Dear Dr. Sears,
Q: I recently heard you spoke at my school, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. So far, out of all our lectures, yours has hit home the most. I have been taking fish oil daily since your presentation and have been trying to get my family to do the same.
My aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer several years ago and now not only has it metastasized, but it has reappeared in the lung area after chemotherapy. I'm having a very hard time driving home what I consider to be aids in helping the tumors shrink: The reduction of sugar and the introduction of fish oil.
Because I am not a doctor, my family is hesitant and afraid to consider integrative ideas, and because I'm not a doctor, I can see their point of view.
While I know you don't have time to contact each person directly, would you have any suggestions for physicians with a like mindset to yours at Strong Memorial in Rochester or at Johns Hopkins in Maryland?
A: The interventions that have been demonstrated the greatest efficacy in slowing tumor growth are calorie restriction and high-dose fish oil. Unfortunately, I don’t have the names of anyone at either institution who might understand the need to both tightly control blood glucose and well as reduce silent inflammation in combination with any prescribed chemotherapy. The most likely thing they would say is that it can’t hurt.