Do you know any long term vegetarians or vegans with any type of cancer?

Question

i've heard that plant based diets can prevent some cancers.

Answer 1

sure there are.

Answer 2

Read this news report.  It seems that Low Carb diets lower cholesterol more than low fat diets and is better for the heart.

Answer 3

yep- my husband.  squimous cell carcanoma, & basil - was told by docs he would never see his 50th bday.  that was over 20 yrs ago, he's 54 now & is currently@ work - master carpenter.  he got the squimous from the "Treated wood" that goes into foundations of homes - the chemicals used to treat the wood to make it repell insects & water damage are the cause.  haha he says " it is mind over matter - he doesn't mind and it ( the cancer) doesn't matter."  benn veggies for more the 25 plus yrs. both of us.  :)  

p.s. - the plant-based diets inhibit abnormal cell growth

Answer 4

No. I don't know any with cancer.

=]

Answer 5

Yes.

I have been a vegetarian for many, many years and a vegan for 12 years. Four and a half years ago I was diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced cancer, from which I am now in remission.

Through support networks I have met three other vegans with cancer - one a lifelong vegan - and dozens of vegetarians with cancer.

There is no food or diet proven to prevent any cancer (or to cause, treat or cure it, either). Nobody knows what causes  normal cells to change so that they grow in an uncontrolled way,  causing a tumour to form. Nobody knows why it affects the healthy and the unhealthy alike.

I still follow a plant-based diet; but I'd be foolish to rely on it preventing recurrence. The most that cancer specialists are prepared to say about meat and cancer is that a diet HIGH in meat MAY contribute to colo-rectal cancers.

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Edit* You're right Hollywood, (**) is the most revolting troll we have, and s/he has excelled him/herself here.

Edit2** If anyone's come late to this question and is wondering about the references to (**), I think s/he has removed his/her  own answer out of shame following the response and large number of thumbs downs.

As always, s/he copied and re-posted Summer Breezes answer, this time inserting the word 'imaginary' so that it read 'A good  vegan imaginary friend had cancer'. Crass, snide, disgusting, inexcusable behaviour.

(**), who since (and probably because of) this incident has changed her/his ID to /, scours V&V for Summer Breeze's answers, copies and pastes them and adds an insult. These are the only contributions s/he ever makes to V&V.

If you're disgusted by this, report it wherever you see it. The specific violation is Cheating:

http://answers.yahoo.com/info/community_...

"Cheating

Our points system is meant to reward the community members for sharing questions and answers, so creating multiple accounts or posting content for the sole purpose of gaining points or soliciting others for points is not permitted. Posting filler answers to a question in an effort to be first to answer, or COPYING AND PASTING OTHER MEMBER'S ANSWERS, are also forms of cheating."

Answer 6

Yes I do. A good vegan friend had cancer.

Answer 7

Yes, vegetarians (and in particular vegans or at least very strict vegetarians) can GREATLY minimize the risk of cancer and heart disease, but vegetarians and vegans still have some susceptability that is beyond the responsibility of diet.

Our environments are continually toxic - the toxins in our water, toxins that leech off of plastics or canned goods into our food, pesticides, the air we breathe. Not to mention certain types of cancer are caused by freak mutations that you couldn't possibly avert with diet.

Your body makes cancer cells constantly, but your body's immune response, with dozens of cells dedicated to the eradication of such mutated cells, cleans them out continually. However, any time you're out in the sun, you have the potential of getting skin cancer, any second of the millions you're outside has the potential of one of your cells mutating from exposure to UVA/UVB rays and becoming something dangerous - I've read one in three Americans will have it because of our poor air quality and because we do not protect ourselves from it.

Then there are cancers that you can be more likely to get just because your family members had it, something out of your control entirely.

I do know a vegan that battled cancer and won thankfully, but that shows that it is possible.

With all the risk in our environments as it is, the remarkable decrease in incidence of cancer and heart disease should NOT be taken lightly. Being a vegetarian or vegan eliminates many of the dietary causes of cancer - especially bowel, digestive tract, pancreatic, etc. Meat consumption, animal protein (not just fat), dangerous substances omnipresent in meat, the fact that meat-eaters are more likely to ingest more sodium and make other less healthy food choices... that all adds up.Think about it - all the pesticides you eat in your food, the animal you eat ate it as well, and in greater concentrations. On top of it, it was kept in an unnatural environment, it's body developed awkwardly and unnaturally, nobody took any precaution or veterinary care towards it, pus-filled abcesses and wounds make it into your ground meat every day, and they're fed hormones and antibiotics and genetically modified corn and soy constantly.

Answer 8

I have heard that too. And no I don't know any with cancer. Becoming vegetarian, especially vegan can way lower your risk of heart disease. It makes it virtually impossible to have a heart attack (virtually at least)

Answer 9

i've know several vegetarians and strict vegans over the years that had various types of cancers.  no higher rate than non-vegetarians, mind you.  pretty much equal.  and of course for the skeptics- no i don't mean skin cancers and things like that from external sources.  i mean stomach, colon, etc.

Answer 10

Yes, but not 100% Raw foodist. Most vegan and vegatarians still cook their food which is bad, also they usually think they can eat tons of nuts and seeds and other things high in fat. They are the unhealthy vegan/vegatarians.  The body only needs a max of 10% of calories from fat. Likewise with protein. 80% carbs, simple sugars should be the rest.  Cooking anything denatures it and compromises the bodies ability to be healthy and efficient. People who eat this way have a slim to none chance of getting cancer, or any other chronic illnesses, or even a simple cold. Humans and the animals humans take care of are the only ones who suffer from such chronic illnesses. most animals dont fall apart as they age piece by piece, they just get old and die. Or get eaten or fall off a cliff, but you know what i mean. With the right diet of fresh ripe fruit and veggies, and excersise, your body can be efficient and happy. Your mind as well, becasue everything is connected. SKIN CANCER IS NOT FROM THE SUN BUT FROM YOUR BODY BEING FULL OF TOXINS, IF YOU ATE CORRECTLY THE SUN ACTUALLY CLEANSES YOU. the truth is out there. Use your minds.

Answer 11

Unfortunately, anyone can get cancer.

Plant based diets may help *reduce the risk* of certain cancers, but sadly do not 'prevent' cancers.

[edit] @HumanRace, eh? I keep re-reading your answer and I am sure that skin cancer has little to do with how good your diet is. Eating a good diet won't *stop* you getting any disease.

(**)- how very rude of you. I can't believe you would post that. You don't have the credentials to mock any other user, especially when all you can do with your life is copy and paste. With a topic as sensitive as 'cancer'..bleh..you sicken me

Answer 12

My cousin in Cali. had breast cancer but I don't really know her very well. I've only met her a couple of times.

I guess we can see this certain poster really has some serious issues. People shouldn't be held accountable for their mental problems. I feel sorry for you. Everybody else, just be glad you aren't like that person. (The post I'm referring to has been removed.)

Edit: Apologies to Summer Breeze. I guess you're getting some bad press because of me??

Answer 13

I don't personally know any veg*ns with cancer, however it's certainly not unheard of.

Two well-known vegetarians who died of cancer are Linda McCartney and George Harrison.

I'll still gladly live as a vegetarian :o)

Answer 14

Yes, i do.

'tis very regrettable but being a vegetarian or vegan does not give you a free ticket to good health.

Answer 15

Not personally, but as someone else mentioned, both Linda McCartney and George Harrison died of cancer.  There are many factors besides diet that figure into cancer risk, and it's quite possible that something else contributed to their cancer.

Remember, a vegetarian diet REDUCES the risk, it doesn't eliminate it.

Answer 16

Its not unheard of but the risk is lower i hear.