Chemo no 3 on Wednesday so started my fast today. It’s going to be a tough one as I was not in ketosis beforehand. Re-read the science this morning to boost willpower. It really does make sense to me and, so far, side effects have been minimal and easily managed. Let’s hope round three is the same.
Had my second cycle of chemo 9 days ago (docetaxel) and again fasted for 3 days (day prior, day of chemo and day after). Again, I experienced no nausea or vomiting and I actually went away on holiday and walked 4 miles each day. My appetite has been good but I am not overweight so I’m focusing on regaining the weight lost due to fasting. I did experience the muscle/joint pain but not to the extent that I needed painkillers. These pains lasted for about 4 days. The main problem for me has been constipation which is quite common apparently on a water fast. This is not helped by the steroids and anti nausea drugs so am concentrating on eating a fibre rich diet to avoid this in future. Definitely think that fasting is helping with side effects and friends and family have remarked that I look well (although I have now lost my hair and am sporting a wig). I try to run or walk everyday but this has not been possible with the weather.
Hope this helps and will keep posting my experiences.
Good luck everyone. It’s great to hear from you all.
Hi JacqB I'm glad yr also feeling the benefits of the fasting. I figured that going hungry for a few days won't kill me as long as I drank plenty of water. The side effects are the main worry with chemo and I was able to continue my routine of playgroups and school runs and just being me throughout my chemo. Good luck with the rest of your treatment. X
Hi LottieT I too am convinced that fasting has helped to minimise symptoms. I feel so well today, out and about and planning dinner with friends later. I wasn’t in Ketosis second time around and found it harder to do but manageable. Am back on Keto ready for round three next Wednesday. I did take the steroids, last two times and an thinking about halving the dose this time around but a bit apprehensive. My oncologist told me to stop the Keto as I lost a lot of weight, I daren’t tell her about the fasting she’d have a fit! Plus I am very overweight so really not concerned about a few pounds lost. Such a shame that this powerful way to reduce side effects is not more understood by medics. All the best Jacq x
Hi I just wanted to say that I'm sure that the fasting helped incredibly. I fasted the day before chemo for 3 days and had no side effects on FEC. The docetaxel gave me awful taste buds for a week and dry eyes and legs ached when walking uphill or lots of stairs but that was the worst of it. I'm certain this is due to the fasting and the fact that I didn't take the steroid tabs they gave me as I'm sure many side effects are due to the steroids too. (I lied to the hospital about taking them for docetaxel and did try half a dose for the first lot of Tax which sent me very scatty and confused so didnt do them again). I wish the medical profession would realise how much fasting helps as I only found out by internet research. Spread the word about it!!! My chemo has all finished now so have my radiotherapy starting next week. Good luck everyone who is going thru this. ❤
sorry for the delay in responding. To be honest, after my first fast I didn’t really pay much attention to what I ate although it was relatively healthy - a baked potato tuna and salad. However, I’ve since learnt that baked potatoes are v high carbs and may not be the best thing to eat to break fast. I will probably make some vegetable soup or have some fish and vegetables or salad and take it from there.
I will post at the weekend to let everyone know how it goes.
I took a swig of Maalox per my doctor’s suggestion for taking my steroid pill a few hours before breaking my fast. No stomach upset. I’ve heard of others eating a TB of coconut oil, which gives some people diarrhea.
Hi everybody. I water fasted for 62 hours prior to my 1st chemo session last week, and 24 hours after. Next time, will reduce lead up to 48. I also did the Dignicap, which added 3-1/2 hours to the infusion, but if I can keep enough of my hair not to have to wear a wig over the summer, it will be worth it. I’m 3 days out from chemo (TC) and have gradually started building up to eating what I hope to be a light, regularish diet today. We’re planning lunch out—gazpacho and salmon—which I *think* I should be able to stomach. I lost 7 pounds during my fast and will be working hard to gain the weight back before round 2. Glad this forum is still active! Best of luck to everyone going through this.
About the steroids keeping you awake, I told my nurse and she said to take them earlier. On the box it told me to take 4 at 8 am and another 4 at 4 pm so I did that the first couple of days after chemo but was awake all night. The nurse said to take 4 at 7 am and the next 4 at noon, I slept much better doing that.
I was never sick either and I took my steroids on an empty stomach with no problems at all.
Thanks for replying Ali. I am planning to fast properly next time, 2 days before and then 24 hours after. As I feel okay at day 4, I hope. That maybe I could feel better. Are you eating particular food when you break the fast? And introducing certain food groups at a time? I am going to see the people at the breast haven tomorrow and so plan to ask as much re nutrition as possible. Hope your next cycle goes well, Thanks, Em xx
i fasted for my first EC chemo on 25 May. I took all the steroids prescribed to me for 48 hours after and I just had a spoonful of egg mayo with them (rather than carbs). The main problem with the steroids was the insomnia but found I slept really well once I finished them. I didn’t need the anti sickness pills they gave me as I didn’t have any nausea. (They advised me to take them only if I needed to)
2 weeks down the line, I feel good - no tummy problems, mouth sores etc. Ive been out walking every day and even ran for 2 miles yesterday. I’ll be starting my fast again on Wednesday ready for next Friday as I really believe this has helped.
Hi all, So I had my first chemo 4th June and although not strictly following the fasting guidelines (I stopped eating on Saturday evening),I didn’t eat for 39 hours before chemo and won’t eat today until 24 hours afterwards. I feel sick and have headaches, but I didn’t tell medical staff as everyone has claimed they done know about it and it will be dangerous. So I took the steroids and all the anti sickness they gave me. I have more to take today and I don’t know whether to take them or not??? Are you guys? I have woken up this morning feeling better and not so sick so worried that taking pills on an empty stomach could be making it worse? Anyway any advice would be appreciated, Good luck with your treatments, Embo
I had my ffirst chemo on Friday 25 May and fasted from Wednesday evening 23 May until Saturday teatime. I felt very slightly nauseous the morning after (Saturday) but my appetite since the fast has been really good. Apparently, anecdotal evidence from patients who have fasted on chemo found that they lost a few pounds during the 4 day fast but found they put it back on prior to next chemo. I am definitely going to keep a sharp eye on my weight though.
thanks for your reply. I’m pleased for you that your side effects seem to be relatively mild and it also gives me additional motivation to continue. I also employ a similar mental picture of the greedy cancer cells gobbling up the chemo whilst the healthy cells are having a nap.
Hi Ali50harg It’s good to know I’m not the only one doing this! What helps me with the fast is that I have a mental image of my tumour as a sugar hungry Pac-Man growing bigger on glucose. That plus being on a Keto diet anyway really helps. I mentioned the Keto diet briefly to my oncologist, her attitude was don’t worry about diet, if you fancy cake have cake, chemo is hard enough. Whilst I understand this attitude, I cannot ignore the mounting evidence that nutrition is a key adjunct to cancer treatment. I will definitely be fasting through my next chemo. Hope you continue to have manageable side effects. I feel great today, day 8, although everything still tastes weird. Jacq
I too took the decision to fast during chemo ( epirubicin and cyclophamide) having read a lot of medical journals regarding the tests on mice and anecdotal evidence from other patients re the lessened side effects and also the theory that fasting protects healthy cells. It helped that I have been on Michael Mosley’s 5 2 and am familiar with fasting.
i was due to start chemo 23 May so started fast on 21 May for 4 days. This did not go to plan however because I had my chemo cancelled as something new had shown up on a pet scan. So I ate on the Tuesday evening. This turned out to be something inconclusive so chemo rescheduled for Friday 25 May. My husband was worried about me fasting because I was losing weight so we agreed that I would do 3 days fast - Thursday Friday and Saturday till evening. So far my only side effects have been 1 hot flush and insomnia due to steroids. My appetite has been good and I went out yesterday for a meal and a few drinks. I will definitely continue the fasting unless something changes with my health.
Hi Had my first round of chemo on 21 May. I chose do do this in a fasted state. No food 48 hours prior and 24 hours after. I found this easy as I had been following a ketogenic diet for two weeks before. I have had no nausea and so far only mild side effects. I have no idea if this is down to the fasting or would have been so anyway? I guess no one can say. As I have had so few side effects I intend to repeat the fast throughout the treatment. It will be interesting to see if the side effects worsen. I am on the Rosco trial so have four rounds of docetaxel, herceptin, pertuzumab and cyclophosphamide followed by surgery, then probably 4 x FEC and RT. I would love to hear from anyone else doing fasting.
Hi there, First time post. Due for fec on 4th June and read up on fasting and really keen to give it a try, would love to know more about what works, and whether you have to have extra weight to loose? Bit worried about being too weak to cope with chemo and drugs on empty stomach. Thnx
This is very personal to me, but the fasting is to reduce symptons of nausea, the steroids are to help reduce nausea as well (and allergic reaction to chemo) so if you are not feeling sick, as with me - I chose not to take the steroids and deal with their side effects as well. A
how do you do the fast when you have to take medications with food? Have to take Prednisone every day the first 5 days of the cycle so that would break the fast?
I'm very curious how the 24 hours prior fast compared to the 48 hours fast? Contemplating fasting before first treatement but just worried about doing it for so long.
Wow I'm so glad to have read your post. I've been looking for information and my husband also has lymphoma and will be getting R-CHOP for the first time this Wednesday. He really is interested as our naturopath recommended 48 hours- starting 15 hours prior to chemo. 72 hours seems like such a long time. Of course I'm really worried about the amount of weight he will lose. Curious is you are on a vegetarian diet? Good luck with your treatment.
Hi! I have just tried fasting through chemo for the first time. I have lymphoma and receiving R-CHOP chemotherapy.
I read a lot about Dr Longo's research before I did the fast and consulted with my oncologist, who was really supportive because I have good organ function and a healthy weight. For my last two meals before fasting I ate low carb to help ease the pain, then only water and herbal teas for 72 hours before my appointment and 24 hours after receiving the 'red devil' chemo injection. The fasting is tough but not as tough as chemo! I continued to take all of the drugs as prescribed (including steroids).
This was my 4th cycle and the difference in my side effects has been amazing. I have much less nausea, a clearer head and am more myself than any of the other cycles. I will continue to do this for the next 2 cycles! Good luck!
Thankyou agarside I shall read up as much as I can. I didn't tell the hospital I was even fasting the first time but can imagine they wont like it when i mention about that and the fact I didn't take the steroids. I've got 2 more fec cycles to ponder on all of this. Yr info has been very helpful.
This is where you can find problems. As a cancer patient (I had found) that if you dont ask questions and kick up too much of a fuss, everyone is marvelous - but as soon as you say "what are the alternatives" you get looked on as a trouble maker - it is far harder for the oncology team to give one to one individual care. I had many discussions on what I was willing to "consent to" and not. I would agree the plan with the oncologist then the nurses would question it on the day - it was a pain in that it would take longer for them to double check what the Onc had written. In the end I was sick of it so changed hospitals and put in many complaints about the old one.
The only evidence I could find on the benefits of steroids were that were given "routinely". Yes, they can help with sickness and they do provide cover for allergic reactions to the chemo. I didn't need any help with sickness, I had it covered, I also took two differnt antihistimines to help over come this, but I still had questions and confirmations at each cycle...
All I can say is read, read and read some more... Consent is your friend, no one can do anything to you without your fully informed consent. Do what is right for you and your own personal circumstances.
I also believe that the steroids are to blame in a lot of the symptoms of all this and since I was fine without them for my first FEC then I shall not take them for my next 2 either. Did you come to the agreement of taking the 4mg prior to chemo with the nurses? I will consider this too as would sooner take the minimal amount of steroid when I start the T part.
As I didn't take steroids with the FEC, I was not planning to take any fo the T part either. I 4personally felt that most of the symptoms were caused by the steroides. I compromised and agreed to 4 mgs prior to the chemo (none the day before) and the 10mgs after the chemo IV. The only reason I agreed was the anaphalaxis for the T is so much more of a concern than FEC. I also did cold extremities for toes and fingers which helped me to not lose my nails (similar to cold capping). I found the FEC acute and over with, whilst the T really took its time but the symptons got worse with each, but manageable...
Thankyou that's good to know about the water retention and side effects if I didn't take them for the T part of it all. Timing them early sounds like a good plan then.
Yes, the first time I was awake and felt like I had jet lag but after I took them earlier I was fine.
It is much more comfortable for you if you take the steroids with the T because it leads to massive water retention and severe side effects if you don't. That is why they give them to you. Also I changed how I took the steroids after the chemo. I stepped down over 5 days not just two because that way the side effects do not "hit" you at full force. The fasting keeps away the tummy trouble, mouth ulcers, sloughing skin etc but it does nothing for the fatigue. You might be OK because remember I had all my treatments as the T and the effects are cumulative. Anyway the fatigue is bad and resting does not help you to feel better but stepping down the steroids after means that the effects are waning by the time you have your last dose.
But don't worry because you will come out the other side and if it does that to you, think what it is doing to the bad cells.
Hi had all docetaxel (The T) and I took the steroids on an empty stomach without any problems at all. I had my chemo in the morning and from the day before I took them at 7.00 am and before noon. I did that because when I took them as they said I was awake all night so the nurse said it was fine to takem them early.
On the box they wanted me to take 4 at 8 am and another 4 at 4 pm.
Hi I fasted for a day and half before chemo and the day after only having lemon and honey tea,water and the odd handful of almonds. I had no side effects and so didn't take the steroid tabs so didn't have any sleep problems or anything related to the steroid. I plan to do the same for the next 2 FEC treatments but not sure what happens with the T part of the chemo so if anyone has done that part without the steroids then it would be good to hear feedback.
I now get EC90 every third week. have been fasting for 1 /12 day before every chemotherapy session with EC90 - in addition I take a tablet called Akynzeo (300mg) one hour before the injection. Also 3 tablets with Dexmetason 12mg one hour before the injection. I have had no side effects, no neusea and sleep very well. I eat raw ginger and drink ginger tea all the time. But yes - I believe fasting is one big reason why I can go to meetings and live almost normal the moment I get up from the chair after the injection.
Moon dancer- I’m in California as well and fasting thru chemo after such promising research. I’m intrigued you have an oncologist who is so cutting edge and wholistic in her approach. Would you mind sharing her name as I’d love to meet with her on my case. Thanks!!
So glad to read about fasting during chemo. I was on the ketogenic diet before diagnosis and had stumbled upon this. Not know ing that a few months down the road i would need it.Just got diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer start chemo next week so this is so helpful will definitely take this route. Love this site thank u ladies for ur help
Thank you all for your help. I start chemo tues. Then again the 27. 2x a month .I won't say I am not concerned. I am. Mostly about the side effects. I have 4 children, a working hustand . But I want my life back. Bless you all. From ky here.
Hello I had my first treatment on Jan 19 I fasted 2 days before drinking only lemon water and black coffee. The day of the chemo I did have orange juice was feeling little weak and I ate a small meal late evening after my treatment. I have to say I had no side effects from the chemo whatsoever. I cannot believe how good I feel. Very pleasantly surprised. I was tired from lack of sleep the 3 days I took the steroid but other than that it has been good. I have my second treatment on feb 9 I am hopeful to have the same reaction.
Brenda Lee, I also want to say, don't worry. Had my second fec (and fasting) yesterday and am feeling okay. One tip: this time I took a few peacan nuts before they gave me the medication as I realized that taking them on an empty stomach made me pretty nauseous. Also, if you have kids and are worried about full fasting, have you looked at the fasting mimicing diet? That seems pretty amazing. I think the telegraph article even details exactly what it is. Alternatively, look at ketogenic soups,, maybe: Ihave prepared some ketogenic soups for today when I break my fast (to make it a little longer but without becoming too weak). An amazing mushroom and coconut cream soup and a tomato and spinach soup. I prepared them before the chemo and must say they're delicious. I'm sure your kids would love them too! But check out the 'real' mimicing diet and take your inspiration from that. Or fast. It's really not bad at all - and it seems to protect my taste buds. Good luck!
Thank you agarside. That's really helpful. And a lot to think about for the docataxol cycle. Just had my second fec - still with fasting 48 hours before and aiming to do the 24 hours after. Only had half the steroid dose before the fec (and again am hoping not to need the medication tomorrow/day after but just sleep the whole thing off). Despite half dose of steroids (4 instead of 8 mg), I still had to do a 90 minutes powerwalk after the chemo as the steroid made me feel, well "steroid crazy"... But feeling pretty good otherwise. Still on that anxious steroid activity feeling so i might just clean the house before going to bed..... Thank you for advice and support. I'll discuss the docataxol/steroid issue at my next pre chemo meeting again, I think. Last thing I need at this time are weird dreams....
Please don't worry about it all because your fears are far worse than actually getting any treatment. I will not tell you that it is easy because it can be challenging BUT lots of us have had chemo and radiotherapy and are alive and now well because of it. Take each day as it comes and you will get through it all xxx
I would like to recommend a documentary which is available on Amazon Prime free if you have prime and about £3.50 if you don't but anyway it is called The Science of Fasting.
The whole thing is interesting but if you fast forward til about 40 minutes into it you will see Valter Longo and his experiments with chemo and cancer. You will see the mice that lived if they were fasted and those that died or were extremely ill after chemo if they were fed.
He shows you what happens to healthy cells and what happens to cancer cells.
This happened to me as we well during a hot bath and fasting before chemo I felt overwhelming and did get out of bath and removed well. It's so great that we are are able to share similar experiences that may help others....
