Hi Everyone! I am new to this forum. We just found out Friday my 21 year old son has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This weekend was a shock to all of us. After a good cry, my mindset has turned to, what can we do to try and prepare him for what is ahead of him. His biopsy has been sent for a second opinion. We will not know anything for a few days. Although we do not know what stage or category he has (they think they have caught it early), I do know that I have to help him get stronger and prepare him for what is in front of us. I have been reading a lot on the internet and thankfully found this forum. Good to hear from actual people on the subject. After being totally over whelmed with information concerning things he should do to boost his system, my question is, what do you think is the best type of foods, vitamins, minerals, etc. need to help him? I have been reading that certain foods that would normally be good for him will only feed the cancer. (It is "The World-Wide-Web" and I am sure that most of the information out there is not reliable) I am totally confused. If anyone can direct me to information, I would be very grateful. Thank you and I wish everyone the best in their recovery. Dee
Raylabo, welcome to the group. I have only been here for about a week and am already feeling much better about my situation thanks to the folks you will meet here. I'm sorry to hear about your son, but the consistent message I have been receiving from others here is that everything will be ok. I am actually at the exact same point in my process (just diagnosed and waiting to see the oncologist for the first time) as your son, so I can't give you much advice from personal experience yet. However, there is another post on the main Hodgkin's page titled "Food" that discusses some of the information you are looking for.
http://hodgkins-lymphoma.supportgroups.com/sg/hodgkins-lymphoma/food
Thank you for your help. It is so hard to understand why these things have happened. My son is such a strong young man, but I know in my heart that things will be ok. I hope you keep your positive attitude too. Sound like you are doing well so far. Good luck with all that is going on and you are in our prayers too. Thanks again.
Let me suggest a book for you to pick up. I just started reading it myself, but it has practical application in it...
Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life written by David Servan-Schrieber, MD
He is a cancer survivor (brain cancer) and does a great job with this book.
Another book I just finished that was great is called:
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto written by Michael Pollan.
Thank you for your help. I will get those books as soon as possible. We should have the results back from the second opinion sometime tomorrow. My son is very optimistic at this point and I hope the information we receive will be good. Thanks again for you help. I sincerely hope all is well with you too. You are in my prayers.
Here are some simple recommendations to slow the spread of cancer:
1. Eat sugar and white flour sparingly. Replace them with things like agave nectar and acacia honey or coconut sugar for sweetening and multigrain flour for pastas and breads.
2. Reduce consumption of red meat and avoid processed pork. The World Cancer Research Fund recommends limiting consumption to no more than 18 ounces of red meat per week. Also, buy grass-fed beef rather than the norm we see in the supermarket today.
3. Avoid all hydrogenated vegetable fats - "trans fats." Use butter and not margarine.
From Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life