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Welcome to my little corner of the internet. Here's where I will be discussing life with a terminal diagnosis, specifically a brain tumor known as glioblastoma, or GBM. I had surgery to remove the tumor from my left temporal lobe, deep inside. I have stories all about treatment, recovery, and living life despite the bad news.

Thanks for visiting. Hope you have a listen! Check out the ARCHIVE for more episodes!! 

Oct 29, 2017

TRANSCRIPT

This is Episode 012 of Glioblast‑O‑Cast. Do I follow a special diet for brain cancer? 

Hello, and welcome to Glioblast‑O‑Cast, the podcast about my life beyond glioblastoma. I am your host, Meg Turecek. 

In this episode I'll answer the question, do I follow a special diet for brain cancer? And on my show page you’ll find a couple helpful links. 

When I was first diagnosed after surgery and given the chemo and radiation plan, I asked my doctors about diet. Is there anything special I should be eating? Any specific meal plan that can help? 

My doctors said eat what you like, no restrictions. 

And I think doctors tend to advise a no hold barred, eat anything, don’t deny yourself culinary delights approach. It seems to me to be along the lines of palliative care—since glioblastoma is considered terminal, the general consensus seems to be enjoy what you want. As long as you eat something and keep up your energy to get through treatment. 

But as I did my own research, I kept seeing a lot of information on brain tumors needing sugar—thriving on it and using sugar to grow. 

So I try to watch sugar, limit it as much as I can within reason for my life. We eat almost exclusively at home, cooking with fresh produce. My boyfriend even makes homemade past so we control the ingredients—no preservatives. 

Every day I also juice with fresh produce like yams, carrots, beets, ginger, and an apple or orange. 

One dietary approach that comes up very frequently when researching food choices for glioblastoma patients is the ketogenic diet. 

I’ve only done some light research and found good information supporting that lifestyle option for glioblastoma patients. Links will be on the show page. 

I’ve seen many other glioblastoma patients finding the ketogentic diet to be a big help. And I am considering it for me. But I do see that it is a big commitment to manage. A certain amount of label reading and planning that I’m just not quite ready for.

The ketogentic diet is high fat, low protein and low carbohydrates. 

It’s best to find a trusted nutritionist who can help navigate all the dietary information that’s out there to make the best choices for you. 

Like I’ve said before, any treatment plan has to work for you, fit with your lifestyle. If you can’t fully commit to big changes all at once, work towards little improvements. 

I still indulge, but I am trying to find a good balance with the smart choices and little treats.

  

Thanks for listening. This has been Glioblast‑O‑Cast Episode 12.

 

Theme music for Episode 012: “Country Boy” Bensound.com

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Diet Doctor: Making low carb simple (also includes Keto)
www.dietdoctor.com 

The Charlie Foundation for Ketogentic Therapies
https://www.charliefoundation.org/ketogenic-therapy/therapies-2/brain-tumor-cancer

Clinical Research
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=ketogentic+and+cancer

Nature Works Best Cancer Clinic
https://natureworksbest.com/blog/2014/05/27/sugar-feeds-cancer-growth/

Ketogenic Diet Resource: Change Your Diet, Change Your Life
https://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/

Eat Meat. Drink Water. Zen and the Art of Zero-Carb Living
https://zerocarbzen.com/

Eating Well: Comprehensive site on basic nutrition
www.eatingwell.com

Juice Recipes that can be sorted by health benefit
www.juicerecipes.com