Don't experiment, they said

The first chemotherapy session was unplanned. I expected a consultation. By evening I had an IV drip in my arm.

Oncologists advise against experimentation. The standard first-line protocol for my diagnosis extends survival by only a few months on average. One oncologist put it plainly: "standard protocol, standard outcome." Another urged me to look further.

The logic of stacking small signals

I read everything I could — books, papers, randomised trials. No single intervention had dramatic effect in isolation. But stacking small directional signals from studies on sleep, exercise, nutrition, inflammation, glucose management, and vitamin D produced something substantial in aggregate.

Nutrition overhaul

Malnutrition is a key reason chemotherapy patients deteriorate faster than the cancer alone would cause. After losing roughly 5 kg before my first session, I began tracking everything meticulously.

The diet changed overnight: low-glycaemic, low-inflammatory, high-protein, almost entirely plant-based. No red meat or dairy — both elevate IGF-1, a growth factor cancer cells exploit. Fish for primary protein and omega-3s. Nothing ultra-processed. Everything home-prepared.

The underlying logic: cancer cells consume glucose at 10–50× the rate of healthy cells. This is the Warburg effect. Chronic inflammation facilitates tumour growth. Managing both is within reach.

Continuous glucose monitoring

A CGM (Syai) made the invisible visible. Post-meal walks flatten spikes. Foods I assumed were healthy sometimes underperformed. Foods I had written off turned out fine.

Despite extreme dietary changes I maintained weight, lost remaining fat, and gained muscle during chemotherapy. Strength training independently regulates glucose — the effect is measurable.

Tracking everything

Blood tests. Microbiome analysis. Oncology markers. HRV. VO₂ max. Daily weight. Waist circumference. Mental health. Sleep quality. Chemotherapy symptoms. Proper decisions require appropriate data.