Famous chef with 'terminal' cancer blows doctors away as he reveals what saved his life
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A famous chef who was given only a 30 percent chance of survival after a cancer diagnosis has shocked doctors after beating the odds despite his carb-heavy feasts and couch-potato lifestyle.
Kevin Ashton, from Nevada, was diagnosed with stage four melanoma — a type of skin cancer — in September 2023 after doctors found several grape-sized tumors in his abdomen.
The chef, who has amassed millions of social media followers, immediately began immunotherapy and radiation to attack the cancer.
But the diagnosis didn't lead him to ditch his unhealthy habits, despite doctors' recommendations. Throughout his cancer fight, Ashton continued to post videos of himself preparing greasy lunches of smash burgers, overstuffed sandwiches and cheesy quesadillas.
In many of the clips, he would bite into a variety of heaping dishes.
Though some of his meals were prepared as part of his job as a chef in a sorority house, Ashton revealed he would take monthly trips to Chick-fil-A right before he went for cancer treatment.
He also admitted he didn't exercise, but instead spent time cooking and fishing.
But he credits his survival to his unconventional approach to cancer. After 18 months, a recent scan revealed he was cancer free — beating the odds of a one in five survival rate for stage four melanoma.
Kevin Ashton, from Nevada, was told he only had a 30 percent chance of surviving after he was diagnosed with stage four melanoma in September 2023. He had immunotherapy and radiation, but did not make changes to his diet and lifestyle
Throughout his cancer fight, Ashton continued to post videos of himself preparing greasy lunches of smash burgers, overstuffed sandwiches and cheesy quesadillas
He said on TikTok: 'I did everything wrong in terms of treating your own cancer.
'I didn't eat well, I didn't exercise — but the one thing I did and I stayed true to the whole time was being positive and focusing on the power of positivity.'
He added: 'Positivity does wonders. It changed my life and it changed the course of my cancer. So, in the future, just remember, keep on smiling and keep on chucking.'
In a separate video, he said: 'I'm not going to let it beat me mentally. Maybe someday it'll beat me physically, but right now I'm gonna stay stronger up here so I can continue to live my life and have a good time.'
About four percent of melanoma patients have their cancer diagnosed at stage four, when it has already spread to other areas of the body.
Statistics show only about 22 percent of these patients survive beyond five years.
Ashton, however, relied solely on his treatments and a positive attitude to push through, saying rather than rushing through a 'bucket list' he spent his days cooking and fishing, and doing activities he enjoyed.
The chef first began to feel unwell in early summer 2023, with pains emerging in his stomach that he first thought were diverticulitis — or intestinal inflammation.
He switched to an all-fiber and clear liquids diet, but after this didn't ease the pain — which only got worse — he went to the emergency department.
Doctors there referred him to an oncologist, who carried out scans that determined he was suffering from the advanced cancer.
Ashton described the diagnosis as the 'worst news' of his life in a video posted in October 2023, but said he wouldn't let it ruin him emotionally.
Ashton said on TikTok: 'I did everything wrong in terms of treating your own cancer. I didn't eat well, I didn't exercise — but the one thing I did and I stayed true to the whole time was being positive and focusing on the power of positivity'
He was started on immunotherapy to shrink his tumors, undergoing 20 courses — and stopping at Chick-fil-A each time beforehand.
The treatment was successful, with the tumors shrinking from about 2cm to 3 cm in diameter to just 1cm.
But about a year later, the cancer cells in one of the tumors mutated and became resistant to the immunotherapy — and the tumor surged in size to 5.5cm, about the size of a golf ball, in eight weeks.
This was when Ashton's doctors decided he also needed radiation, and he underwent five rounds beginning in September to help kill the cancer.
In a video update posted this month that has been viewed 7.7million times, he said this was successful — and that his latest scan did not detect any cancer in his body.
Many doctors advise cancer patients to cut out refined grains and sugar to help fight the disease, with experts at the University of California, San Francisco, saying there is 'accumulating evidence' that this can deprive cancer cells of nutrients and restrict their growth.
Scientists say eating more refined grains and sugar causes blood sugar spikes, which can fuel the disease.
Some of his unhealthy meals were prepared as part of his job as a chef in a sorority house, but Ashton revealed he would take monthly trips to Chik-fil-A right before he went for cancer treatment
Cancer cells use up to 200 times more sugar than normal cells, according to scientists at Johns Hopkins, with more sugar said to help them grow faster.
Numerous studies have also linked a diet high in sugary and ultra-processed foods to cancer, although this is more typically thought to be linked to inflammation and weight gain causing mutations that lead to the disease.
Experts at UCSF say online: 'Although researchers continue to investigate the benefits of a low carbohydrate diet in cancer prevention, there is accumulating evidence that restricting carbohydrates could enhance treatment, inhibit tumor growth, extend survival and reduce the risk of cancer development.
'The evidence to date does not show any adverse effects of following a low carbohydrate diet with adequate caloric intake.'
Patients are also often advised to exercise if possible, with doctors saying this can help to reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system.
Doctors are continuing to advise patients to stick to these suggestions, saying they have no major side effects and may boost someone's chances of beating cancer.
Daily Mail
