'How to Starve Cancer' book by Jane McLelland

Thanks Elaine.

Sorry to hear that your partner's PSA is creeping up again.  It's always a worry when that happens.  And it may not be related to diet at all.  Hope it can be resolved for you quickly.

Good luck.

JedSee.

Thanks Leila.  It's great that you're so well informed about this book.  And I'm delighted that your husband David's PSA is <0.1, especially as he was diagnosed  8 years ago.  You must be doing something right!

I looked at Jane McLelland's online course, but it was approx. US$140, which I thought was expensive.  If it only goes over the same material as is in the book, I'm reluctant to pay that kind of money.

I've read the book once and am now going through it for the second time, as it's quite a complicated regime.  My impression is that there seem to be many opportunities to get the regime 'wrong', depending on where (you think) you are in the cancer cycle.  (E.G. Should I be in 'starvation' mode, the 'weakening' phase, or the 'kill' phase?!)  I've just bought some Cod Liver Oil capsules because at one stage in the book she says that DHEA is very helpful.  However, I've just noticed that further on she says that they are not suitable for the 'starvation' phase.  So, now I'm not sure whether to take them or not!  The same seems to be true for anti-oxidants: at some stages they're good, at other times, not so.  She repeatedly warns against taking low-dose Vitamin C, because of its anti-oxidant effects, but says that taking high-dose intravenous Vitamin C changes this anti-oxidant to an oxidant (which apparently weakens cancer).  Yet she also strongly recommends Berberine, which is an anti-oxidant.

I have looked up some of the scientific references she gives (e.g. Berberine and Quercetin) and they do indeed seem to suggest that they may be beneficial in prostate cancer, but those references do not mention anything about taking them at any particular stage of cancer's development,, so I've just bought some, in the hope that they are at least harmless.

It's interesting that you are also receiving treatment from the Care Oncology Clinic.  Jane is full of praise for them.  I will look into it.

Thanks again for your reply.

Good luck to you and David.

JedSee.

Hi Hopeful Oldie,

I don't think that Jane McLelland mentions testosterone in particular, but she does address "hormone-driven cancers" as a group and has some specific advice on supplements for those cancers.

Good luck.

JedSee..

Hi Leila.

Many thanks for all the detailed information - that's really helpful.  The medication and supplements that David is taking all sound good.  It's great that you've had support from your G.P. too.  I will look into Jane's Online Course.  I've contacted the Care Oncology Clinic, so we'll see what they come up with.

Thanks again, and good luck to you and David.

JedSee.

Thanks ohwow,

I've read the science paper that you posted.  Very interesting. 

My only comment would be is that, even if there is some doubt as to the benefit of statins for men with prostate cancer, surely it would be prudent to offer them to those who would like to add them to their treatment regime.  These are generally well-tolerated drugs, and are cheap to supply.  If people should have an adverse reaction, then of course th doctors could stop prescribing them, but it seems worth a try. 

Thanks for bring the paper to our attention.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

Hi ohwow,

Yes, I think it's worth sticking with the statins.  If your heart consultant thinks you should increase the dose, would that be a problem for you?

As an aside, I was previously prescribed 75 mg. Aspirin, but the G.P. took me off that about a year before I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.  In her book, Jane McLelland recommends Aspirin, and I understand that Cancer Research UK are now conducting trials of a variety of doses of Aspirin, to see which (if any) are an effective dose.  As a consequence, I have  bought some privately, as they are available without prescription. but you can't do that with some of Jane McLelland's other recommendations (e.g. Metformin).

Best wishes,

JedSee.

Thanks Leila,

Yes, Berberine is supposed to work to lower blood sugar levels (similar to Metformin), so I've added it to my cocktail of vitamins and minerals.

By the way, I don't know if you ever listen to The Food Programme on BBC Radio 4.  the presenter, Sheila Dillon, is a cancer survivor, and she did a programme recently on diet and cancer.  She mentioned "Lion's Mane", a derivative of a special mushroom.  I've added that to the mix too - lol.  

Hope your husband David continues to do well.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

Thanks Pratap,

I take your point about the lack of scientific evidence for diets in relation to cancer.  However, one problem is that a lot of the research into treatments is funded by the pharmaceutical industry.  They have little to gain from researching treatments which might make people less reliant on new pharmaceuticals.   (Jane Mc Lelland's book focusses on diet and cheap off-label drugs whose patent has expired).  One might think that the government would have a vested interest in doing their own research into such cheap options, since it would save the NHS a lot of money, but it doesn't seem to be the case.  Although Cancer Research UK is now undertaking a trial called "Add Aspirin" which, as the name suggests, is looking into whether Aspirin can have beneficial effects in conjunction with standard treatments.  (Jane McLelland would also say "Add Statins and Metformin").

Always appreciate your input.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

Thanks Andy62,

That's certainly worth remembering.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

The obsession with cutting out nutrient dense foods we have evolved to eat is frankly dangerous.

Thanks Francij1

I don't know anything about the Jane Plant diet.  I've just read the Jane McLelland book, but I don't  claim to be a disciple - just interested enough to have tried some of her theories.  She advocates white meat and fish, but minimal red meat and dairy (e.g.using soya instead).  She would completely agree that sugar, high carbs and processed foods are all bad.  

Thanks for your input.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

Edited by member 04 Sep 2023 at 17:24  | Reason: Not specified

To which he responded that this lack of dairy may explain why my hip had broken rather than just bruised. He said tests showed my bones were brittle, therefore to reduce the risk of further problems I should switch to drinking a pint of milk daily as well as adding vitamin D supplements daily and increasing my exposure to sunshine.

Eighteen months later my psa had shot up from around 2.1 to 6.9, leading to a diagnosis of recurrent PCa. Now of course I am wondering to what extent, if any, this outcome related to switching to a dairy-rich diet.

all of which leaves me wondering, which diet do I now follow, one that's dairy rich and may reduce the risk of more broken bones in the future or one that's sans dairy and may therefore help slow the advance of recurrent PCa?

Thoughts?

I wonder why the consultant didn't suggest calciferol instead of milk, given that you'd told him why you avoided dairy products.

Although I'm no expert in such matters but after keeping my PCa under control through dietary changes I made almost 20 years ago, I feel I've learnt a bit about somethings and milk is one of them.

It is believed that the hormones in the milk are what impacts upon the prostate and how the cells are adversely affected and as far as I am aware calcium plays no part in affecting those cells.

Calciferol is an effective calcium replacement and it would have been safer for someone in your position than milk to ensure sufficient calcium absorption into the bones.

Edited by member 06 Sep 2023 at 11:39  | Reason: Not specified

Thank you for that, very useful on calciferol. There was a typo on my part, I meant to type oat milk. Apologies.