6 Tips On Fighting Liver Cancer

Approximately 20,000 American men and women will be diagnosed with liver cancer this year. To make matters worse, this statistic is on the rise year after year and though most medical professionals deem the root cause of liver cancer to be cryptogenic, the rise in liver cancer shows high correlation to the US diet consisting of fatty, acidic foods to be a primary cause. A high fat diet comprised of fast foods and red meats is believed to cause acidic conditions in the body and can alter the body's natural alkalinity, thus creating a "perfect" environment for bacteria, fungus and ultimately cancer to thrive.
Once diagnosed, it diagnosed, it is even more critical to alter the diet and way of life, but more importantly to not give up hope, despite the ominous statistics of survival rates. Here are 6 tips to help aid those recently diagnosed so that they may become "survivor statistics" rather than just a statistic of liver cancer.

Tip #1: Eliminate sugar.
If a cancerous tumor is a deadly "fire" in your body, then the sugar in your diet is like gasoline. Cancer cells feed on simple sugars, but there's more to the story than that. Sugar causes the body to release growth-promoting hormones as well as insulin when the blood sugar level spikes. Since simple sugars are bad (and found in sweets like soda, candy or other juice drinks) doesn't that mean there are good sugars, too?

Yes! complex sugars, also known as complex carbohydrates, are needed for survival as well since they contain essential vitamins, minerals, proteins and fibers. Stick to fruit, vegetables and grains for cancer-fighting diets.

Tip #2: Reduce Sodium Intake:
Many liver cancer patients have pre-existing cirrhosis of the liver as well, which is a scarring of the tissues that cause many more complications.
One of the worst symptoms is Ascites and/or Edema. Ascites is the swelling of the abdomen, and heavy fluid-retention, whereas Edema is the swelling of the feet, ankles and legs, and is generally pitted. These conditions should be treated with diuretics, however, consuming excess sodium in your diet will reduce the effectiveness of the diuretics and can cause further or prolonged swelling, which is very dangerous. Prolonged swelling can lead to strokes, heart attacks and rupturing of veins.

Tip #3: Stop Drinking:
If your cirrhosis and subsequent liver cancer was brought on by alcoholism, then this may be very difficult. However, great discipline and strength of mind is needed within all liver cancer fighters. If the liver is impaired or compromised in terms of it's efficiency, then adding alcohol to the body will only further exacerbate the problem. As the liver weakens, it becomes unable to process and rid itself of alcohol. These toxins will be recycled into the bloodstream, where they can only cause further damage as opposed to being filtered and excreted in an otherwise healthy body.

Tip #4: Don't Give Up:
It is perfectly natural to run the gamut of emotions after being diagnosed with any form of cancer, but once you come to terms with the diagnosis, you need to begin your fight both physically and mentally. Many people turn to religion for help and for answers. It is wise to use your faith to aid in your fight. As a Catholic, I wholeheartedly believe, that God will not simply heal you if you ask, but rather give you the tools and internal strength to fight the disease yourself. Believe in your faith, but read, research and fight for your time on this earth.

Tip #5: Get Support:
You will need all the support of your family and friends to battle cancer. Whether it is asking someone to get groceries for your anti-cancer diet or prepare meals for you when you are too weak yourself; to simply being there as an emotional crutch. Most survivors will tell you that fighting cancer is a team effort and you will need to enlist all the help you can get. You'll find that others may contribute to your informational search for clues in battling cancer through diet and exercise.

Tip #6: Change Your Diet:
This may be the most important aspect of beating liver cancer. Many people that are survivors of liver cancer, attribute specialized cancer diet protocols. Odds are, your diet may have be a large reason for the disease. In cases of alcohol abuse, fatty liver disease brought on by obesity, etc, the nutritiously-lacking diet is linked as a major factor of liver cancer and other auto-immune diseases. Purchasing a juicer or masticator may be your best weapon in the fight against cancer. There are many diet protocols out there for liver cancer such as:

1. Budwig Diet - consists of cottage cheese and flax oil to improve immune health
   
2. Raw Food - consists of juicing vegetables and fruits for most meals
   
3. Concord Grape Diet - consists of fruit juicing and heavy doses of seeded concord grapes