Yes! Nutrition affects cancer. Research studies have revealed that certain foods help or hinder your body's ability to destroy cancer cells. Clinical evidence shows how various nutrients can slow down and reverse tumor growth, jump start your immune system and protect you against the toxic side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. A guided nutritional program can also decrease your risk of malnutrition (the cause of death for 40% of cancer patients!) and promote normal cell growth and healing.

Dr Kim Dalzell has kindly provided the following nutritional guidelines which are excerpts from her book, Challenge Cancer and Win! Step-by-step nutrition action plans for your specific cancer. Her book has won an award in the 2001 Writer's Digest National Self-Published Book Awards and will soon be available as a long-distance learning course for naturopathy and nutrition students.

Nutritional Guides for Bladder Cancer

Nutritional Guides for Breast Cancer

Nutritional Guides for Colorectal Cancer

Nutritional Guides for Digestive Tract Cancers

Nutritional Guides for Gynecological Cancer

Nutritional Guidelines for Leukemia

Nutritional Guides for Lung Cancer

Nutritional Guides for Pancreatic Cancer

Nutritional Guides for Prostate Cancer

Book Description

About the Author

Dr Dazell's Web site

Upon the closure of CancerStory.com's resource centre, Humanity & Golden Kids on 30 November 2003, our founder donated ten copies of "Challenge Cancer and Win!" to the National Library Board so that cancer patients and their caregivers can continue to borrow it from their nearby library branches.

If you wish to own a copy of this book, you can order it online from www.challengecancer.com and www.amazon.com in the United States.

If you are living in Singapore and wish to buy this book, please contact our administrator at admin@cancerstory.com

Nutritional therapy can influence the risk for bladder cancer as well as the prognosis following diagnosis and treatment. Proper nutrition can rebuild cells, stimulate immune system function, protect against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. While there are many nutritional recommendations for bladder cancer, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Maintain a healthy gut

Radiation treatment for bladder cancer can disrupt bowel function, causing diarrhea and cramping. If your gastrointestinal tract doesn't work very well, you won't be able to utilize all the nutrients you consume. Eating small, frequent meals and taking digestive enzymes are critical to support digestion and overall wellness. To achieve a balance of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, eat yogurt or take a probiotic supplement on a regular basis.

Cut the fat

In several case control studies, total fat intake was related to bladder cancer. Eating too much fat or the wrong kinds of fat has been associated with inflammatory conditions, suppressed immunity, and certain cancers. At least 15 percent of your daily calories should come from fish or flax oil, sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Enjoy some soy

Soy, which doesn't contain saturated fat, is a high-protein alternative to animal foods. In recent studies, soy has inhibited the formation of new blood vessels, increased cell death and reduced proliferation of bladder tumors. Mice with transplanted bladder cancer cells given genistein (a chemical found in soy beans) developed smaller tumors than controls. Consume an average of two servings of soy foods daily.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. Talk with a health care professional who can give you advice about what foods, vitamins and other natural supplements can support your fight against bladder cancer.

Nutritional factors can influence the risk for breast cancer as well as the prognosis following diagnosis and treatment. Proper nutrition can rebuild cells, stimulate immune system function, protect against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. While there are many nutritional recommendations for breast cancer, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Achieve a healthy body weight

Diets high in calories and fat appear to increase the recurrence rate of breast cancer patients. For example, researchers have concluded that postmenopausal women who are less overweight have better breast cancer survival rates. Often, changing just a few key dietary habits can prompt weight loss; this jump-start to a leaner figure can be a strong motivational factor for continued adherence to a more healthful diet.

Eat 5-a-Day

Many researchers have reported a positive relationship between consuming produce and preventing breast cancers. It has been reported that limonene, found in citrus fruits, has the potential to be as effective as Tamoxifen in blocking estrogen receptor sites. Consume at least five servings of produce each day.

Limit your fat intake

Eating too much fat or the wrong kinds of fat has been associated with inflammatory conditions, suppressed immunity, and certain cancers. Based on population studies, diets rich in saturated fat appear to be linked to endometrial and ovarian cancers. Some fats, however, offer health benefits. Fish and flax oil, sources of omega-3 fatty acids, may slow tumor growth and reduce the metastatic properties of breast cancer cells.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. A health care professional can give you advice about foods, vitamins and other natural supplements that will support your fight against breast cancer.

According to population study estimates, up to 80 percent of colorectal cancer can be linked to diet. A whole foods, plant-based diet is essential for anyone who wants to eat to beat cancer. Proper nutrition can rebuild cells, stimulate immune system function, protect against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. While there are many nutritional recommendations for colorectal cancer, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Support gastrointestinal function

Treatments for colorectal cancer often cause gastrointestinal tract dysfunction, and the cancer itself can contribute to bacterial dysbiosis. If your gastrointestinal tract does not work very well, you won't be able to utilize all the nutrients you consume. Eating small, frequent meals and taking digestive enzymes are critical to support digestion and overall wellness.

Cut the fat

A large number of studies have shown that colorectal tumor growth increases with the consumption of total fat and with saturated fat. Excessive fat causes increased production of bile acids, which can be converted to secondary bile acids in the colon wall. These toxic bile acids can stimulate cell division and promote the growth of colorectal tumors. Avoid fried foods and limit saturated fats, which come from animal products.

Eat low-fat dairy products

Populations that consume more dairy products have reported fewer deaths associated with colon and rectal cancers. Researchers speculate that nutrients found in dairy foods, such as calcium, vitamin D, conjugated linoleic acid, and butyrate may contribute to a reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. Talk with a health care professional who can give you advice about what foods, vitamins and other natural supplements can support your fight against colorectal cancer.

Nutritional therapy can influence survival rates of individuals diagnosed with digestive tract cancers. Research findings suggest that similar dietary risk factors appear to be linked to head and neck, esophageal and stomach cancers. While there are many nutritional recommendations for these cancers, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Avoid malnutrition

Radiation treatment to the oral cavity or esophagus can create thickening of saliva, poor appetite or taste alterations, all of which can cause unintentional weight loss. As little as a 5-percent weight loss can dramatically reduce your ability to cope with treatment side effects and can lead to malnutrition, a complication that causes 40 percent of deaths in cancer patients. Nutrition support, in the form of tube or intravenous feeding, may be necessary.

Support gastrointestinal function

Cancers of the digestive tract and their treatment may cause a reduction in digestive enzyme levels, leading to poor digestion. If your gastrointestinal tract doesn't work very well, or you have had digestive tract surgery, you won't be able to utilize all the nutrients you consume. Eating small, frequent meals and taking digestive enzymes are critical to support digestion and overall wellness. Ask your doctor about prescription Pancrease or Pancreatin, which are digestive enzyme replacements.

Eat 5-a-Day

A positive link between fruits and vegetables also exists for resisting cancers of the digestive tract. One study reported that by adding one serving per day of fruit or vegetable, risk of oral cancer was cut in half. Nature has packed cancer-fighting phytochemicals into almost every kind of fruit and vegetable, so eat a wide variety of plants throughout the day. If tolerated, choose raw produce, which provides more vitamins and minerals and has active plant enzymes.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. Talk with a health care professional who can give you advice about what foods, vitamins and other natural supplements can support your fight against digestive tract cancers.

Scientific findings suggest that similar dietary risk factors appear to be linked to cervical, endometrial, ovarian, uterine and vulvar cancers. A plant-based diet is necessary for anyone who wants to eat to beat gynecological cancer. Proper nutrition can rebuild cells, stimulate immune system function, protect against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. While there are many nutritional recommendations for gynecological cancer, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Eat 5-a-Day

Many researchers have reported a positive relationship between consuming produce and preventing gynecological cancers. For example, population studies have shown that dark green, orange and yellow vegetables help to prevent the development of ovarian and vulvar cancers. Consume at least five servings of produce each day.

Limit your fat intake

Eating too much fat or the wrong kinds of fat has been associated with inflammatory conditions, suppressed immunity, and certain gynecological cancers. Based on population studies, diets rich in saturated fat appear to be linked to endometrial and ovarian cancers. Some fats, however, offer health benefits. Fish and flax oil, sources of omega-3 fatty acids, may slow tumor growth and reduce the metastatic properties of cancer cells.

Enjoy some soy

Moderate amounts (2 to 3 servings per week) of soy foods may possibly reduce recurrence rates for women with hormone-based cancers. Dietary soy supplements, found in capsules and protein powders, however, should be avoided as they contain high doses of plant estrogens which may spur the growth of hormone-based cancer cells.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. A health care professional can give you advice about foods, vitamins and other natural supplements that will support your fight against gynecological cancer.

A plant-based diet is necessary for anyone who wants to eat to beat cancer of the blood. Proper nutrition can rebuild cells, stimulate immune system function, protect against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. While there are many nutritional recommendations for hematological cancer, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract

Candida yeast infection, otherwise known as thrush, is very common in cancer patients. Candida albicans levels can increase excessively due to widespread antibiotic use, a high-sugar diet, or a depleted immune system. A recent study revealed that Candida albicans was isolated in 35 percent of cancer patients with hematologic diseases. If you have a cottage-cheese appearance in your mouth, get tested right away. Left untreated, oral candida infections can make eating difficult and cause a number of gastrointestinal disturbances.

Eat 5-a-Day

Nature has packed cancer-fighting phytochemicals into almost every kind of fruit and vegetable. Numerous studies have reported a positive relationship between consuming produce and preventing hematological cancers. For example, animals studies have shown that allicin, a compound found in garlic and onions, may be effective against leukemia. Consume at least five servings of produce each day.

Enjoy some soy

Soy foods have been found to slow tumor growth and limit the metastatic properties of various cancer cells. Genistein and daidzein, compounds found in soybeans, reduced proliferation rates and caused cellular death of three types of leukemia cells. Aim for eating two to three servings of soy per week.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. A health care professional can give you advice about foods, vitamins and other natural supplements that will support your fight against cancer of the blood.

Scientific findings suggest that a plant-based diet is necessary for anyone who wants to eat to beat lung cancer. Proper nutrition can rebuild cells, stimulate immune system function, protect against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. While there are many nutritional recommendations for lung cancer, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Avoid malnutrition

Many newly diagnosed lung cancer patients have some degree of malnutrition, leading to poorer survival rates. If you have lost weight, you should take immediate action to prevent further weight loss. As little as a 5-percent weight loss can dramatically reduce your ability to cope with treatment side effects and can lead to severe malnutrition, a complication that causes 40 percent of deaths in cancer patients.

Maintain gastrointestinal health

Complications of the gastrointestinal tract such as heartburn, increased mucus production, and throat irritation are common in patients receiving chest radiation. If your gastrointestinal tract does not work very well, you won't be able to utilize all the nutrients you consume. Eating small, frequent meals and taking enzymes can aid absorption of nutrients. Digestive enzymes also have anticancer action. For example, bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, demonstrated antimetastatic properties in laboratory animals with implanted lung cancer cells.

Eat 5-a-Day

Numerous studies have reported a positive relationship between consuming produce and preventing lung cancer. Nature has packed cancer-fighting phytochemicals into almost every kind of fruit and vegetable, so it is beneficial to eat a wide variety of plants throughout the day. Consume at least five servings of produce each day.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. A health care professional can give you advice about foods, vitamins and other natural supplements that will support your fight against lung cancer.

Nutritional therapy has been proven to positively influence survival rates of individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For example, researchers treated patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer (stage II through stage IV) with large doses of enzymes, supplements, detox procedures, and organic foods. At the end of one year, 81 percent of the patients were still alive, compared to the national average of a 25-percent survival rate at one year! While there are many nutritional recommendations for pancreatic cancer, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Avoid malnutrition

Because pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage, you may have lost a substantial amount of weight before you knew you had cancer. As little as a 5-percent weight loss can dramatically reduce your ability to cope with treatment side effects and can lead to malnutrition, a complication that causes 40 percent of deaths in cancer patients.

Support gastrointestinal function

Cancer of the pancreas and its treatment may cause a reduction in digestive enzyme levels, leading to poor digestion. If your gastrointestinal tract does not work very well, you won't be able to utilize all the nutrients you consume. Eating small, frequent meals and taking digestive enzymes are critical to support digestion and overall wellness. Ask your doctor about prescription Pancrease or Pancreatin, which are digestive enzyme replacements.

Eat 5-a-Day

A positive link between fruits and vegetables also exists for resisting cancer of the pancreas. Nature has packed cancer-fighting phytochemicals into almost every kind of fruit and vegetable, so eat a wide variety of plants throughout the day. If tolerated, choose raw produce, which provides more vitamins and minerals and has active plant enzymes.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. Talk with a health care professional who can give you advice about what foods, vitamins and other natural supplements can support your fight against pancreatic cancer.

Current evidence suggests that too much fat and animal protein are positively associated with prostate cancer, particularly in the advanced stages. Proper nutrition can rebuild cells, stimulate immune system function, protect against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. While there are many nutritional recommendations for prostate cancer, the following suggestions will give you a head start toward recovery:

Achieve a healthy body weight

Current evidence suggests there may be a link between body size and prostate cancer, particularly if you have an "apple" shape. The key to increasing lean body mass involves moderate exercise and calorie control.

Limit your fat intake

Diets high in total fat, or saturated fat increase the risk of prostate cancer and have been associated with inflammatory conditions and suppressed immunity. Several studies have shown that a low-fat diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help keep early prostate cancer from metastasizing. Avoid fried foods and choose low-fat animal products. Consume fish twice a week.

Enjoy some soy

Soy, which does not contain saturated fat, is a high-protein alternative to animal foods. Countries with high soy intake experience substantially lower incidence of prostate cancers than the United States. In recent studies, soy has inhibited the formation of new blood vessels and slowed prostate cancer cell growth. Consume an average of two servings of soy foods daily.

Seek professional guidance

Guided nutritional therapy can help you rebuild healthy cells, boost your immunity, protect you against chemical and environmental toxins, and promote total body wellness. A health care professional can give you advice about foods, vitamins and other natural supplements that will support your fight against prostate cancer.

Challenge Cancer and Win! answers the question, What can I do nutritionally to fight my kind of cancer?"

This easy to read book is jam-packed with valuable information that translates current scientific knowledge into a daily nutrition regimen for cancer survivors. Inside, you'll discover:

• An easy to follow nutrition action plan for your specific cancer.
• What foods will give you the most cancer fighting potential.
• Guidance about the nutritional supplements you really need and their most effective dosages.
• How to boost your immune system.
• Safe juicing and detoxification plans.
• "First aid" natural therapies for treatment side effects.
• How to recognize and reverse malnutrition.
• Self-help tools to pinpoint your dietary weaknesses and guidelines for making healthy changes stick.
• How to individualize dietary recommendations to suit your needs.
• Tips for dining out, planning meals and shopping for groceries.
• Proven, patient-tested strategies to help empower you during your cancer treatment.
• Practical nutrition and lifestyle advice that can put you on the fast track to healing.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Cancer Treatment Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing clinical research that delivers immediate treatment options and a genuine hope for a cure for cancer.

Kim Voegele Dalzell, PhD, RD, LD is a licensed, registered dietitian who has practiced clinical oncology for over a decade. Dr. Dalzell received her undergraduate degree in human nutrition from Arizona State University and has obtained advanced degrees in clinical and holistic nutrition from Texas Tech University and Clayton College of Natural Health. She completed her post graduate internship at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has been board certified in the field of nutrition support. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association's Nutrition and Complementary Care and Oncology Dietetic Practice Groups.

In addition to numerous community appearances and keynote presentations, Dr. Dalzell has developed educational materials, conducted seminars, written for company newsletters and Web pages and has been a featured guest on radio and television programs. Dr. Dalzell currently serves as Program Director, Holistic Nutrition Services, at Cancer Resource Center, where she counsels cancer patients from all over the world who desire to use nutrition as an adjuvant therapy to their conventional cancer treatment.

Challenge Cancer and Win! was written as an answer to the frequently asked question, "is there any nutritional therapy specific to my kind of cancer?" Dr. Dalzell's book combines research with practical, step-by-step guidance to help cancer patients put into action a plan for health, healing and hope.