There is good evidence (some from clinical studies, albeit small ones) that certain plant pigments (such as the carotenoid lycopene) as well as some plant isoflavones (especially those found in soy) have an inhibitory effect on some cancers. Much of the work has been done on prostate cancer, which is an adenocarcinoma. It is often slow-growing and autopsy studies have found that latent (that is, tiny foci found after autopsy) PCa occurs in the glands of older men throughout the world at about the same rate. However only in western cultures does it seem to progress and become a serious health issue -- it is the major cause of cancer deaths in men in the USA, for example, about equal to number of women who die of breast cancer.

Epidemiologists also noted that men from cultures where PCa is rare, e.g. Japan, when they move to the USA, in a generation or so their PCa rate is the same as for the general USA population. So it is not some genetic resistance, it appears to be lifestyle. So researchers started to look at diet. Major differences were: "low PCa" diets were low in animal fat, red meat and dairy, high in fish, shellfish and poultry but still higher in soy, vegetables and fruits; "high PCa" diets were the opposite and also, very high in animal-derived fat. At the same time, researchers started to do lab studies to look at specific components of foods and how they affected PCa cells in vitro, and also, in mouse analogs. Several new anti-PCa drugs are actually in trial which involve components of soy (e.g."Equol"). Studies looking at rates of recurrance of advanced PCa in men given soy or lycopene (the latter found in tomatoes, esp. cooked tomatoes) have found significant reductions in recurrence rates. In fact, there is a generally-accepted "prostate-healthy" diet which appears to have some impact even after men have acquired the disease. My husband is part of a Hopkins study which is tracking men whose PCa is only being closely monitored over time (w/ no definitive treatment) and concurrent with this, the Hopkins epidemiology dept. is doing a "lifestyle/diet-tracking" study to see what differences in progression occur over time which may be related to lifestyle. (Incidentally, Barry's last two PCa biopsies at Hopkins have found no cancer...)

This is a long explanation to say that there is no reason to suspect that some of these substances might not also have a positive benefit to other cancers. The doctors with whom we have consulted feel that Barry has probably had this HNC for at least 2-3 years if not longer as it's stage IV. In fact, in Oct. 2003 he did have a lymph node swelling on right side which was considered just an infection due to some recent dental work and which went away -- this was exactly the same place as the cancer was found last month, so could mean he's had HNC node involvement for at least 2 years. He's been on a rigorous "prostate-healthy" diet since Feb. 2004. Comparing CT scans from Oct. 2004 to those taken earlier this month have shown that there has been very little change in 8 months; Hopkins doc said almost none, Sloan said 'less than 5%" and that only in one node. This could well be simply chance and some good luck, or just maybe...his diet has had some positive effect on slowing the HNC too.

In any case, these "prostate-healthy" diets are also good for your heart, blood pressure, colon and cholesterol/triglycerides. You will also lose a lot of weight pretty easily-- Barry lost 20 pounds, some of which he is trying to regain before starting treatment. (I lost 12 as I also pretty much eat same stuff).

I know at the National PCa Conference in DC last month, when asked whether diet could slow down cancer, a couple of the Hopkins cancer reseachers (Nelson and Coffey) said "yes"

Having said that, this doesn't mean you can just walk away and munch berries and soy nuts and hope your oral cancer goes away! It is biologically a different cancer and faster growing than PCa -- but diet and lifestyle changes may be able to help your body combat the disease, slow it down a bit and help prevent it coming back.

Gail Mackiernan

(Barry Cooper's wife)