During the eight years Stacy Shawhan has worked as an oncology dietitian, she has heard many questions from her cancer patients about how their diets influence their prognosis. But one question has come up more than the rest: Will consuming sugary foods and drinks feed my cancer cells, making my condition worse? “Cancer patients are so vulnerable, and some of them are terrified to eat,” said Ms. Shawhan, who practices at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center. Recent polls from the United States and Europe suggest about a third of cancer patients actively avoid sugar. While experts say that diets high in added sugars may increase your risk of cancer over a lifetime, cutting out all sugars doesn’t actually fight existing tumors.

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Persons: Stacy Shawhan, ”, Shawhan, ’ Organizations: University of Cincinnati Cancer Center Locations: United States, Europe