Q: I am a 43-year-old male living in Athens, Greece. Two years ago my doctor diagnosed lung cancer, stage 3. From that time I've been through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and my condition was stable. A few months ago I did a PET scan, which showed a metastasis in the left gland. I am now on a biological pill chemotherapy, and my stamina and my strength are very weak. Could you propose a diet that could enhance my strength and my life in general? I appreciate your response to my inquiry.
Dimitris Z.
A: The only two nutritional interventions that have ever shown benefits in cancer treatment are calorie restriction and high-dose fish oil. The Zone Diet is a calorie-restriction program without hunger. The combination of the Zone Diet with about 10-15 grams of EPA and DHA per day would be your best protocol for a better quality of life, especially considering that you are still doing chemotherapy.