Hello!

EJ and I are fasting for 4 days from today Tuesday 8th November to Friday 11th. This is because EJ's mum is also fasting - due to some recent research that suggests it improves the efficacy of certain chemotherapy treatments, and also reduces the side effects.

She has just come out of remission for ovarian cancer, Friday will be the start of 'round 2', which will comprise of 6 cycles of chemo, one every 3 to 4 weeks

There are a number of articles below that I encourage you to read, or pass on, or keep a vague recollection of - so that if anyone close to you does have the task of chemo ahead, you convey the thought that it might be worth trying, even if just once. But I'll paraphrase the science (badly, I'm sure) for those less inclined to click through

- fasting may stress healthy cells to resist the absorption of toxicity, as they look to conserve energy. As cancerous cells are uncontrollably dividing, and not listening to the signals around them, they still continue to be killed by the poisonous metals in chemotherapy treatments. This has resulted in a (small) number of trials pointing to happier patients when fasting 2-4 days before and one day after chemo. They've also found in mouse studies that their ability to handle chemo is increased by fasting (sorry mice)

 - fasting past the point of available sugars triggers the body to conserve energy in any way it can - including the cannibalisation of white blood cells. While that might sound bad, it cannibalises white blood cells that aren't doing their jobs very well as well as those healthy ones. There's some evidence that unhealthy / malfunctioning white blood cells are targeted first. Then - once normal meals resume, the body floods the system with shiny new white blood cells, giving the immune system a boost. Periodic extended fasting has been linked in a (small) number of studies to improved health

So - we're giving it a whirl in support of Trish, who is an absolute trooper and maintains a level of positivity and enthusiasm for life that I am in awe of. I'd like her to have a greater number of scientifically backed treatments available to her - which your donations will go towards developing

In closing - please give generously for ovarian cancer, and don't be too surprised if we're a little bit more tired and / or light headed than normal. And think of us on Saturday morning when we'll be having our 'break fast' meal of rice and vegetables. Apparently an eight course meal or roast the size of a table isn't recommended

Luke and EJ

Articles

Long article n the Guardian - one woman's experience with fasting and cancer

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jun/03/how-to-get-through-chemotherapy-decca-aitkenhead-cancer-treatment

A couple of American articles that give a good summary of the mice-based research of fasting and cancer, with links to sources

https://news.usc.edu/29428/fasting-weakens-cancer-in-mice/

http://gero.usc.edu/2016/07/11/fasting-like-diet-turns-the-immune-system-against-cancer/

Article in the Telegraph - a summary of a study into immune system effects of fasting

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/03/12/fasting-for-three-days-can-regenerate-entire-immune-system-study/

Scientific but still readable summary of low-calorie studies (not cancer focused)

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/intermittent-fasting/

A science journal summary of a study of 6 people undergoing chemotherapy with fasting - the study ended in a reported reduction in fatigue, weakness, and gastrointestinal side effects while fasting - i.e. they had less side effects

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2815756/