Woman says changing her diet helped her beat breast cancer

A Wisconsin woman says changing her diet helped her win her battle against breast cancer.

Now, researchers at Harvard University want to know more.

For Kathy Bero, time in the kitchen is an investment in good health.

"It isn't really about eating healthy. It's about eating specific foods that fight disease," said Bero.

She ought to know. In 2005, Bero learned she had inflammatory breast cancer.

Her prognosis?

"21-month survival," said Bero.

Just 41 and the mother of two young girls, she fought with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but the cancer fought back.

"Eleven months after my first diagnosis, I was diagnosed with a high-grade tumor in my head and neck," said Bero.

The medication took its toll.

"My kidneys were failing; my liver was failing. I told my oncologist that I'm done with that protocol because one way or another, I'm going to die. And I don't want to go that way," said Bero.

It was then she decided to go off chemo and use a strategy suggested by a friend.

"My friend kept saying you have to learn about anti-angiogenic foods," said Bero.

Anti-angiogenic - foods that essentially block the creation of blood vessels so cancer can't easily spread.

Examples include organic vegetables such as purple potatoes, carrots and leeks.

"They are at the top of the cancer-fighting list," said Bero.

Berries, walnuts, green tea and herbs, especially garlic.

"When a recipe calls for two cloves, I'm probably going to put five or six because garlic is a really strong cancer fighter," said Bero.

For Bero, that diet, combined with the energy healing of Reiki, meditation and visualization worked.

"My doctors just kept saying, 'Huh. That is interesting'," said Bero.

More than 12 years after her first diagnosis, Bero is cancer free and a cancer coach.

"She's teaching me food is the best form of medicine," said Phil Baugh.

She's helping Baugh learn what to eat to help him fight brain cancer.

"It's stopped growing now so it's wonderful. And a huge part of that is food," said Baugh.

Researchers at Harvard learned of Bero's success and will study what she and other so-called outliers did.

"It's exciting. I'm now validated. I'm no longer the crazy cancer patient. There's a real science that is going to be there," said Bero.

Bero said Harvard researchers will study people who've had exceptional outcomes.

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