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0 pointsrightbyte5y ago0 comments

A strict diet might weaken you right? Many cancer patient get very thin and I guess you don't want to start the treatment like that so you miss fat reserves.

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5 comments · 3 top-level

elif5y ago· 2 in thread

I would disagree and make the important distinction that many chemo treatment recipients get very thin.

Like saying "I don't have time to take a shower, because my bath takes an hour"

nonbel5y ago

It's interesting that a side effect of pretty much every treatment for cancer is nausea, weight loss, etc. Almost like reduced nutrient absorption is the main mechanism by which the treatments work.

evgen5y ago

Since most cancer treatments target fast-replicating cells and the gut is lined with such cells I think you have the arrow of causality backwards in this case.

Depends whether it weakens 'you' or the cancer and which succumbs first!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6938162/

Quick take from the abstract: "The vulnerability of cancer cells to nutrient deprivation and their dependency on specific metabolites are emerging hallmarks of cancer. Fasting or fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) lead to wide alterations in growth factors and in metabolite levels, generating environments that can reduce the capability of cancer cells to adapt and survive and thus improving the effects of cancer therapies. In addition, fasting or FMDs increase resistance to chemotherapy in normal but not cancer cells and promote regeneration in normal tissues, which could help prevent detrimental and potentially life-threatening side effects of treatments. While fasting is hardly tolerated by patients, both animal and clinical studies show that cycles of low-calorie FMDs are feasible and overall safe. "

Fasting doesn't have to mean fewer calories. It could mean eating all of your daily calories in a 6 hour window, instead of 3 times per day.

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