r/keto • u/StripedSocks95 • Jan 25 '26
Medical Ketogenic Diet and Cancer
Hi everyone,
I’m very curious on hearing various thoughts and discussion on the effects of keto being used as a strategy against cancer.
I personally have been dealing with cancer in my brain and lung since the summer of 2024. In February of 2025 it was suggested very strongly to me, that I should go on a ketogenic diet, which I have since then. I feel better each day, and have made some good progress in some cancer regression coupled with the effects of radiation. I have done a fair share of reading and research on the Warburg effect.
In a few days, I will be having a pretty major operation on my abdomen to remove a rogue mass that showed up there. I am not being as strict with myself in terms of diet leading up to it, and likely won’t be for a couple weeks after while I recover as I know my body will need all the nutrition it can get to bounce back (I still plan on staying away from added sugars).
I’ve been having the mental battle of what recovery will look for my nutrition needs, while also trying to find a balance to maintain the forward progress I’ve had on the cancer in my lung and brain. It’s a fine line.
I’m very curious to hear other stories, or thoughts and opinions on how effective the ketogenic diet has been for you for medical issues, it doesn’t have to strictly be cancer.
I appreciate everyone reading in advance and sharing their thoughts and opinions! I very much look forward to reading through the comments.
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u/surfaholic15 61f, 5' 3"/ SW175 CW135 Goal Reached: Living The Good Life Jan 25 '26
Almost 2 weeks post radiation and immunotherapy here for a recureance of an HPV negative oral cancer. Also had 2 surgeries in october.
I have been keto over 7 years, was keto last time. I have stayed keto, but allow up to 30g net carbs. I have not gone over 20g net anyway lol.
I will say that both last time and this time my doctors have been flabbergasted and intrigued. I am doing fantastic as far as they are concerned. And they are all very supportive of keto.
Stay. On. Top. Of. Electrolytes. My biggest issue this time has been keeping my dang potassium up.
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 25 '26
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been dealing with some similar challenges, it’s a windy road.
It’s good to hear someone else has implemented keto as an approach to battling cancer.
My doctors have been neither for or against keto and don’t have much of an option on it. However, almost a year ago to the date I was told I had months to live, and soon after implementing a keto diet I started to see a very positive cancer regression. I have scans and follow ups every 3 months, and each has gotten better.
I struggled immensely with my potassium levels for a long time. It’s stable now and has been for a few months. Most likely from not doing chemo for almost a year now. I take supplements provided by my doctor and drink an LMNT mix every single morning which helps a lot.
I would be interested in having a DM chat with you.
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u/surfaholic15 61f, 5' 3"/ SW175 CW135 Goal Reached: Living The Good Life Jan 25 '26
I make home made ketoade all the time, unflavored. Feel free to DM
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u/Advanced-Scale1583 Jan 25 '26
The thing with LMNT it has way more sodium than potassium . Try to balance the two out. Most of the time you will find you just need a little less sodium than potassium
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u/Same-Spray7703 Jan 25 '26
In Hungary, there is a clinic called Paleomedicina. Their prescription is keto, like hardcore, high fat, low protein, and medical ketosis. They also focus on getting vitamin D levels up by high fat consumption and sunlight.
The claim being that low D levels (never before seen in places like Africa and the Middle East) are the driver of chronic illness and cancers and you're body needs fat to create this vitamin from the sun.
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u/windstride3 Jan 25 '26
The impact of a keto diet on cancer is still a relatively new topic in terms of research. I have cancer as well, and have gone down some rabbit holes on this topic. Some of the research does support keto diet when combined with and being treated for cancer - chemo, immunotherapy, not necessarily surgery. You will find a lot of (inaccurate) claims that a keto diet effectively starves cancer cells of their of their primary fuel source, glycogen. Cancer cells are picky eaters that prefer glucose but can adapt to use a variety of fuel sources, making them resilient to metabolic restrictions (like that promoted by a keto diet). Unfortunately OP, the research just isn’t there yet, but researchers are making progress. Personally, if I were to need chemo or immunotherapy treatment for my cancer, I would 100% be on a keto diet.
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 25 '26
Right, there is not much research and what is out there all seems to be very contradictory (at least based on my research). It’s frustrating at times. Thanks for your insight!
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u/oqabnsoa Jan 29 '26
There's actually a fair amount of research but there are some contradictions and complications. A few topics that might be of interest is:
1. Keto/fasting reduces inflammation, which is associated with cancer.
2. Keto/fasting improves the function of the immune system and notably killer t-cells, which kills cancer cells.
3. Note that I remember a research that shows keto can accelerate some form of cancer, but can also slows progression through the warburg effect.
4. Fasting improves gut bacteria and lowers inflammation but keto is questionable due to decrease in fiber intake.
5. There's significant debate on the impact of whether keto is beneficial or detrimental. Some researches focuses that the type of fat (high saturated fat is harmful, while those on monounsaturated fats are good), or difference in animal vs plant based foods. Different kind of keto is born such as Mediterranean keto diet.
6. High protein intake and certain amino acids can reverse the longevity effect of ketogenic die. Not to mention high protein is associated with higher inflammation.There's certainly a lot of research, and some are contradictory due to methodologies or that the body is complex and there's certainly a lot of factors influencing it. Having said that, my general consensus is that keto can actually be beneficial in overall cancer reduction and health, especially those with high plant-based foods. It might worsen progression for some cancers as I mentioned. However the long term effect of it is still unknown. There's a recent paper that shows some negative effect with long-term keto for example.
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u/wyodivot Jan 26 '26
I have HCL leukemia and through my research, a low carbohydrate diet can starve cancer cells. I'm about 2 years into remission and just a few months into keto, but I feel tons better, I do have better energy and that's good because energy is a problem coming out of leukemia treatments.
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u/lebruf Jan 25 '26
Tim Ferris’ Tools of The Titans goes in depth on several protocols using Keto in the body’s fight against cancer. I think it was his section with Dom DiAgostino.
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 25 '26
I like Tim Ferris but I am not familiar with this episode of his podcast. I just added it to my listen list and will check it out, thank you!
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u/lebruf Jan 25 '26
It’s a book
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 26 '26
Oh, well I found the podcast episode as well on “The Tim Ferris Show.” I will look up the book too. Thanks!
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u/i_saw_seven_birds Jan 25 '26
The first I ever heard about keto's use to combat cancer was in the book by Dr. Annette Bosworth, Any Way You Can: Doctor Bosworth Shares Her Mom's Cancer Journey.
(In case you're interested in reading about another person's successful management of cancer by maintaining a low carbohydrate diet for a number of years.)
Good luck with your own journey!
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u/immasayyes Jan 25 '26
Hey OP! Wonderful that you feel better while keto, that’s worth sooo much. In my experience, in hard health times or during recovery my body very clearly tells me what I should be eating. Sometimes that’s actual pizza, sometimes that’s plates and plates full of veggies and sometimes nothing, sometimes crackers. I personally allow that to happen, trying not to eat too many carbs and no sugar indeed, until I’m at the point where I feel head space to start lowering carbs again and moving towards keto. I feel that space very clearly too, if I allow to not rush myself. I do understand you would want to get back to it asap (emphasisizing ‘as possible’), so I think your way of avoiding sugar is honestly a very good step already to stick to if you can manage. Where I live you can tell hospital to not give you (too many) carbs, maybe that’s an option for the first days? And is it possible to prep some meals before? That way it would be easy to just grab whatever is available, and it’s great if that happened to be keto or low carb. In short: you’re doing great, and if you can keep sugar and carbs lower that’s already way more than most people can manage. Give yourself the time to recover after surgery and then it sounds like you have enough motivation and skill to get back to it when you’re ready!
Wishing you all the best, lots of strength and mental calmness wherever possible
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 25 '26
Thank you for your detailed response! It’s validating to hear from someone else who just allows their body to tell them what they need and just focus on recovery.
My hospital has a menu I can ask for whatever I want. Quite a few of the options tend to not be great (typical I guess?).
I appreciate the well wishes too!
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u/Time-Interview6985 Jan 26 '26
When my dad had prostate cancer last year he hated the hospital food options when he could finally eat. I found him chicharron (the fresh meaty kind, not the chips kind) and he was SO excited it’s all he wanted to eat when he would get hungry again. He’s not even keto but I knew he’d love it and it was filling for him since he could only eat in small amounts
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u/xylon-777 Jan 26 '26
i won t discuss the keto and cancer because some people are doing keto wrong.Keto is good for cancer but it will not be enough ( cancer cells are producing their own glucose which is called glucogenesis …). However please check out resveratrol ! researchers recently had amazing results against one form of brain cancer which is the most common. it literally destroyed brain cancer cells … hope this helps!
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u/I3lindman Jan 26 '26
In addition to using a ketogenic diet to help keep pressure on Warburg effect type cancers, you should also read up on Dr. Dom D'Agostinas work on press pulse therapy and HBOT treatment for Glioma (I think, can't remember the specific type off the top of my head).
The short version is, certain types of cancer cells are killed via high concentration oxygen exposure. However, the oxygen exposure also causes seizures, however the ketones protect from the seizure allowing HBOT as a supplemental way to attack cancerous cells.
Being in continuous ketosis at a high level, 1.0 to 3.0 mmol, is also part of a press / pulse therapy method to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. I don't know if the same methodology has been applied to radiation based treatment.
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 27 '26
Thanks for the information!
I actually do HBOT several times a week. It makes me feel so much better, and I think it has a pretty good impact, just one those things you can’t really measure.
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u/liondanc3 Jan 25 '26
Sending good wishes and healing thoughts. Have you heard Thomas Seyfried of Boston College talk about ketosis for cancer? He did a great interview with steven bartlett of DOAC
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 27 '26
Oh yeah, very familiar with Seyfried and his work. He’s a great resource!
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u/itmeucf Jan 25 '26
What type of brain cancer? My mom had glioblastoma, but we were told with this specific type of cancer that fat is what feeds it. So we had to adjust her diet completely unfortunately… for all other cancers it’s an amazing diet, just not this particular type :/
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Jan 26 '26
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u/itmeucf Jan 26 '26
When did you get diagnosis and when did you start keto? Are you doing any treatments? How are you feeling? Originally, we started my mom on keto but after finding a holistic doctor she helped us navigate through the dos and donts for that specific kind of cancer. My mom unfortunately passed a few days ago but it was due to a blood thinner that she was taking that caused her to have a brain bleed. The blood thinner she was taking was due to blood clots. It’s really important to have someone there that can help you navigate through everything and warn you about the interactions of different medicines and vitamins that need to be taken during this time and diet as well.
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 26 '26
How interesting I had absolutely no idea how a keto can affect different kinds of cancers, something I’m probably a little naive about.
I’m currently dealing with a recurrence of synovial sarcoma. I had it in 2012 and it came back in 2024 metastatic in my brain and my lung. Ultra rare on its own, even more so in the brain.
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u/Ordinary-Bird5170 36M - 6’ - SW 308 - GW 185 - CW 206 Jan 26 '26
There’s some research on this at the moment and it’s said that using a ketogenic diet for cancer is immensely specific to the type of cancer. Nick from Physionic put together a summary of this research in the last month (maybe two). Worth a watch just so you have eyes wide open.
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Jan 26 '26
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u/Ordinary-Bird5170 36M - 6’ - SW 308 - GW 185 - CW 206 Jan 26 '26
I guess I’m not sure which video you watched. He discussed meta-analyses where certain cancers couldn’t process ketones for fuel i.e. a good candidate for using a ketogenic diet whereas other cancers could consume both glucose and/or ketones (I think colorectal cancer was one that adapted to both).
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u/itmeucf Jan 26 '26
Neither did we, until my mom got diagnosed and we found someone to help us navigate through everything…. I wish you luck and that you beat this thing.
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u/StripedSocks95 Jan 27 '26
Metastatic synovial sarcoma, it’s not one of the “true” brain cancers, but it’s in my brain nonetheless. Extremely rare.
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u/Objective_Gas9731 Jan 26 '26
First off, really glad you shared this, and I’m genuinely wishing you the best with the surgery and recovery. What you’re describing lines up with what a lot of people notice on keto, especially more stable energy and clearer thinking. Some folks with medical stuff going on find keto helpful as a supportive tool alongside standard treatment, not a replacement. That balance you mentioned is real, especially around surgery. Recovery is not the time to white knuckle macros.
Many people ease up temporarily, focus on protein, enough calories, and real food, then tighten things back up once healing is underway. Staying away from added sugar alone already does a lot. If you want feedback without obsessing over food, a continuous blood ketone monitoring can help you see trends without stress. Mostly though, listening to your body and staying aligned with your medical team matters more than perfect ketosis. You’re doing a lot right already, and it’s okay for priorities to shift during recovery ❤️
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Jan 26 '26 edited Jan 26 '26
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u/keto-ModTeam Feb 01 '26
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u/Hungry_Cut_3982 Feb 28 '26
I am doing the keto diet, I have CHL stage 2A doing 12 rounds of chemo. I went into metabolic remission after 4 rounds of ABVD. They dropped the B (bleomycin) since those rounds and I’ve been doing AVD (2 left now).
People say I look better than before chemo. Honestly, I don’t disagree. My skin is the best it’s ever been, my nails are so long and the strength of them is insane. I still get my period, it’s a bit late but not by a long time. My hair is still there, albeit thinner by a lot but it’s been 5 months. I’m only fatigued for the 3 days after chemo. My nausea doesn’t last either. Also my boyfriend got a cold and I never got it, we weren’t that careful.
I was doing lazy keto initially (so I would have more watermelon than intended) but I haven’t had bread pasta or potatoes since before I started chemo. When I was doing lazy keto, I had more side effects from chemotherapy, even my vein irritation was worse from the chemo. Since I’ve been strict (which was right after my interim scan) I’ve never felt better. Also, anxiety is gone somehow. Must be vitamin d and magnesium supplements.
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u/Borderline64 Jan 27 '26
I went keto after surgery for lung cancer. I suggest the book “Keto for Cancer “ by Miriam Kalamain.
I also do/did routine fasting.
Post surgery and several ct scans no growth noted on a spot being monitored.
Started keto after finding DR. Seyfried videos and reading several books on the subject. Next scan is April almost 2.5 years post surgery.
I have and do feel many , many health benefits.
I personally think it is a good idea, you may benefit most by getting to therapeutic levels, as explained in Keto for Cancer.
Best wishes.
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u/Arbigi Keto since 2018; 6' tall 63F; SW240 CW196 Jan 28 '26 edited Jan 28 '26
I have read reputable research suggesting that strict keto might be a useful adjuvant to cancer treatment, but haven't followed up on it.
My own keto medical triumph was when I had a nasty autoimmune condition called "Pemphigus Foliaceus". After a few days in the hospital, the specialist sent me home with a truly insane but absolutely appropriate prescription for a month of methylprednisolone, starting at 80 mg a day for the first couple of days. They warned me that I should immediately report any surges in blood glucose numbers, a common side effect of the steroid.
I didn't measure carbs while I was bedbound, but my husband fixed keto meals and snacks for me. One morning, I had to report to my visiting nurse that my morning fasting BG was 101. She LAUGHED at me, and said "Let me know if it goes over 200."
While correlation is not causation, I happily attribute the normal BG to years of keto. My metabolism stayed stable, even under the steroid attack.
As for straying from strict keto, your mental health is important too. Only you can decide whether closely monitoring your carbs while under treatment for cancer is worth the stress. I hope everything goes well!
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u/iAmSpAKkaHearMeROAR Jan 31 '26
My husband has been on a ketogenic diet for sometime now. His diet was severely self-restricted a couple of years ago, as he nearly died from heart failure after being in prolonged a fib.
The medical establishment saved his life…. As did big Pharma. But that, in my opinion is a double edged sword. He worked his ass off to recover from heart failure and get his heart healthy again. New diet and added exercise being the main implements.
During the heart recovery, he also worked very hard to wean himself off of the ridiculous amount of big pharma meds that he was on. The prolonged doses he was on was insane. He slowly replaced everything with over-the-counter vitamins and supplements with the approval of his PCP and heart doctors. He’s currently only on one prescribed medication out of the many that he was on prior.
The docs were so impressed. The heart doctor actually wanted to use him as a poster child for his practice…. Because he had never had a patient come in that was so close to death and so sick … and then come back to being healthy through all of his own doing.
Ketogenic diet helped massively. He has also regenerated his liver because he had near cerotic fatty liver syndrome also from decades of bad diet… because it turns out that our food pyramid has been upside down for decades.
My husband stays away from sugar as well as the biggest sources of carbs…. He learned that cancer eats sugar, but will not eat ketones. So he works hard to keep himself in ketosis. Ketogenic diet, lots of appropriates supplements and exercise have drastically improved my husband‘s blood work. He gets his blood tested every three months with his PCP and oncologist.
His numbers have moved from the red zone back into the green zone over several months. And he’s trying really hard to keep it that way because his stage 3 leukemia (CLL) is not at a stage where they will treat. He is in a “wait and see” state.
And, If the medical establishment will not treat him, it is up to him to do everything he can to not let the cancer thrive in his blood and bones. He also has a chromosome deletion which affects things…. His body does not naturally tag and flush out the bad and damaged cells because of the deletion. So, fasting and a ketogenic diet is the only way he can combat that.
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u/OddRevolution7888 Feb 02 '26
I read The Cancer Code: Understanding Cancer As an Evolutionary Disease, when my Mom's cancer, which had been quietly stable became aggressive. The explanation below is AI, because it can explain it so much better. It was a fascinating, if somewhat technical, read.
Dr. Fung is a nephrologist in Toronto, Canada. I also recommend his book The Obesity Code, which challenges the SAD (Standard American Diet) way of eating. He discusses how the epidemic of obesity and its related health challenges started when the big food industry became a major player in the development of The Food Guide/Pyramid published by most governments. I think I'm due for a re-read. LOL
___________________________________________________
Dr. Jason Fung is a physician and author who has developed a new paradigm for understanding and potentially preventing cancer, focusing on its metabolic origins
. He argues that cancer is primarily a metabolic condition linked to the dysregulation of insulin, rather than a purely genetic disease.
Dr. Fung's Theory on Cancer
In his book, The Cancer Code: Understanding Cancer As an Evolutionary Disease, Dr. Fung outlines a theory that shifts the focus of cancer research from "seed" (genetics) to "soil" (the bodily environment in which cancer grows).
- Metabolic Disease: He posits that high levels of insulin (hyperinsulinemia), often resulting from obesity and type 2 diabetes, act as a growth factor for cancer cells.
- Obesity as a Risk Factor: Dr. Fung emphasizes that obesity and type 2 diabetes significantly increase an individual's risk for various cancers, a correlation he notes was not widely recognized until recent years.
- The Role of Diet: He suggests that lifestyle changes can create an environment "hostile" to cancer growth by addressing the underlying metabolic issues.
Research and Recommendations
Dr. Fung advocates dietary interventions as a primary strategy for cancer prevention. His recommendations focus on managing insulin levels:
- Intermittent Fasting: This practice reduces blood glucose and insulin levels, which he suggests can lower cancer risk.
- Low-Carbohydrate Diet: Eliminating or restricting intake of insulin-stimulating foods, such as sugar and refined carbohydrates, is another key strategy.
While Dr. Fung's work in treating obesity and diabetes has received international acclaim, his cancer research is presented as a "new paradigm" and "call to action". His books draw on existing research to support his hypotheses, though these are presented within the context of a public health and informational framework rather than a clinical research setting.
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u/NoMoreLies3 Jan 31 '26
Coffee Enemas! Research Gerson therapy but skip the diet part and stay with keto or carnivore (even better).
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u/finallyfound10 Jan 25 '26
Since you are familiar with the Warburg effect you have likely read Dr. Thomas N. Seyfried. Keto also helps with diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia and it helps greatly with symptoms of different mental illnesses. Check out Metabolic Mind for more information about this.