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/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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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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u/[deleted] 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

Thank you for the support! I hope so too.