, when thinking about food was often the last thing I wanted to do.

I was familiar with intermittent fasting (12–16 hours) before my diagnosis, so it wasn't new to me. With my nutritionist's guidance, I timed my fasting around my chemotherapy treatments, then made sure I re fuelled afterwards with nutrient-dense foods, good-quality proteins and healthy fats. That balance became an important part of my treatment plan.

I can honestly say I never felt sick, I always had a reasonable appetite, my sugar cravings disappeared and, perhaps most surprisingly, I maintained good energy and mental focus for much of my treatment. I did experience fatigue, weight loss and, despite using the cold cap, I still lost my hair as the chemotherapy progressed. Even so, I felt changing my diet and incorporating fasting played a significant role in how well I coped and recovered.

I'm now in remission and currently no longer follow a strict ketogenic diet or fasting routine. I've relaxed my approach, but I do believe fasting can have benefits when done under the guidance of an experienced healthcare professional.

One final thing—I never counted calories. During chemotherapy your body needs nourishment and fuel, so my focus was always on eating the best quality proteins, healthy fats and nutrient-dense foods I could.

I hope sharing my experience helps a little, and I wish you all the very best with your treatment x

That’s really helpful - thank you. Please could you share the fasting regime you followed around chemo as that would really help. Were you ok fasting with the steroids? 
Thanks

Hi, I completely understand why you're asking. ️ Honestly, my fasting regime was tailored specifically to me by my nutritionist and based on my individual circumstances. What was right for me may not be right for someone else, but I was happy to share that, under professional supervision, I personally felt it was beneficial.

As for the steroids, I don't recall having any problems with them and I'm fairly sure I took them with food, but again, I'd really encourage you to seek advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in nutrition and wellbeing if you're considering fasting alongside your treatment.

Wishing you all the very best with your treatment x