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On a sunny weekend, Zhang Jian and his family drove to an orchard in the suburbs for a day of cherry picking.
After a basket of bright red and tempting cherries, they decided to quench their hunger in a small restaurant next to the orchard.
After the meal, the conversation of the family gathering inevitably turned to health issues, especially after Zhang's father was recently diagnosed with bowel cancer.
"Actually, many people think that eating less can starve cancer cells, but the truth is far more complicated than that. ”
Zhang Jian, a senior nutritionist, began his explanation while slowly sipping his coffee.
Zhang Jian mentioned that although popular culture often mentions "starving" cancer cells by restricting food intake, actual medical research shows that the situation is not so simple.
Cancer cells have different metabolic pathways than normal cells, and they are able to obtain energy through certain alternative pathways in a low-nutrient environment;
This phenomenon is known as "metabolic flexibility of tumor cells".
To illustrate this in more detail, Zhang Jian mentioned a study that investigated how tumor cells adjust their metabolic pathways in a low-glucose environment in order to continue growing.
Studies have shown that cancer cells survive the lack of traditional nutrients by accelerating the use of ketone bodies and fatty acids as a source of energy.
Therefore, simply reducing food intake is not enough to effectively "starve" cancer cells.
In addition, Zhang mentions another point of view, which is that selectively restricting certain types of nutrients – especially sugars – may be beneficial for some cancer patients.
He cited data from several clinical trials showing that a low-sugar diet may help slow the progression of certain types of cancer.
However, he cautions that this method needs to be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor and is not suitable for all cancer patients.
Zhang Jian's cousin, Li Ting, listened with great interest and asked if there were any actual patient cases that could prove the effectiveness of this dietary intervention.
Under the guidance of a professional dietitian, the diet was adjusted and the intake of sugars was significantly reduced.
A few months later, the results of the patient's physical examination showed that the growth rate of the tumor had slowed.
Although this cannot be attributed entirely to dietary changes, it is sufficient to show that reasonable dietary modifications may play an adjunct role in cancer treatment.
At the end of the discussion, Zhang emphasized that although diet can be used as part of adjuvant therapy;
However, it is not a substitute for traditional medical methods such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
He reminded the family members in the room that any decision about diet and cancer should be discussed with the medical team first to ensure that the most appropriate treatment option is chosen.
At this time, Zhang Jian's father asked a very insightful question:
"We always talk about eating a balanced diet, so is there a specific 'balanced' standard during cancer treatment?"
Zhang Jian thought for a moment and replied that during cancer treatment, the nutritional needs of patients are indeed different from those of healthy adults.
They need more protein to repair the damage caused by the treatment, while also needing enough calories to fight weight loss.
He mentioned that although there is no one "one-size-fits-all" dietary rule that applies to all cancer patients, it is possible to create an individualized diet plan for each patient by working with a dietitian;
Make sure they get the necessary nutritional support and not a simple starvation remedy.
In current research and practice, we have seen the potential impact of specific dietary habits on certain cancer types.
In response to this question, we can delve into how to assess the patient's responsiveness to various nutrients through advanced genetic testing technology;
This allows for the development of a more individualized diet regimen.
This can not only provide patients with a more scientific choice of dietary therapy, but also improve the quality of life and treatment effect to a certain extent.
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!