No two cancers are the same and neither should your nutrition be. The most commonly asked question to dieticians and oncologists globally is “What Should I Eat?”. The answer is “It Depends”. It depends on the type of cancer, current treatment and supplements being taken, age, gender, BMI, lifestyle and any genetic information available. In short – the answer to “What Should I Eat” for Desmoid Tumor needs to be personalized to minimize adverse interactions between nutrition (from foods/diet) and treatment, and to improve symptoms.
Foods like Cabbage and Cowpea should be eaten when undergoing Cyclophosphamide treatment for Desmoid Tumor. On the same lines, avoid foods like Brussels Sprout and Common Pea with treatment of Cyclophosphamide for Desmoid Tumor. Also, Black Seed supplement contains an active ingredient called Thymoquinone. Thymoquinone has CYP (drug metabolizing enzyme) interactions with Cyclophosphamide treatment and hence should be avoided.
You get the point – your nutrition needs to be personalized and it needs to be re-evaluated as soon as any of the conditions change. Create and follow a nutrition plan personalized to you to minimize adverse interactions of nutrition for cancers or tumors like Desmoid Tumor.
What is Desmoid Tumor?
Desmoid Tumor is a rare, usually non-cancerous tumor that develops in the connective tissue. Desmoid tumors commonly develops in the abdomen, arms and legs. The incidence rate of this tumor is only 0.2 per 1 lakh people per year. This tumor is commonly diagnosed in people who are about 30 years of age, however, it can occur in people of any age. It is slightly more commonly found in women as compared to men.
Desmoid Tumor has prevalence of certain genetic changes. Some of the genes such as CTNNB1, SOS2, KIF1B, and APC are known to have genetic abnormalities in this tumor resulting in a change of function.
The genetic abnormalities found in Desmoid Tumor can influence specific biochemical pathways to drive these disease cells to aggressive growth and survive the ongoing treatment. In addition, lifestyle conditions or habits like smoking, alcohol consumption and BMI (Body Mass Index) can have a big influence on the response to your physician prescribed treatments for Desmoid Tumor. Numerous studies have consistently shown that your nutrition/diet – both food and nutritional supplements can adversely affect the treatment or be supportive or play no role. Hence, the triangulation of Desmoid Tumor genomics, planned or ongoing therapies and lifestyle need to be thoroughly considered to make decisions on what foods and supplements to consider and avoid while designing diet/nutrition plan. Also, it is important to note that when any of these conditions change, like treatment or lifestyle or cancer/tumor diagnosis – it may impact the nutrition and the nutrition/diet plan for Desmoid Tumor nutrition may have to be redesigned.
Why Eating Right Matters for Desmoid Tumor?
In Desmoid Tumor, activation or inhibition of some of the biochemical pathways including Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition, Apoptosis, P53 Signaling, Adherens Junction, Cell Cycle, Wnt Beta-Catenin Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and MAPK Signaling plays an important role in driving the disease. All foods and nutritional supplements contain active ingredients which have a specific molecular action on different biochemical pathways. Hence, while the intake of certain foods and nutritional supplements as part of the diet may support a specific treatment of Desmoid Tumor, avoid eating few other foods and supplements which may lead to adverse interactions with the treatment or may increase the tumor progression.
Example Foods to “Not Eat” and Eat with Cyclophosphamide treatment for Desmoid Tumor
The nutrition for cancer always depends on the type of cancer, treatments and supplements being taken (if any), age, gender, BMI, lifestyle and any genetic information available. Here we show an example of nutrition/diet for Desmoid Tumor considering only one specific treatment.
Foods to Avoid with Cyclophosphamide treatment
Brussels Sprout and Common Pea : Brussels Sprout and Common Pea contains active ingredients such as Folic Acid, Vitamin C and others. Folic Acid interferes with the impact of Cyclophosphamide in Desmoid Tumor by activating a specific biochemical pathway called PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Hence avoid foods like Brussels Sprout and Common Pea with Cyclophosphamide treatment for Desmoid Tumor. (B D Cowley Jr et al, J Biol Chem., 1989; Gulsah Albayrak et al, Proceedings., 2018; Laura Rosenberg et al, Carcinogenesis, 2018; Scott H Okuno and John H Edmonson, Cancer., 2003)
Foods to Eat with Cyclophosphamide treatment
Cabbage : Cabbage contains active ingredients like Brassinin, Pelargonidin, Quercetin. Intake of Brassinin along with Cyclophosphamide treatment for Desmoid Tumor causes a decrease in a specific biochemical pathway which is called PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, and this is a very positive effect. Cabbage hence should be eaten with Cyclophosphamide treatment for Desmoid Tumor. (Yasuyuki Izutani et al, Int J Oncol., 2012; Gulsah Albayrak et al, Proceedings., 2018; Laura Rosenberg et al, Carcinogenesis, 2018; Scott H Okuno and John H Edmonson, Cancer., 2003)
Cowpea : Cowpea contains active ingredients like Ferulic Acid, Quercetin, P-coumaric Acid. Intake of Ferulic Acid along with Cyclophosphamide treatment for Desmoid Tumor causes a decrease in a specific biochemical pathway which is called PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, and this is a very positive effect. Cowpea hence should be eaten with Cyclophosphamide treatment for this cancer. (Guang-Wei Yang et al, Int J Mol Sci., 2015; Gulsah Albayrak et al, Proceedings., 2018; Laura Rosenberg et al, Carcinogenesis, 2018; Scott H Okuno and John H Edmonson, Cancer., 2003)
Should I take this Nutritional Supplement with Cyclophosphamide treatment?
Black Seed : Black Seed nutritional supplements contain active ingredients such as Thymoquinone which have CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 interactions with Cyclophosphamide treatment, and hence should not be used. Also, Black Seed supplement does not show benefit on other biochemical pathways that could improve the Cyclophosphamide treatment efficacy in Desmoid Tumor. (Ahmed A Albassam et al, Saudi Pharm J., 2018; Priya P Gor et al, Breast Cancer Res., 2010; Gulsah Albayrak et al, Proceedings., 2018; Laura Rosenberg et al, Carcinogenesis, 2018; Scott H Okuno and John H Edmonson, Cancer., 2003)
Foods to Eat After Cancer Diagnosis!
No two cancers are the same. Go beyond the common nutrition guidelines for everyone and make personalized decisions about food and supplements with confidence.
What are the Symptoms of Desmoid Tumor?
In the initial stages, most cancers/tumors including Desmoid Tumor may not cause any signs or symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, it may start showing symptoms.
Following are some of the signs and symptoms that may be caused by Desmoid Tumor.
- Lump, mass or area of swelling
- Cramping, if the tumor occurs in the stomach
- Loss of function in the affected area
Though many of these symptoms may also be caused by various other health conditions, consult your doctor if you experience these symptoms to rule out the possible chances of Desmoid Tumor.
What are the Treatment Options for Desmoid Tumor?
The treatment for Desmoid Tumor may be decided based on different factors including tumor characteristics, symptoms, patient’s general health and medical history, and whether the tumor can be removed completely by surgery. The treatment options for Desmoid Tumor include:
- Watchful waiting
Surgery or surgery followed by radiation is the most common treatment regimen for Desmoid Tumor. Radiotherapy helps to shrink the tumor. The primary role of chemotherapy is in the treatment of metastatic disease. As part of the diet, avoid including those foods and supplements that may adversely interact with the treatments for this Tumor.
The two most important things to remember are that cancer treatments and nutrition are never the same for everyone. Nutrition/diet which includes food and nutritional supplements is an effective tool which is controlled by you, while facing cancer/tumor such as Desmoid Tumor.
What food you eat and which supplements you take is a decision you make. Your decision should include consideration of the cancer gene mutations, which cancer, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, lifestyle information, weight, height and habits.
The nutrition planning for cancer from addon is not based on internet searches. It automates the decision making for you based on molecular science implemented by our scientists and software engineers. Irrespective of whether you care to understand the underlying biochemical molecular pathways or not - for nutrition planning for cancer that understanding is needed.
Get started NOW with your nutrition planning by answering questions on the name of cancer, genetic mutations, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, habits, lifestyle, age group and gender.
Personalized Nutrition for Cancer!
Cancer changes with time. Customize and modify your nutrition based on cancer indication, treatments, lifestyle, food preferences, allergies and other factors.
Cancer patients often have to deal with different chemotherapy side effects which affect their quality of life and look out for alternative therapies for cancer. Taking the right nutrition and supplements based on scientific considerations (avoiding guesswork and random selection) is the best natural remedy for cancer and treatment related side-effects.