When I sat down to tackle this piece, I had to confront one of the most frustrating contradictions in cancer treatment. You’re dealing with a brain tumor. You’re doing everything “right” - chemo, radiation, following doctor’s orders. Then someone hands you Dexamethasone to reduce brain swelling, and suddenly you’re standing in front of the fridge at midnight, fantasizing about custard-soaked bread like it’s the last meal on earth.

The medical establishment tells you “sugar feeds cancer” while simultaneously prescribing medication that makes you crave sugar like your life depends on it. The irony isn’t just cruel - it’s maddening. And nobody talks about it honestly.

I needed to write this because the guilt is real. The confusion is real. And patients deserve to know they’re not weak or failing when they eat the bread pudding. They’re human, dealing with an impossible situation.

Let me paint you a picture. You’ve just had brain surgery. Your skull is clicking like a crab’s claws. You’re trying to be a good patient, reading all the articles about anti-cancer diets, cutting sugar, going keto, drinking green smoothies that taste like lawn clippings.
Then your doctor prescribes Dexamethasone.

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