Talk Cancer

Question:

I hope you plan to have his ears amputated before trying dietary therapy.  Sqamous cell carcinoma is very aggressive and shouldn’t be tinkered with.  Have the ears sent to a pathologist to read the margins to make sure it was all removed. Diet definitely can play a role in treating cancer but will be of no use for your cat unless the tumours are removed.  I don’t know of a commercial diet that would serve as a good cancer diet but there is evidence that high fat/ low carbohydrate diets might starve tumour cells.  Omega 3 fatty acids may have antitumour effects but omega 6 fatty acids may promote metastases (cancer spreading to other parts of the body) so be sure to choose a supplement that contains only omega 3 fatty acids. J. Martin DVM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It seems that "Fluffy" has this on his little white ears.  I looked it up in a book and there was some good news and bad news.  The good news is that the cancer cells can sometimes be "starved" with a high fat/high protien diet with glutamine(?). Also vitamins A&B, and Omega 3 and 6 are said to help.  Quite a list.  Does anyone have any experience with this problem and any recommendations as to the types of foods that may contain these things? Thanks! Regards, Gord Schindler Toronto, Canada MAAC 6695

Response:

It seems that "Fluffy" has this on his little white ears.  I looked it up in a book and there was some good news and bad news.  The good news is that the cancer cells can sometimes be "starved" with a high fat/high protien diet with glutamine(?). Also vitamins A&B, and Omega 3 and 6 are said to help.  Quite a list.  Does anyone have any experience with this problem and any recommendations as to the types of foods that may contain these things? Thanks! Regards, Gord Schindler Toronto, Canada MAAC 6695

Response:

I hope you plan to have his ears amputated before trying dietary therapy.  Sqamous cell carcinoma is very aggressive and shouldn’t be tinkered with.  Have the ears sent to a pathologist to read the margins to make sure it was all removed. Diet definitely can play a role in treating cancer but will be of no use for your cat unless the tumours are removed.  I don’t know of a commercial diet that would serve as a good cancer diet but there is evidence that high fat/ low carbohydrate diets might starve tumour cells.  Omega 3 fatty acids may have antitumour effects but omega 6 fatty acids may promote metastases (cancer spreading to other parts of the body) so be sure to choose a supplement that contains only omega 3 fatty acids. J. Martin DVM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It seems that "Fluffy" has this on his little white ears.  I looked it up in a book and there was some good news and bad news.  The good news is that the cancer cells can sometimes be "starved" with a high fat/high protien diet with glutamine(?). Also vitamins A&B, and Omega 3 and 6 are said to help.  Quite a list.  Does anyone have any experience with this problem and any recommendations as to the types of foods that may contain these things? Thanks! Regards, Gord Schindler Toronto, Canada MAAC 6695

Response:

It seems that "Fluffy" has this on his little white ears.  I looked it up in a book and there was some good news and bad news.  The good news is that the cancer cells can sometimes be "starved" with a high fat/high protien diet with glutamine(?). Also vitamins A&B, and Omega 3 and 6 are said to help.  Quite a list.  Does anyone have any experience with this problem and any recommendations as to the types of foods that may contain these things? Thanks! Regards, Gord Schindler Toronto, Canada MAAC 6695

Response:

I hope you plan to have his ears amputated before trying dietary therapy.  Sqamous cell carcinoma is very aggressive and shouldn’t be tinkered with.  Have the ears sent to a pathologist to read the margins to make sure it was all removed. Diet definitely can play a role in treating cancer but will be of no use for your cat unless the tumours are removed.  I don’t know of a commercial diet that would serve as a good cancer diet but there is evidence that high fat/ low carbohydrate diets might starve tumour cells.  Omega 3 fatty acids may have antitumour effects but omega 6 fatty acids may promote metastases (cancer spreading to other parts of the body) so be sure to choose a supplement that contains only omega 3 fatty acids. J. Martin DVM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It seems that "Fluffy" has this on his little white ears.  I looked it up in a book and there was some good news and bad news.  The good news is that the cancer cells can sometimes be "starved" with a high fat/high protien diet with glutamine(?). Also vitamins A&B, and Omega 3 and 6 are said to help.  Quite a list.  Does anyone have any experience with this problem and any recommendations as to the types of foods that may contain these things? Thanks! Regards, Gord Schindler Toronto, Canada MAAC 6695

Response:

It seems that "Fluffy" has this on his little white ears.  I looked it up in a book and there was some good news and bad news.  The good news is that the cancer cells can sometimes be "starved" with a high fat/high protien diet with glutamine(?). Also vitamins A&B, and Omega 3 and 6 are said to help.  Quite a list.  Does anyone have any experience with this problem and any recommendations as to the types of foods that may contain these things? Thanks! Regards, Gord Schindler Toronto, Canada MAAC 6695

Response: