I am a surgeon who was diagnosed with malignant melanoma under my thumbnail on July 21, 2021. For those of you who have been following my cancer journey, you know that my life changed suddenly at that time. I underwent amputation of half of my dominant right-hand thumb, underwent a sentinel node biopsy, and now am receiving a year of infusions of a drug called Keytruda. As a physician, I tried to explain these procedures in earlier blogs to help other melanoma patients understand the process better. My life has also changed in many ways to a simpler life, focusing more on wellness and spiritual transformation. I am certainly in favor of all the treatments that are offered by conventional medicine (surgery, radiation therapy, proton beam therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy); however, there are aspects in our own lives that we can control to maximize our outcomes and health (exercise, diet, mental health, avoidance of carcinogens). So where am I now?

I am eating healthy meals that provide immune-boosting ingredients that provide my body with what it needs to decrease inflammation.  This diet helps me to fight cancer, heal better, counter side effects of chemotherapy, and hopefully help me to have a more successful outcome.  Two awesome resources for me have been the following:

• Meals 4 Health and Healing- The Heimerdinger Foundation (hfmeals.org)- an organization providing organic meals and nutrition education free of charge, for people facing cancer.
• Anti-Cancer, A New Way of Life– a book by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, that I now provide to cancer patients both in and out of my practice.

I want to explain the story behind The Heimerdinger Foundation and convey a few facts about cancer. Meals 4 Health was founded by Kathie Heimerdinger whose husband, Mike (former Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator), passed away from cancer in 2011. Through their experiences, they became acutely aware of the huge burden a cancer diagnosis is on the whole family, not just emotionally and financially, but how it upends the whole family. This organization helps caregivers focus on their loved one, taking away the burden of decision making, shopping, and preparing meals that aid in healing and provide nourishment. The Heimerdinger Foundation, each week in the area of Nashville, Tennessee, USA, serves approximately 800 nutrient-dense servings to nearly 100 cancer patients and their caregivers so that those going through active cancer treatment can focus on healing. I have been a part of this program, and my new diet is exactly along the lines of the meals served by this organization. I will go into more detail in Part 2. There are many ways to support this organization on their website (hfmeals.org) by way of donation or volunteering.

I want to communicate a few facts about cancer from the World Health Organization (WHO), and then I will focus on a few tips regarding my healthy, anti-cancer diet. The following statistics were most recently updated this month, February, 2022, by the World Health Organization:

• Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, nearly 1 in 6 deaths.
• Approximately 1/3 of all deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index (obesity), alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.
• Cancer-causing infections (human papillomavirus, or HPV, and hepatitis) are responsible for approximately 1/3 of cancer cases in low- and middle-income countries.
• Many cancers can be cured if detected early and treated effectively.

A disturbing trend in the United States is a 29.6% increase in cancer rate in adolescents and young adults, ages 15-39, from 1973-2015. (Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Dec 1;3(12):32027738) We look at the cancer rate rather than actual numbers to adjust for population growth. Rates of obesity have increased considerably in this time frame among children and young adults.

The WHO states that cancer can be reduced by the following:

• Not using tobacco
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Eating a healthy diet, including fruits and vegetables
• Physical activity on a regular basis
• Avoiding or reducing consumption of alcohol
• Vaccination against HPV and Hepatitis B if you belong to a group for which it is recommended. (The HPV vaccine, or Gardasil, is helpful in preventing many of the head and neck cancers that I personally diagnose and treat regularly.)
• Avoiding ultraviolet exposure (use sunscreen when outside)
• Avoidance of air pollution and other chemicals that are known to be carcinogens.

The rising rates of cancer are concerning.  Cancer is more widespread today in the West and has been increasing since 1940. From the Anti-Cancer book, there are three major factors, among others, that have been in play the past 50 years:

1. The addition of highly refined sugar to our diet (causing inflammation, which negatively affects our immune system). Consumption of refined sugar has skyrocketed in the USA.
2. Changes in methods of farming and raising animals and, as a result, in our food (less of the healthy omega-3 fats and more of the unhealthy omega-6 fats).
3. Exposure to many chemical products that didn’t exist before 1940.

There are three principles to which I try to adhere in my diet. Certainly, there are days that are exceptions, particularly on infusion days, where I like to indulge more in a “comfort meal” and splurge on desserts! But overall, I have been strict.

1. I avoid over consumption of refined sugar. No more sugary drinks or other sweets. I now for the most part only drink coffee (slightly sweetened with agave nectar which in plant based and has a low glycemic index), green tea, and filtered water.
2. I avoid over consumption of omega 6 fats by having a diet low in animal fats (less meat and dairy products).
3. I choose a Mediterranean type of diet, high in fruits and vegetables, with more seafood, and try to eat more organic foods, avoiding processed foods.

More to come in Part 2. Feel free to lend your support to Meals for Health (hfmeals.org) if you live in the Nashville area and are looking to donate your financial support or time for a good cause. My next infusion is next Thursday, February 24. Thanks for taking this journey with me.