If I ever got cancer...

Let me start by saying that I’m not immune, but I’d be genuinely surprised. I realise that’s a euphemism for the emotion that accompanies discovering you’re facing a life-threatening illness, so let me explain… I know it can happen to anyone due to a host of factors, but with the cocktail of supplements I swallow almost every day, together with my low-carb and low-sugar diet that’s more of a lifestyle rather than a fad, I really would be surprised if the Big C managed to thrive.

I suppose when a person finds themselves in such a challenging situation, they will ultimately do what feels right for themselves. So, this post is in no way a lecture or criticism of decisions made, but simply my view on what course of action I’d personally take based on the research I’ve done and the cancer cases I’ve witnessed. I’m not discounting doctors’ advice, but my faith in the medical establishment is rather shaky and I place more faith in nutrition and my body’s ability to self-heal, so please take what I have to say with an open mind.

Here’s what I would do if I got diagnosed with cancer:

1. I would remind myself that cancer is not a death sentence. It is 100% beatable. Our God-given bodies are simply miraculous at defeating disease so long as we give it what it needs to up its defences, and nothing that’s capable of aiding the growth of cancer cells.

2. I would avoid unnecessary biopsies and regular chemotherapy like the plague. Very little good can come from poking at tumours and using high doses of drugs to indiscriminately kill off cells, resulting in damage to your heart, lungs, kidneys, and nerve tissue.

3. Instead, I would take up alternative oncology which is a gentler type of chemo with fewer side effects. In a nutshell, insulin-potentiated low dose chemotherapy (IPTLD) involves administering insulin at the same time as chemo drugs. The insulin lets more of the drug enter the cells, and therefore, less is needed. Your doctor may advise differently, and it’s your body, your choice, but after having watched people suffer the side effects just to succumb anyway, my personal choice would be to avoid conventional treatment at all costs.

4. I would educate myself as to what cancer actually is and learn the latest research. To sum it up in the words of the only doctors I actually do admire, cancer is basically a kind of fermentation. Instead of a cell dying off naturally, its mitochondria (energy centre) bypasses respiration and survives off sugar, which brings me to my next point… cutting off its food source (sugar and glutamine) can starve it away.

5. I would abolish all forms of sugar and starchy carbohydrates from my diet. Bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, oats, honey, high-sugar fruits, fruit juices, most seeds, as well as wheat and rye flour are an absolute no-no. Cancer cells will starve while healthy cells will simply adapt and use ketones, instead of glucose, to survive. If I really need to sweeten something, I’d use a bit of date fruit and replace sugar with low-GI xylitol.

6. I would live off a high-fat, moderate protein diet. I’d eat mainly seafood, eggs and organic grass-fed beef (no processed meats). My meals would be generously seeped in good fats like real butter, coconut oil, and olive oil since fats do not raise blood sugar, and I’d continue to relish in the deliciousness of hard cheeses, root vegetables and cruciferous vegetables like immune-boosting broccoli, garlic, ginger, some tree nuts, and low-sugar fruits like strawberries high in ellagic acid, blueberries which boost immunity, tomatoes high in lycopene, and avocados which are “nature’s butter”. Note that pro-inflammatory seed oils would be completely removed.

7. I would do intermittent fasting literally every day – I already do. This boils down to eating only two meals a day; brunch and dinner, so nothing too drastic and actually way easier than it sounds. Read more about the 8/16 method which results in a 16-hour overnight window (dinner to brunch the next day), during which no eating takes place thus allowing the body to go into autophagy; a process where the body breaks down damaged cells and recycles them for nutrients.

8. I would consider immunotherapy. While chemo is a reactive approach that kills both cancerous and non-cancerous cells, immunotherapy stimulates the body’s own immune system to better identify and kill cancer cells only, although it may take longer to see the effects. It can be administered in several ways: tablet form, IV injection or infusion, or as a topical cream or ointment.

9. I would look into hyperthermia. Not yet widely available, this thermal therapy involves heating body tissue to as high as 45 degrees celsius to damage and kill cancer cells, while leaving normal cells unharmed. It includes the use of radio waves, lasers, ultrasound, perfusion (passage of heated fluids back into the system), and placing the entire body in a heated chamber, hot bath or heated blankets.

10. I would take these powerful anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory supplements right now:

    • Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, and zinc for a robust immune system.

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      Note:

      - Zinc can deplete copper, so it’s recommended to pair them.

      - Vitamin D3 requires magnesium to do its job.

    • Omega 3 essential fatty acid, which is an anti-inflammatory nutrient from fish oil.

    • Melatonin, the sleep hormone and powerful antioxidant.

    • Glutathione, also known as the master antioxidant.

    • Green tea, which is rich in anti-inflammatory polyphenols.

    • Curcumin, an anti-inflammatory compound in turmeric.

I suppose it’s easy for me to have a big mouth on this subject, since I’m not in the dreaded situation, and being in it could very well see me eat these words. Also, since I’m not a doctor, perhaps there are a bunch of caveats associated with my ‘I would’ list. That said, I do – not obsessively – practice a lot of what I preach here because I believe that prevention is better than cure.

Ultimately, cancer is just another excuse for the Angel of Death to carry out his task without the blame, so while we can’t change our time of death and fighting one’s fate is futile, we can – through diet and lifestyle – limit the suffering that we have to endure before that departure time inevitably creeps on up on us.

Until then, be proactive and know your options xx

Umayya