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What Foods are Recommended for Cancer?
is a very common question. Personalized Nutrition Plans are foods and supplements which are personalized to a cancer indication, genes, any treatments and lifestyle conditions.

Foods for Seminoma!

Jul 29, 2023

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Introduction

Foods for Seminoma should be personalized for each individual and also must adapt when cancer treatment or tumor genetic change. The personalization and adaptation must consider all the active ingredients or bioactives contained in different foods with respect to cancer tissue biology, genetics, treatments, lifestyle conditions and diet preferences. Hence while nutrition is one of the very important decisions for a cancer patient and individual at risk of cancer to make – how to choose foods to eat is not an easy task.

Seminoma cancer is a form of testicular cancer that typically arises from germ cells in the testicles. Seminomas are highly treatable cancers. They most often develop in young and middle-age men. It is important to differentiate between seminoma and non-seminoma testicular cancers, as their treatment and prognosis differ. Seminoma tumor markers, such as elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), help in diagnosis and monitoring. Ultrasound imaging is commonly used for the initial detection and evaluation of seminoma. Seminoma symptoms may include painless testicular swelling, or a lump, and early detection is key to successful treatment. Treatment options for seminoma cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, depending on the stage and extent of the tumor. Chemotherapy is often used for seminoma that has spread beyond the testicles. Diagnosis involves a combination of clinical evaluation, imaging, tumor marker analysis, and potentially a biopsy. Early diagnosis, proper staging, and adherence to treatment guidelines contribute to successful outcomes in seminoma patients.



For Seminoma does it matter what vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds one eats?

A very common nutrition question asked by cancer patients and individuals at-genetic risk of cancer is – for cancers like Seminoma does it matter what foods I eat and which I do not? Or if I follow a plant-based diet is that enough for cancer like Seminoma?

For example does it matter if vegetable Giant Butterbur is consumed more compared to Sunburst Squash (pattypan Squash)? Does it make any difference if fruit Black Elderberry is preferred over Red Raspberry? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Common Hazelnut over Chestnut and for pulses like Moth Bean over Lima Bean. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Seminoma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Seminoma!

Food recommendations may not be the same for everyone and can be different even for the same diagnosis and genetic risk.

All cancers like Seminoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways - the signature pathways of Seminoma. Biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling, mRNA Splicing, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MAPK Signaling are part of the signature definition of Seminoma.

All foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, pulses, oils etc.) and nutritional supplements are made up of more than one active molecular ingredient or bio-actives in different proportions and quantities. Each active ingredient has a unique mechanism of action – which can be activation or inhibition of different biochemical pathways. Simply stated foods and supplements which are recommended are those which do not cause an increase of molecular drivers of cancer but reduce them. Else those foods should not be recommended. Foods contain multiple active ingredients – hence when evaluating foods and supplements you need to consider the impact of all active ingredients cumulatively rather than individually.

For example Black Elderberry contains active ingredients Quercetin, Linalool, Curcumin, Formononetin, Caffeine. And Red Raspberry contains active ingredients Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Curcumin, Formononetin, Protocatechuic Acid and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Seminoma – is to evaluate only selected active ingredients contained in foods and ignore the rest. Because different active ingredients contained in foods may have opposing effects on cancer drivers – you cannot cherry pick active ingredients in foods and supplements for making a nutrition decision for Seminoma.

YES – FOOD CHOICES MATTER FOR CANCER. NUTRITION DECISIONS MUST CONSIDER ALL ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF FOODS.

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Seminoma?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Seminoma consists of recommended foods / supplements; not recommended foods / supplements with example recipes which prioritize use of recommended foods. An example of personalized nutrition can be seen at this link.

Deciding which foods are recommended or not is extremely complicated, requiring expertise in Seminoma biology, food science, genetics, biochemistry along with good understanding of how cancer treatments work and associated vulnerabilities by which the treatments could stop being effective.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE EXPERTISE NEEDED FOR NUTRITION PERSONALIZATION FOR CANCER ARE: CANCER BIOLOGY, FOOD SCIENCE, CANCER TREATMENTS AND GENETICS.

Foods to Eat After Cancer Diagnosis!

No two cancers are the same. Go beyond the common nutrition guidelines for everyone and make personalized decisions about food and supplements with confidence.

Characteristics of cancers like Seminoma

All cancers like Seminoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways of Seminoma. Biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling, mRNA Splicing, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MAPK Signaling are part of the signature definition of Seminoma. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.

The treatments which are effective for Seminoma need to be cognizant of the associated signature biochemical pathways for each cancer patient and individual at genetic risk. Therefore different treatments with different mechanisms of actions are effective for different patients. Similarly and for the same reasons foods and supplements need to be personalized for each individual. Hence some foods and supplements are recommended for Seminoma when taking cancer treatment Bleomycin, and some foods and supplements are not recommended.

Sources like cBioPortal and many others provide population representative patient anonymized data from clinical trials for all cancer indications. This data consists of clinical trial study details like sample size / number of patients, age groups, gender, ethnicity, treatments, tumor site and any genetic mutations.

KIT, KRAS, RAC1, NRAS and PIK3CA are the top ranked reported genes for Seminoma. KIT is reported in 10.1 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And KRAS is reported in 6.7 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from 19 to 65. 100.0 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Seminoma biology along with reported genetics together define the population represented signature biochemical pathways for this cancer. If the individual cancer tumor genetics or genes contributing to the risk are also known then that should also be used for nutrition personalization.

NUTRITION CHOICES SHOULD MATCH WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL’S CANCER SIGNATURE.

Foods for Seminoma!

Food and Supplements for Seminoma

For Cancer Patients

Cancer patients on treatment or on palliative care need to make decisions on food and supplements – for the needed dietary calories, for managing any treatment side effects and also for improved cancer management. All plant-based foods are not equal and choosing and prioritizing foods which are personalized and customized to ongoing cancer treatment is important and complicated. Here are some examples providing guidelines for making nutrition decisions.

Choose Vegetable GIANT BUTTERBUR or SUNBURST SQUASH (PATTYPAN SQUASH)?

Vegetable Giant Butterbur contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Formononetin, Caffeine, Lycopene, Protocatechuic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, TGFB Signaling, DNA Repair and MAPK Signaling and others. Giant Butterbur is recommended for Seminoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bleomycin. This is because Giant Butterbur modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Bleomycin.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Sunburst Squash (pattypan Squash) are Curcumin, Formononetin, Protocatechuic Acid, Daidzein, Phloretin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and others. Sunburst Squash (pattypan Squash) is not recommended for Seminoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bleomycin because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE GIANT BUTTERBUR IS RECOMMENDED OVER SUNBURST SQUASH (PATTYPAN SQUASH) FOR Seminoma AND TREATMENT Bleomycin.

Choose Fruit RED RASPBERRY or BLACK ELDERBERRY?

Fruit Red Raspberry contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Curcumin, Formononetin, Protocatechuic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, Cell Cycle, MAPK Signaling and MYC Signaling and others. Red Raspberry is recommended for Seminoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bleomycin. This is because Red Raspberry modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Bleomycin.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Black Elderberry are Quercetin, Linalool, Curcumin, Formononetin, Caffeine. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and others. Black Elderberry is not recommended for Seminoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bleomycin because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT RED RASPBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER BLACK ELDERBERRY FOR Seminoma AND TREATMENT Bleomycin.

Choose Nut COMMON HAZELNUT or CHESTNUT?

Common Hazelnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Quercetin, Curcumin, Formononetin, Caffeine, Lycopene. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, Cell Cycle, MAPK Signaling and Cell Junctions and others. Common Hazelnut is recommended for Seminoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bleomycin. This is because Common Hazelnut modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Bleomycin.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Chestnut are Ellagic Acid, Curcumin, Formononetin, Caffeine, Lycopene. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Chestnut is not recommended for Seminoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bleomycin because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

COMMON HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER CHESTNUT FOR Seminoma AND TREATMENT Bleomycin.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Seminoma or familial history is “What Should I Eat Differently from Before?” and how they should choose foods and supplements to manage risks of the disease. Since for cancer risk there is nothing actionable in terms of treatment – decisions of foods and supplements become important and one of the very few actionable things which can be done. All plant-based foods are not equal and based on identified genetics and pathway signature – the choices of food and supplements should be personalized.

Choose Vegetable CALABASH or SHALLOT?

Vegetable Calabash contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Delphinidin, Myricetin, Apigenin, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, Growth Factor Signaling, MAPK Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling and others. Calabash is recommended for risk of Seminoma when associated genetic risk is KIT. This is because Calabash increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Shallot are Curcumin, Delphinidin, Myricetin, Apigenin, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and others. Shallot is not recommended when risk of Seminoma when associated genetic risk is KIT because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE CALABASH IS RECOMMENDED OVER SHALLOT FOR KIT GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit NANCE or PUMMELO?

Fruit Nance contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Delphinidin, Myricetin, Apigenin, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like JAK-STAT Signaling, Angiogenesis, MAPK Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling and others. Nance is recommended for risk of Seminoma when associated genetic risk is KIT. This is because Nance increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Pummelo are Quercetin, Curcumin, Delphinidin, Apigenin, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and others. Pummelo is not recommended when risk of Seminoma when associated genetic risk is KIT because it increases the signature pathways of it.

FRUIT NANCE IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR KIT GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Nut BUTTERNUT or EUROPEAN CHESTNUT?

Butternut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Delphinidin, Myricetin, Apigenin, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, Growth Factor Signaling, MAPK Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling and others. Butternut is recommended for risk of Seminoma when associated genetic risk is KIT. This is because Butternut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in European Chestnut are Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Curcumin, Delphinidin, Myricetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and others. European Chestnut is not recommended when risk of Seminoma when associated genetic risk is KIT because it increases the signature pathways of it.

BUTTERNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER EUROPEAN CHESTNUT FOR KIT GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.


In Conclusion

Foods and Supplements chosen are important decisions for cancers like Seminoma. Seminoma patients and individuals with genetic-risk always have this question: “What foods and nutritional supplements are recommended for me and which are not?” There is a common belief which is a misconception that all plant-based foods could be beneficial or not but would not be harmful. Certain foods and supplements can interfere with cancer treatments or promote molecular pathway drivers of cancer.

There are different types of cancer indications like Seminoma, each with different tumor genetics with further genomic variations across each individual. Further every cancer treatment and chemotherapy has a unique mechanism of action. Each food like Giant Butterbur contains various bioactives in different quantities, which have an impact on different and distinct sets of biochemical pathways. The definition of personalized nutrition is individualized food recommendations for the cancer indication, treatments, genetics, lifestyle and other factors. Nutrition personalization decisions for cancer require knowledge of cancer biology, food science and an understanding of different chemotherapy treatments. Finally when there are treatment changes or new genomics is identified – the nutrition personalization needs re-evaluation.

The addon nutrition personalization solution makes the decision making easy and removes all the guesswork in answering the question, “What foods should I choose or not choose for Seminoma?”. The addon multi-disciplinary team includes cancer physicians, clinical scientists, software engineers and data scientists.


Personalized Nutrition for Cancer!

Cancer changes with time. Customize and modify your nutrition based on cancer indication, treatments, lifestyle, food preferences, allergies and other factors.

References

Scientifically Reviewed by: Dr. Cogle

Christopher R. Cogle, M.D. is a tenured professor at the University of Florida, Chief Medical Officer of Florida Medicaid, and Director of the Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

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