Last update: 01/29/2008

Question: Once you get clean from lymphoma how do you stay clean? Any good suggestions on things to avoid? Detoxifying foods, teas, vitamins to take? Any advice is appreciated. 

Many have and will try different life style strategies, but, unfortunately, there's no evidence to show that any alternative measures can prevent a relapse or control existing disease.  Unfortunately, testimonials are not evidence. See The Problem with Testimonials  

Consider that cancer cells will do well - as well as normal cells - when removed from the body and cultured in toxin-free petri dishes.  Toxins can cause cancers, but removing toxins is not a plausible treatment for cancer.

See Complementary and alternative (CAM) dietary therapies for cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008 Feb;50(2 Suppl):494-7; discussion 498. Review. PMID:18064662  Related articles 

Regarding promoting good health: Yes.  Please do concentrate on living well ...  what energizes you.  Do eat well, and exercise ...  in order to restore your health and to offset the damage to normal cells from the toxicities of treatments. The goal is to improve your quality of life, general health and performance, which is associated with better survival.   

See General Diet Guidance 

And who knows, doing so might have additional undeterminable benefits as well, but again, this can't be known. 

Regarding herbs and supplements, be aware that these have not been regulated by FDA, and are sometimes contain contaminants or the wrong ingredients when examined. 

See FDA proposed rule to promote (not ensure) that dietary supplements do NOT have:

	wrong ingredients
	too much or too little of a dietary ingredient
	improper packaging
	improper labeling
	contamination problems due to natural toxins, bacteria, pesticides, glass,  lead, or other substances

Importantly, there is no evidence to show that herbs can influence the course of a lymphoma.  

See Caveats of Supplement Use

Regarding detoxification strategies, it's seems best to leave this to natural processes.  That is, including whole foods (containing fiber) in your diet and maintaining your hydration (good fluid intake) will help you to avoid troubles associated with toxins. 

... Importantly, so called detoxifying programs may leave your electrolytes out of balance, which can make you less well.  While toxins really can increase your risk of developing cancers, there is no evidence to show that removing the toxins can reverse an existing cancer. 

See Detoxifying as Cancer Treatment?  See Enemas - Wikipedia.org 

Finally, avoiding sources of toxins (cigarette smoke, etc.) will help you to maintain your health and reduce risk of secondary diseases, even if it cannot delay a relapse, or reverse an existing lymphoma. 

If you are reading this you know that It's very difficult to wait and worry about relapse. One alternative to unproductive worry is to live well in the present moment:  Become the person you were meant to be. Eat well Stay active. 

May your worry be displaced by fulfillment.