Nutrition and Cancer
A nutritious diet may improve your health and mood before, during and after cancer treatment. Read more to learn about what you can eat to help your body during cancer treatment. Make sure to talk to your doctor before making major changes to your diet.
Not a real healthcare professional or patients
Why is a healthy diet important?
The body needs the right nutrients to function at its best. Eating healthy foods during this time can help keep strength, energy level, and may help with managing side effects from cancer treatment. Eating well, getting enough calories, and staying hydrated is key to managing the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.
A registered dietitian (RD) is an important part of your cancer care team. They can advise you on how to get the most nutrition based on your needs and diet. An RD can counsel you on what changes you may need to make in your diet like the types and amount of food you eat, how often you eat, and how to best consume food.
What does a healthy diet include?
Aim to have a balanced diet that includes a mixture of:
- Fruits and vegetables (try to include a wide variety)
- Proteins (poultry, eggs, nuts, beans, or fish)
- Dairy (milks, yogurts, and cheeses that are low in sugar)
- High-fiber, whole grains (stick with brown rice, whole grain bread, and brown pastas)
- Fats (olive, canola, and peanut oils along with polyunsaturated fats like safflower, sunflower, corn, and flaxseed oils and seafood)
If your cancer treatment affects your energy and it is challenging to create meals, ask for support from loved ones or try to have a supply of pre-made meals like soup or snacks like applesauce, oatmeal, yogurt, bananas on hand for you to eat.
Are there foods that can help me with side effects from cancer treatment?
Hydration is vital to helping with side effects. Water and freshly squeezed juices are the best fluids to have. Like high-fiber foods, water can help with constipation and help keep your energy up if you are experiencing side effects like diarrhea or vomiting.
Sometimes cancer treatment may cause mouth sores. Chewing ice or eating popsicles during chemotherapy may prevent these mouth sores. If there are any after cancer treatments, drinking fluids and eating food at room temperature may reduce the pain and make it easier to eat and drink.
If you want to change your diet, make sure you consult with your doctor first. Your cancer care team is there to help you make the right decisions on how to eat while living with cancer.