Frequently Asked Questions

Q - My chemotherapy has caused burning in my bladder and urinary tract. It is so painful that I cannot continue chemotherapy until this is resolved. Are there foods that will help make my urine alkaline to help stop this misery?

Thank you for writing. I am so sorry to hear of your troubles. I can only imagine your difficulty. Here is the list of foods that cause an acid or alkaline urine. Focus on the alkaline foods.

Potentially ACID or ACID-ASH Foods:

Meat/Meat analogs - all meat (beef, pork, etc.), fish, fowl, shellfish, eggs
All types of cheese, peanut butter, peanuts
Fat - bacon, nuts (brazil, filberts, walnuts)
Starch - All types of bread (especially whole wheat), cereal, crackers, pasta, noodles, etc.
Vegetables - corn, lentils
Fruits - cranberries, plums, prunes
Desserts - plain cakes, cookies

Potentially ALKALINE or ALKALINE-ASH Foods:

Milk - milk and milk products, cream, buttermilk
Fats - nuts (almonds, chestnuts, coconut)
Vegetables - All types (except corn & lentils), especially beets, beet greens, Swiss chard, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, turnip greens
Fruit - all types except cranberries, plums, and prunes
Sweets - molasses

Neutral Foods:

Fats - butter, margarine, cooking fats, oils
Sweets - plain candies, sugar, syrup, honey
Starches - arrowroot, tapioca
Beverages - coffee, tea

However, I wonder if you would also benefit from a diet that is trying to reduce all stimulants to bladder tissue, such as a diet used by people who have cystitis (inflammation) of bladder tissue without an infection, which is called interstitial cystitis (IC). This list of foods came from a web site focused on IC.

Caffeine -tea, coffee, chocolate, cola, drinks, any medication containing caffeine (Tylenol #1, #2, and #3)
Aspirin - any medication containing aspirin, including Entrophen
Carbonated Beverages - if you allow the beverage to go flat, it may be less irritating
Alcohol - or anything containing alcohol
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
Aspartame - or any artificial sweetener
Sugar - some natural sugars (fruit, honey) may be tolerated but sweets should be curtailed
Citrus Fruits - oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, tomatoes
Highly spiced foods - processed meats, hot spicy dishes
Megadoses of Vitamin Supplements
Ascorbic Acid and Citric Acid
Aged or Fermented Foods - strong cheese, yogurt, sour cream

Other foods that may affect I.C. symptoms are:

Nuts
Peanut butter
Lettuce
Spinach
Cranberries
Grapes
Pineapple
Rhubarb

For alternative beverages, try low acid orange juice and herb teas.

I have also seen recommendations to avoid soybeans on some web sites focused on helping people reduce symptoms of interstitial cystitis.

I would also suggest trying to use a product called Prelief that reduces acid in foods. It is available OTC at all drugstores. Free samples are available at www.prelief.com.

I don't have any first hand experience with this diet nor have I worked with patients who have needed it for IC, but there may be a connection that is helpful for you. Most of the dietary recommendations do not have a strong research base but have been developed by patterns of responses by people who suffer with interstitial cystitis. It is my understanding that in spite of general guidelines, patients have many individual responses to foods that may take considerable time and effort to uncover.

I saw a book on Amazon.com called A Taste of the Good Life: A Cookbook for an Interstitial Cystitis Diet by Authors: Beverley Laumann. Perhaps this will be of some assistance also.

I recommend starting a food diary listing all foods and beverages consumed (including ingredients) along with all your medications and dietary supplements. I also suggest that you make an appointment with the Registered Dietitian at your cancer treatment facility to help you determine

• which/if any dietary manipulations will make a difference,
  
• that your resulting diet is as balanced and nutritionally complete as possible
  
• how best to work with your doctors,
  
• and finally,to be a professional support throughout a very difficult part of your cancer journey.

Dr. Andrew Weil suggests trying marshmallow root tea and creative imagery, in addition to the dietary changes already mentioned.

One study reported that a dietary supplement called quercetin reduced many symptoms of interstitial cystitis. However, this study was not placebo-controlled, so it is very difficult to know if the supplement itself, hope, or spontaneous remission contributed to the improved symptoms in the 20 patients included in this study. The supplement tested is called Cysta-Q complex (equivalent to 500 mg of quercetin); amount tested was one capsule of Cysta-Q complex (equivalent to 500 mg of quercetin) twice a day for 4 weeks. None of the patients experienced any negative side effects, and all but one patient had at least some improvement in every outcome measure.

Some web sites that may have additional helpful information on interstitial cystitis include:

• Interstitial Cystitis Association - general information and diet tips
  
  
• The Interstitial Cystitis Network
  
  
• Medline Plus Health Information
  
  
• National Kidney & Urologic Disorder Information Clearinghouse
  
  
• Urology Channel.com - some naturopathic treatments for interstitial cystitis
  
  
• Tech Urol. 2001 Mar;7(1):44-6. - Treatment of interstitial cystitis with a quercetin supplement. Katske F, Shoskes DA, Sender M, Poliakin R, Gagliano K, Rajfer J.



• Lastly, I highly recommend the following web site called Confident Choices. This web site, developed by a Registered Dietitian, has reliable information about nutrition and diet for people with IC along with a very helpful newsletter.

I send you my best wishes for health, healing, and hope!

FAQ posted 2/04, updated 5/05

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These questions and answers are intended to be of a general informative nature. Please consult with the Registered Dietitian in your cancer center or your health care provider for nutritional advice that can be individualized to your specific medical condition.