A Cancer Survivor's Diet

Survival rates for Colon Cancer by stage

Stage	5-year Survival Rate
I	74%
IIA	67%
IIB	59%
IIC	37%
IIIA	73%
IIIB	46%
IIIC	28%
IV	6%

Survival among colon cancer patients have improved significantly in the last decade given advances in treatments which now include surgery to remove the tumor, plus chemotherapy and radiation if there are signs that the cancer has gone beyond the colon.

Given that more than 70% of Stage III Colon Cancer patients survive 5 years or more--the question arises, is there a special diet that these patients should follow to prevent the recurrence of their cancer?

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association presents some impressive evidence regarding the ability of diet to prevent a recurrence of cancer.

In this study, they found that cancer survivors who ate the least amounts of red meat, processed meats (such as hot dogs or canned products), sweets, desserts, french fries and processed grains had half the mortality rates as those who ate the most of those foods.

Consistent with other studies, cancer survivors should lean towards a more whole foods diet that is abundant in vegetables and fruits, whole grains and beans, sources of omega-3 fatty acids and low in alcohol.