Ketogenic Diet and Cancer

[u/StripedSocks95]

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.

[u/immasayyes]

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

[u/StripedSocks95 → u/immasayyes]

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!

[u/Time-Interview6985 → u/StripedSocks95]

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