From Misdiagnosis to Resilience: Lessons on Nutrition and Cancer Care

At just 23, Tirthankar was told repeatedly that his persistent cough and fever were tuberculosis. For almost a year, the diagnosis never shifted despite worsening symptoms. By the time a PET scan confirmed stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, he had lost valuable months, 20 kilograms of body weight, and much of his trust in the system.

This story is not just about illness. It is about misdiagnosis, resilience, and the transformative role of nutrition in both survival and recovery.

The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Care

Tirthankar’s journey shows how food can be both friend and foe during treatment:

• Foods to avoid: Fried snacks, packet chips, sugary soft drinks, and heavily processed foods. These are loaded with reheated oils, refined sugar, and additives that can fuel inflammation and increase cancer risk.

• Cancer-preventive foods: Blueberries top the list due to their antioxidants, but local, accessible options like jamun, oranges, and kiwi can also be powerful allies.

• Balanced approach to sugar: Sugar does not directly cause cancer, but excess intake creates an environment of chronic inflammation. Treats like gajar ka halwa are not forbidden, but they should be consumed in moderation, and not alongside main meals.

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Practical Guidance for Patients and Families

During treatment, the everyday act of eating can feel impossible. Loss of appetite, altered taste, and nausea are real struggles. Tirthankar found relief and nutrition in:

• Comfort foods like roasted makhana, nuts, tangy chutneys with kiwi or pomegranate, and fruits eaten slowly over time.

• Mouth sore management with coconut water, mashed potatoes, honey, and salt-water gargles.

• Weight regain through calorie-dense foods like ragi porridge with nut butters, moong dal khichdi, and vegetable rice with coconut chutney.

  
  

Key Tests Everyone Should Consider

Even outside a diagnosis, early detection saves lives.

• CBC (anemia)

• Albumin (protein deficiency)

• Vitamin D (immunity)

• ESR, HsCRP, CRP (inflammation markers)

• Cancer-specific markers like CA 15.3, CA 125, and CEA based on risk factors

• Click here to get tested now!

  
  

A Message of Hope

The hardest part of Tirthankar’s journey was acceptance. It took nearly a year and a half to move from denial to living one day at a time. His mantra became action, not just positive thinking. He learned new skills, pursued music, and reframed life beyond illness.

As he says, “If I had believed I would not survive tomorrow, I would not have acted today. And without those actions, I might not be here now.”

Takeaway

Cancer care is not only about doctors and medicine. It is about listening to your body, demanding thorough investigation, and pairing treatment with the right nutrition. For patients and their families, it is about small daily actions that build strength, immunity, and most importantly, hope.

This is why at Qua Nutrition we guide patients and caregivers not just with diets but with direction, so no one else has to walk the path of confusion and despair that Tirthankar faced.