I'm not convinced that a raw vegan diet exclusively is a healthy diet. A well-balanced diet, which includes fish such as salmon and meats such as chicken is fine. I also believe that lean red meats on occasion benefit the body. When I was on chemotherapy, there was simply no other food but red meat that could minister to my waning red blood cells.

I don't buy into studies that strongly link diet with cancer occurrence. While it's true that a good, balanced diet is linked to good overall health, such as cardiovascular health, I don't believe that a great, healthy diet prevents cancer.

How do I know this? I had a healthy diet, ate lots of fruits and vegetables, ate minimal red meat, never smoked, never did any drugs, exercised regularly and was highly fit.

I got breast cancer anyway at a young age.

And I know quite a number of folks who got cancer and other diseases despite their healthy lifestyles. Peggy Fleming got breast cancer, and she was highly fit.

As a breast cancer survivor, I believe it's a disservice to the public to strongly link diet to cancer. Because at the end of the day, we survivors have to hear about all we "did wrong" in terms of diet and exercise, when the truth is, so many of us did things "right."

Also, many factors, such as genetics, play a role in whether one gets a disease.

That being said, I think studies are important in regards to clinical trials, and I value doctors' opinions on such matters.

Just eat reasonably, avoid fast food, and I would say to avoid a strictly vegan diet. But I'm not a doctor, so this is my opinion.