Morning, hope you’re all as well as can be.
I’m still waiting for my full prognosis and see my oncologist next week so will ask, but does anyone have any guidance on the best food and supplements to have duribg treatment.
I love my collagen but I’m scared to take it now. I’m also taking vitamin D, magnesium and have just started on multi vitamins.
I’ve also just started making green smoothies. I’ve cut down on alcohol and chocolate and I’m avoiding processed food.
Any advice, please? Thanks 
@jnra - advice varies depending on your treatment. If you have chemo the oncology team tend to advise you to stop taking supplements as they don’t want anything to impact on the chemotherapy. If you can cut out alcohol and eat a good diet based on whole foods that’s great - but again, chemo can cause have with your mouth and digestive system and you often just want to eat plain, starchy foods! I would say go with what you feel you can do during the early stages of treatment- you have lots of time when that is done to focus on nutrition and fitness. Good luck xx
Vitamin D and Magnesium are good Vitamin E is not recommended though foods which contain it like nuts are generally ok . I also stopped taking collagen . It becomes a bit of a minefield . The Nurses always recommend the herb and supplement page on the Memorial Sloan Kettering website - it’s very useful .When you are starting treatment ask them what it is / is not ok to have during treatment. It’s always good to cut down on processed food but allow yourself a treat as well when you feel like it . Chocolate is a good source of iron by the way . Xx
Love chocolate 
This website also has good advice about diet recommendations: Diet, activity and cancer - WCRF International
The day I was diagnosed I stopped all sugar in any processed form, alcohol, processed foods and caffeine. I have dropped a dress size very quickly but feel so much better for it and feel brighter and healthier. I have a lot of fresh ginger, lemon juice, flaxseeds/ linseeds and as much protein as possible. I’m a pescatarian so more fish than normal.
My surgeon told me to stop taking vitamins but my oncologist said I can take them. I will start to take them again but I’ll add them back in slowly once my treatment starts. I’m not sure I need them now I am eating well.
I was diagnosed last year and have been focusing a lot on what I eat during treatment. I’ve found adding barley juice powder to my routine has made a difference in how I feel. It’s loaded with nutrients and has really helped with my energy levels. I mix it into smoothies or even just water sometimes. I totally understand the concerns about supplements—I had the same worry about collagen, but my oncologist gave me the green light. I also take vitamin D and magnesium, and they’ve been a great combo. Your approach of cutting down on alcohol and processed food sounds really smart, too.
Dear friends, I want to write as a message of hope. I’m a patient at the Royal Marsden cancer hospital in Chelsea. In March 2024 I was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal breast cancer. I had my primary breast cancer removed in 2013 and an incidental lung scan last January 2024 flagged up a tumor in my right axilla, the same side as my mastectomy. It was not a surprise as I had elected not to have my lymph cleared when I had the mastectomy. Nor did I take the endocrine drugs they offered me after surgery, advised for the next 10 years.
After a biopsy I was found to have breast cancer cells in lymph nodes in both my right and left axilla but nothing in the chain of lymph cells connecting them or beyond this. After 15 other scans and biopsies, the RMH also found breast cancer cells in my bone marrow. This indicated to the hospital that the cancer had now metastasised and that drug treatment was the only treatment suitable. The tumour in my right lymph had doubled in size from initial lung scan to biopsy ( from late January to early March 2024) so it had been growing at a pace. I was not given a great prognosis and a ( short) lifetime on Ribocilib, the latest drug.
Now I am a psychologist by background, with an MSc from St George’s hospital and an MA from Cambridge University. I read all the research I could Google, and decided that there was in fact an alternative diagnosis and treatment plan that they could follow if I was able to convince my oncology team. Instead of going straight onto Ribocilib, I proposed to my care team that I would first take 3 months try to stop the cancer without any medication. They had to agree. One consultant saying she would be interested to watch how fast my cancer spread without medication!
I knew I should cut out refined sugar, and lower my cholesterol as this feeds the lymph. I had also been following the cancer site CancerActive since my first bout and knew the founder ( a biochemist) undertook one off private consultancy to share the best supplement protocol for a particular diagnosis. I decided this would be my next call. Chris Woollams ( the founder) gave me a supplement protocol to follow. Which I did. I also dropped 1/2 stone in weight, cut out sugar, cut out the last remaining occasional alcoholic drink and continued to walk 5 miles a day. My friends were also sending Reiki and prayers. I have a very supportive partner that made all this possible.
The next round of scans were due in September. I met with the consultant again at the end of September 2024 who informed me, perhaps grudgingly, that my cancer was dormant and the scans had not picked up any active disease. Again the Marsden offered my Ribocilib. I waited to see the top consultant, who looked at my scans and immediately asked me what I was taking. The consultant said you are not taking medication so what are you doing? I said a couple of supplements and Loratadine. She said ah yes, we know others are taking that. At 90p for 3 months supply and clinical tests saying that it can reduce metastases by 30% I wondered why the NHS does not make this common knowledge. Could it be that Loratadine is now generically available and is no longer profitable to big Pharma that massively fund the research side of the RMH and the NHS? I asked them why when the cancer was dormant are they still offering me Ribocilib when they have no evidence that it has a positive effect on nonmetastizing incidental cancers. They said they understood my reluctance to take it.
The head consultant listened to my alternative theory, that the cancer could be a hang over from my primaries, with the scanty cells in my bone marrow. I had read that 40% of primaries leave this trail in the bone marrow niche and it does not necessarily mean it is active. I had already shown that I was able to keep the cancer inactive. The consultant said my results were atypical and unusual and agreed to consider a local treatment rather than drugs if I could keep the cancer dormant for another three months. I had asked the Marsden for a Cryoablation of the tumour on my Axilla as it was still there although not active. I had read a trial research paper from Switzerland that had very positive results on axilla mets and I knew Marsden had a specialist in this area for more advanced primary cancers. However the oncology team said Cryoblation was not in their protocol for the axilla as my cancer was diagnosed at metastatic stage. Removing one tumour would not make a difference. However the agreed, if I could keep the cancer dormant for another 3 months they would consider it. I continued the supplement regime, being active and eating a rainbow diet.
Just before Christmas they scanned me again. Again the cancer was dormant, with no tumours any where else, and if anything indicators had begun to shrink. At this point they had to concede it was not a coincidence. They agreed to give me a Cryoablation the next day. I asked the interventional radiographer consultant who performed the Cryoblation if he was familiar with my notes; at that point he said absolutely, you are a phenomena, the whole team is familiar with your results. We expected the cancer to have spread throughout your system. You will be on my latest research paper.
All went well. The Cryoblation is a quick day surgery where they use an ice ball to destroy the tumour. I was back ‘cancer free’ and ready for Christmas in a matter of hours.
I still have a terminal cancer diagnosis but nothing to show for it. No medication, no side effects, no tumours. Of course there are random cancer cells around my body, like in the bone marrow niche but no active disease. The Marsden respected I would not take drugs as the supplements were working. I said I wasn’t anti drugs, but I did not want the side effects. I would take medication as a last resort. The Marsden said they would keep scanning me until I needed the drugs. ‘The consultant said ‘We would like to work with you’. The Marsden booked me to come back in 5 months for more scans. A relatively long time, they can been scanning me every three months, a sign of their confidence in my approach.
Perhaps I am super unusual and a phenomena, but perhaps I just gave my body time to repair itself without fighting the strong medication being offered. I may be unusual because the doctors rarely see someone who has not taken the medication they have proposed.
Chris Woollams has a huge number of successes. Geoff Boycott tells everyone ‘Chris saved his life’, and there are many more. I have now shared my story with others who have started taking this supplement protocol to good effect.
I’m in no way anti medication, or a conspiricy theorist or anything else. I was just able to read the research and gave my body a chance to be healthy and to respond to the cancer with supplements that were known to be effective. I found my secondary cancer very early and I was already living a fairly healthy life, so it wasn’t a difficult transition to take more supplements and augment my diet. I had already cured my osteoporosis without drugs so I knew all things were possible.
I don’t mean to persuade you to stop taking medication but I do want to tell you there are choices out there that can work and can often work better.
With the new blood test and better ways of identifying cancer at an early stage, I believe it is important not to immediately take the medication offered; but to take a breath and first try to let your body respond naturally.
The medication can damage your body, and perversely limit your life so why not try to avoid this until there are no other choices? Besides supplements are a far cheaper alternative, so you can save the NHS as you go.
I’m happy to share the supplement protocol I take.
I would be interested in the protocol if you want to DM me though I’m not stage 4. I was a Grade 1 Stage 1 Er+ I’m a very low risk on Predict and stopped taking my anti-oestrogen therapy (AI ) due to side effects after a few months . I have been wary of supplements since having BC because I don’t have the conventional. medical protection that others have .I’m a member of a support group and sometimes wonder what I’m doing there as they mainly seem to be needing support with the side effects from the various medications they are taking and I’m not on any. I also have a family history of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis my bone scan showed secondary osteoporosis ( all main reasons for stopping AI ) so I would be interested to find out how you you cured your osteoporosis though I guess the walking is a big part .I wasn’t prescribed a calcium supplement - I tried but didn’t really like it.
I work for the NHS and find that increasingly clinicians seem to be hamstrung by protocols that have been set by other people and while I wouldn’t say I don’t trust anyone as such I know that cancer is big business and although treatments are developed with good intentions there is a lot of money being made and that tends to obscure the initial goal somewhat .
I think you are an extraordinary lady though and I wish you continued health for a very long time. Xx
Thanks for sharing your story @swift my experience with the nhs hasn’t been great and I don’t think I’ve had the best care but they are so under resourced I feel like my hands are tied. So if you have the resources to explore I fully support it 100%.
There are certainly things they could have done different or faster and I did at one point consider the holistic approach but I’m too scared.
At least you’re in good hands with royal marsden. It would be my first port of call if I had the money to go private. I did enquire about a second opinion at RM but it all comes at a cost.
But great to hear it’s working out for you and I send all the good vibes that it stays at bay.
I’m currently having chemo. Just had first EC. It’s knocked me for six and I’m currently on day 8 and horizontal on sofa.
Going to start taking cod liver oil and magnesium. Also taking multivitamins and vit D. And Cbd before bed is a god send 
Hi!
I moved to Royal Marsden after Royal London made a mess of my care. I asked for a second opinion and went there. I’m NHS.
If you are having chemo for a primary cancer fasting ( low calorie intake) before hand really makes a difference. As does cutting the sugar and any alcohol.
Good luck!
Loratadine has been shown to cut metastases by 30% and the generic tablets are just 90p for 30. They also help you sleep.
I’m sorry you are feeling really rough. Chemo is hell.
Thank you!!! Yes royal free are a mess!! I wished I had of insisted now but I’m in the depths now so onwards and upwards. Going to order those tablets right now! Do you know if I take them while on chemo?
And yes please share the protocol. Thank you 
Hi @jnra
Sorry that you are in the middle of it all and feeling so rough . Hopefully @swift will read this anyway but it’s them you need to ask for the protocol not me . Best wishes to you for recovery and restored health going forwards. Xx
I think you can. They are straightforward anti-histamines. Check out the CancerActive website. It has most of the protocol on there. Chris alters it according to your diagnosis. I can send you the list he gave me. But I am stage 4 and not on chemo.
Thanks for sharing this. So glad things are going well for you.
I am really excited about the use of loratadine as my breast cancer was er+, I googled it and found loads on it.
I have had a look at the cancer active website and it has really inspired me to make some changes to my diet going forward.
I am currently being treated for a local reoccurrence so keen to do as much as possible to prevent any potential spread.
Wishing you all the best @swift
Great! Good luck keeping it dormant. You can do it!
Happy to share my supplement protocol that Chris gave me.
Yes please 
I did contact him for an appointment but i have already spoken to another holistic specialist and I’m not sure if it’ll be more of the same… I probably will do it once I can think straight x
Thanks, that would be interesting to see x