When the colonoscopy was over and I was defogging from being sedated the nurse told me I would probably want to go home and sleep for the rest of the day. I took a nap for a couple hours and then decided to reorganize my pantry. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’ve been thinking a lot about my food plan lately. I plan to see an oncology nutritionist once I start chemo but right now I am trying to learn and prepare for my diet as much as I can. Having been gluten free for over 20 years and on a plant based whole foods kick for most of 2018 the thought of adjusting seems less a burden and more an opportunity to learn. I started reading a book last week called Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds by Dr. Kelly A. Turner and one of the major themes addressed up front it the concept of changing your diet to heal cancer. There are 9 key factors that she goes into from her interviews with terminal patients who survived so my plan is to invest my time, mental, and physical energy into learning about all of them on this journey.

With diet, the known thinking is there are some foods that fight and prevent cancer while others (like processed foods) make you more prone to digestive issues and disease. Sugar is one of those foods that cancer loves so one of the things I plan to adhere to is a minimal or no sugar diet and have any sugars be in the form of fresh fruits. I’ve also been reading…A LOT.

I bought a juicer and glass beverage containers so Troy or I can make juice for the week if we need to. In my mind I am thinking about the period that I am in now as the calm before the storm so my focus has been on preparation and getting organized. I know the road ahead is going to be hard and that there are going to be days when I don’t want to do anything. I believe that the more I can prepare and educate myself now I will have the knowledge to ensure that I get the nutrition that I need when I need it even if the chemo destroys the tastebuds in my mouth for a while.

This also needs to be easy for Troy and I to continue leading our normal life. My goal is to pick a day during the week for us to prep. I reorganized my pantry today because I want it to be really clear where things are and what is and is not cancer friendly. That means complex carbs like crackers and pasta on higher shelves with nuts, supplements, simple carbs, and seeds on easy to reach shelves. Spices now occupy two drawers because I am missing a few cookbook staples. I also bought more glass storage so we can store food and have it be visible and easy to reach as well as reusable labels. I’m also the proud new owner of a juicer which is going to stay out on the counter with the Vitamix until I stop using it daily. Putting big things away takes energy that I will need. I’m an anal retentive overachiever who loves to plan. What can I say?

Next is the food. Oh the food. Everything I’ve read and everyone I talk to tells me my tastebuds are going to change. One guy, Dan, who is also going through chemo for colon cancer said to be prepared for food to taste like burned lightbulbs. I have no idea how this medicine is going to impact my body and taste but what I do know is no matter what I must prioritize nourishing my body. While food might lack the flavor diversity I need for the foreseeable future I’ll at least come out of this knowing that what I am eating is a lifestyle choice that I can continue once the chemo side effects go away.

Over the next however long I am going to dedicate the “lifestyle” section of this blog to a journey of learning and nutrition discovery. I’ll also write about recipes, taste experiences, and I'll bring my husband along for the ride as my #1 taste tester.

I’m looking forward to this challenge.

-Brynn

P.S. I learned today that cancer doesn’t have nerve endings, I did get to watch the play by play during the procedure today, and I got a new tattoo…on my colon.

What to eat when you're expecting chemo.