“Nutrition and Gut Health after Cancer”

“Nutrition and Gut Health after Cancer” (Robert Thomas, MD) [#163] Brad Power October 1, 2025 “The evidence now is becoming more and more convincing that it is worth helping yourself. After cancer, everybody benefits from self-help strategies, although you shouldn't blame someone or yourself if your cancer is progressing or comes back that you haven't tried hard enough.

Because it's all about reducing the odds of progression and reducing the odds of your cancer coming back.

The evidence that more and more trials are showing is that we can reduce these odds, so it is worth looking at your diet and lifestyle, maybe taking selective supplements, and avoiding dangerous foods, because it will impact your cancer, risk of side effects of treatments, longevity, and overall well-being.

” – Robert Thomas, MD “I am proud to have run a lifestyle and nutritional research lab for the last 30 years, looking at strategies to empower patients, to help them look after themselves during cancer treatments and afterwards, to reduce side effects and improve outcomes, mainly to produce research evidence, so we can first of all find out what to do, but also to persuade colleagues to take integrative and lifestyle medicine a bit more seriously.

” – Robert Thomas, MD Meeting Summary Cancer patients in the middle of treatment or navigating life after it are often fighting fatigue, low mood, joint pains, weight gain, and many other troublesome side effects and want to do things that will help them improve their quality of life and length of life.

Decades of clinical research confirm that structured lifestyle interventions - including personalized exercise, nutrition, and stress relief - are not “extras,” but evidence-based tools that can reduce treatment side effects, improve quality of life, and even lower the risk of recurrence. Yet if you look into complementary therapies, you face an uncertainty about what’s safe and effective.

You may struggle to find trustworthy guidance to make these practices part of daily life.

Professor Robert Thomas , MD, Consultant Oncologist Bedford & Addenbrooke’s Cambridge University Hospitals, Professor of Exercise & Nutritional Science University of Bedfordshire, Oncology Lead at The Royal London Hospital for Integrative Medicine and author of How to Live, is uniquely qualified to lead a discussion on nutrition and health after a cancer diagnosis.

He is a highly respected UK ‐based oncologist who combines expert cancer care with a strong focus on lifestyle nutrition, and integrative therapies. His clinical specialties include breast, prostate and bladder cancers, employing treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone and biological therapies.

He also leads a Research Unit that reported that a nutritional intervention can help menopausal symptoms in women after breast cancer and led the UK's National Covid intervention study.

radiotherapy, hormone and biological therapies. He also leads a Research Unit that reported that a nutritional intervention can help menopausal symptoms in women after breast cancer and led the UK's National Covid intervention study.

He recently present at ASCO Urology this year, the results of the world's largest nutritional intervention study for prostate cancer which found that boosting the diet with a phytochemical rich supplement called YourPhyto and gut health with a novel Lactobacillus probiotic, called Yourgutplus slowed prostate cancer progression, improved urinary symptoms, reduced markers of inflammation and increased grip strength.

“Nutrition and Gut Health after Cancer” (Robert Thomas, MD) [#163] Why should you learn about lifestyle interventions to manage your cancer care? Lifestyle interventions (e.g.

, exercise, nutrition, stress reduction) can… ●Slow your cancer progression ●Reduce inflammation ●Improve treatment response and outcomes ●Reduce side effects ●Enhance overall health and well-being and your body's natural healing processes What lifestyle interventions should you consider?

●Diet: Consume a diet rich in phytochemicals from fruits, vegetables, and herbs; reduce processed and smoked meats; incorporate fermented foods like kefir and kimchi; eat whole foods instead of isolated supplements; consider targeted, evidence based supplements with phytochemicals and combinations like turmeric, pomegranate, broccoli, ginger, cranberry and green tea; and maintain balanced protein intake (3 times weekly meat, mostly plant-based proteins) ●Gut health: Take probiotics, especially lactobacillus; increase prebiotic fiber intake; consume foods that support healthy bacteria growth ●Lifestyle: Get regular exercise, maintain a healthy body weight, avoid smoking, try to manage stress What are the connections between nutrition, gut health, and cancer?

●Gut health impacts inflammation and immune response. A "leaky gut" can allow toxins to enter the body, triggering systemic inflammation that creates an environment conducive to cancer development. ●The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in digesting phytochemicals, absorbing vitamin D, detoxifying potential carcinogens, and supporting immune system function.

●Poor gut health can negatively affect cancer treatments by reducing the effectiveness of immunotherapy by up to 40%, increasing the risk of treatment side effects, and reducing the response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

●A diet rich in phytochemicals, prebiotics, and probiotics can reduce inflammation, improve the gut bacteria balance, slow cancer progression, and enhance overall treatment outcomes. What can you do to improve your nutrition and gut health? ●Eat diverse, colorful fruits and vegetables (e.g.

“Nutrition and Gut Health after Cancer” (Robert Thomas, MD) [#163] ●Avoid processed foods and exce

What can you do to improve your nutrition and gut health? ●Eat diverse, colorful fruits and vegetables (e.g., 30 different vegetables and fruits per week) ●Eat fermented foods like kefir and kimchi

“Nutrition and Gut Health after Cancer” (Robert Thomas, MD) [#163] ●Avoid processed foods and excessive sugar, especially processed sugar, omega-6 rich foods, and deep-fried foods ●Incorporate fiber-rich foods to support healthy gut bacteria ●Eat medicinal mushrooms (e.g., turkey tail, lion's mane, reishi) ●Eat prebiotic fibers (e.g.

, chicory, beans, leeks, garlic, nuts) ●Take probiotics, particularly lactobacillus ●Eat whole foods rich in phytochemicals ●Consider supplements with inulin, Vitamin D, Phytochemical-rich ingredients ●Introduce fiber slowly to allow gut bacteria to adapt ●Include herbs and spices with meals to enhance nutrient absorption How can you stick to a lifestyle program?

●Make gradual changes - introduce new foods slowly to avoid digestive issues ●Be patient with dietary changes, as your body needs time to adapt ●Remember that small, consistent improvements can make a significant difference in overall health How can you learn more about nutrition, gut health, and cancer tailored to your diagnosis and treatment?

●Consult with an integrative oncologist or nutritionist specializing in cancer care ●Attend support groups and patient education programs; find patient networks that share evidence-based nutritional information ●Review reputable sources like cancer research centers ●Work with your medical team to develop a personalized nutrition plan ●Participate in clinical trials focused on nutrition and cancer ●Stay updated on the latest research through medical conferences and publications ●For more from Professor Thomas, please see his blog: Keep-healthy.

com, Youtube: ProfThomasMD, Instagram: @HealthNetUK, and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.

“Nutrition and Gut Health after Cancer” (Robert Thomas, MD) [#163] medical treatment, product, or course of action. You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health.

“Nutrition and G

t Health after Cancer” (Robert Thomas, MD) [#163] medical treatment, product, or course of action. You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health.

“Nutrition and Gut Health after Cancer” (Robert Thomas, MD) [#163] Meeting Notes KEYWORDS Nutrition, gut microbiome, cancer, prostate cancer, phytochemicals, probiotics, Omega-3, vitamin E, inflammation, dietary supplements, active surveillance, PSA progression, immunotherapy, prebiotic fibers, medicinal mushrooms.

SPEAKERS Robert Thomas (87%), Brad Power (10%), Bruno Vinel (2%), Susanne Folkesson (1%) CHAT CONTRIBUTORS Allen Morris, Bruno Vinel, Russ Hollyer, Jessica, Elizabeth Clemmons, Rick Davis, Dianne Dowling, Ginny, Michael Penny, Hilary SUMMARY Professor Robert Thomas discussed the impact of nutrition and gut microbiome on cancer, particularly prostate cancer.

He highlighted the importance of avoiding burnt meats and consuming a balanced diet rich in phytochemicals and omega-3. He emphasized the benefits of probiotics, especially Lactobacillus, and a supplement containing phytochemicals and organic ginger. His study showed that combining phytochemicals with probiotics significantly slowed PSA progression and improved urinary symptoms.

He also noted the role of gut health in cancer treatment outcomes and the potential of medicinal mushrooms for inflammation reduction. OUTLINE Introductions ●Professor Robert Thomas has a focus on integrative oncology, nutrition, the gut microbiome, and cancer. ●This presentation was delivered at the British Urology Group Conference.

●Topics covered include what to avoid, fish oils, vitamins, gut health, and phytochemical- rich foods. ●Diet and lifestyle are important in cancer treatment and prevention. ●Data from various studies and trials highlight conflicting evidence on certain nutritional supplements. What to Avoid in Diet ●You should avoid burnt and smoked meats, which are linked to cancer.

●"What's on the plate matters" – you need to consume meat with vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices. ●The metabolization of nitrates in meats can lead to harmful nitrous amines, but the presence of phytochemicals can convert them into healthier nitric oxide.

“Nutrition and Gut Health after Cancer” (Robert Thomas, MD) [#163] ●You should focus on the overall dietary approach rather than individual foods. Omega-3 and Fish Oil ●There is conflicting evidence on the impact of omega-3 on prostate cancer risk. ●Studies show both benefits and risks of omega-3 intake, including the CATFISH study presented at ASCO.

●The reduction of omega-6 rich foods, such as deep-fried foods, corn oil, and palm oil, may be more beneficial than increasing omega-3 intake. ●Oily fish and taking high-quality supplements should be consumed in limited amounts.