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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Sugar
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Sugar
by Rose2002, May 15, 2002 12:00AM
I read that cancer cells need sugar. Does that mean I should stop eating sugar? Thanks for a response.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, May 15, 2002 12:00AM
Dear Rose2002, Cancer cells like all living things need energy to continue to grow. Our bodies convert food through a complex metabolic process into energy. All carbohydrates in our diet (including sugar) eventually are broken down into simple sugars that are used as energy. We can't "starve" the cancer cells without also "starving" our normal body cells. There may be reasons for decreasing sugar in our diets but to do it in order to "starve" the cancer out isn't one of them.
