My wife is a retired RN and she's studied nutrition for years.  Our son went through cancer treatment about the same time you did Bob, back in 2003.  Anyway, my wife has preached the very things you thought Johns Hopkins said. 

A lot of it is common sense, especially the artificial sweeteners.  I can't for the life of me understand how any one can drink that stuff.  I wonder how many people know that nutrasweet reacts with the acid in pop and turns to formaldehyde after a while.  That's why cans have dates on them to get them off the shelves before that chemical change happens.