Can a certain diet help prevent cancer or not?

Given the page on this site called 10 Myths About Cancer Debunked, I would be interested in Cancer Research UK's opinion of Penny Brohn and the Bristol Cancer Care diet, and Rosy Daniel's Eat to Beat Cancer. Am I simply wasting my money? My wife has liver cancer and although the idea of eating healthily is obvious, these other diets seem to be about preventing cancer in the first place, or stopping it returning after chemo.

The 10 myths page is actually very reassuring, and gives me encouragement that all is being done for her. I am not one for believing in miracle cures and would rather trust a doctor or scientist any day, but originally I did think the special diet had something in it, as it is put forward by 'specialists'.

Would really appreicate your opinions?

  • Hi Max.

    It sounds like you have really been through it. I'm glad your treatment has been working thus far.

    My wife has a 3.5cm tumour in her liver which has spread to the Hepatic vein, so she can't have a transplant. They are giving her Chemo-Embolisation and then may combine it with a drug called Sorafenib, which is on trial. She is being treated at King's College Hospital (liver specialists) but they haven't mentioned radiotherapy at all. I guess they might change treatment depending on how things go, but can't really give us any life-expectancy until she has had her first bout of chemo.

    When we are in next I might ask them about Nanoknife just to see what they know.

    Thanks again Max, and stay healthy!

  • They may honestly not know very much about it at all Alan - the head radiologist at my local hospital did not, it was one of his assistants who said he had heard of it and suggested I find out about it - the rest was left to me.  There is only one hospital in London that does the treatment and it costs around £13,000.  If you google Nanoknife online you can read about it and maybe print the information out for your consultant.

    Just wanted to say that the Professor who does the procedure is really helpful and easy to talk to. If your local hospital put your latest scan on a disc for you, you can send it to the Professor and he will let you know if it is possible to ablate but dont leave it long because it is reaching maximum size for the procedure.  Although it is done alongside chemotherapy, I really dont know about the embolisation so thats something to check too. I am pretty sure there wouldnt be a charge for his opinion and at least you would know if it was an option.  It is a really simple procedure to go through - both to gain his knowledge/opinion and for the ablation itself (about 16hrs in hospital and minimum pain which subsides within a couple of days). 

    Whichever path you decide to follow, I really hope that your wife responds to the treatment and keeps well. I understand what an awful path this is to go down and see my own dear supportive husband going through it all with me, so know what you are going through and how helpless you must feel.  Please come to chat whenever needed Alan x