When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was shocked. As a registered dietitian who maintains a balanced diet and exercises daily, I never thought this would happen to me. I don’t have the BRCA gene, I don’t drink alcohol anymore, and I don’t have a family history of cancer. I’ve done everything in my power to reduce my cancer risk. And yet, I am now a cancer patient.
After finding out that I had cancer, I became so anxious and depressed that I nearly stopped eating. Even now as I go through cancer treatment, my appetite isn’t what it was before cancer. Some days after treatment I can’t stop eating, and other days I can only manage one meal. Sometimes I’m afraid to eat anything at all because I can’t stop wondering if my food choices contributed to my cancer.
For instance, cancer research studies suggest that eating large quantities of beef and drinking alcohol regularly can lead to cancer. I eat cheeseburgers weekly and while I don’t drink anymore, I definitely overdid it in my younger years. Is that why I have cancer? Other studies show that eating antioxidant-rich fruits and cruciferous vegetables can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. If that’s true, then why didn’t my daily raspberry, strawberry and broccoli intake protect me?
Reframing My Relationship With Food
People often ask me what they should eat for cancer prevention because I’m a registered dietitian. The truth is, I know less about food now than I did before receiving my breast cancer diagnosis. You can live a healthy, active lifestyle — exercise, drink water, eat plants, drink less alcohol, eat less processed food — but that doesn’t make you immune to diseases like cancer.
While my cancer diagnosis made me question everything I thought I knew about food, I still believe in the power of nutrition.
Here’s what I still know to be true: what you eat does matter.
- It’s still a good idea to prioritize healthy foods and limit processed foods whenever possible.
- Animal proteins like fish and poultry are better for you than red meat.
- Nutrient-dense foods, like fruits and vegetables, should always be part of a healthy diet.
Can you have a treat every once in a while? Of course! It’s okay to enjoy a cookie or some ice cream every now and then. I personally love Doritos (try them on a sandwich; you’ll thank me later). But I also love sweets. In fact, I’m currently eating some Swiss chocolate that my aunt sent me. I can enjoy it without fear because I know European chocolate has better ingredients than American chocolate containing toxic heavy metals. A healthy diet is all about moderation and choosing higher quality options when you can.
Making Healthy Choices
Our world today is different than when our grandparents were growing up. People eat differently, move differently and are exposed to different toxins. There are more pressures on people and stress is at an all-time high. We can’t eat or drink whatever we want, never see a doctor, and expect to live until 100. It’s important that we take care of ourselves.
While you ultimately can’t control whether or not you’ll get cancer or what type of cancer you get, you can control the decisions you make each day. If I’ve learned anything throughout my cancer journey, it’s that life is about so much more than what foods you do or do not eat. It’s about finding balance, leaning on your loved ones for support when you need it, and doing the best you can with the information available to you.
