Diet and Cancer Treatment: Tips for Healthy Eating
    Fact Sheet 9.332             Food & Nutrition Series  | Health
                                                            Quick Facts
    By J. Clifford and C. Didinger* (12/19)
                                                              A largely plant-based
                                weight can predict a reduced
      A Plant-Based Eating
                                                              diet with limited
                                response to treatment, thus those
      Pattern
                                                              consumption of alcohol,
                                undergoing treatment for cancer
                                                              red meat, and     
                                should try to maintain a healthy
      Emphasis on whole foods of plant
                                                              processed meat is
                                weight and avoid losses or gains
      origin can promote health, provide
                                                              recommended for those
                                in weight. Research shows that
      key nutrients, and support
                                                              at risk for or with
                                cancer patients who retain a
                                                              cancer. 
      maintenance of a healthy weight.
                                healthy weight and maintain a
                                                              Side effects from
      Institutions like the World Cancer
                                good nutritional status have fewer
                                                              cancer treatment may
      Research Fund recommend limiting
                                complications, regardless of the
                                                              include reduced
      red meat intake (i.e. beef, lamb,
                                                              appetite, taste
                                form of treatment. Fewer
      and pork) and avoiding processed
                                                              alterations, diarrhea,
                                complications result in improved
      meat (e.g. bacon, ham, and hot
                                                              constipation, and
                                response and tolerance of
      dogs). See fact sheet 9.313 Diet
                                                              difficulty swallowing,
                                treatment, reduced illness, fewer
      and Cancer Prevention for more
                                          
                                                              which may result in
                                infections, shorter hospital stays,
      details about healthy eating tips.
                                                              weight loss. 
                                and an overall higher quality of life.
                                                              It is important to
                                A healthy weight is important for
                                                              maintain a healthy
                                increased energy levels, strength,
                                                              weight during cancer
                                and coping with the side effects of
                                                              treatment, which may      
                                cancer treatment. 
                                                              reduce the risk for
                                                              complications.      
                                                              During treatment,
                                Dietary Tips for Healthy Weight
                                                              immune system
                                Maintenance
                                                              function may be
                                                              compromised, so it is
                                The following tips are useful for all
                                                              important to always
      Cancer and Nutrition: The
                                cancer patients. However, for
                                                              practice safe food
      Importance of Healthy
                                those experiencing weight loss,
                                                              handling techniques.
                                maintaining a healthy weight by
      Weight Maintenance 
                                                            *J. Clifford, Extension
                                consuming protein and calorie-rich
                                                            Nutrition Specialist,
                                foods should be a primary goal.
      Weight loss and malnutrition are
                                                            Department of Food Science
      common problems for cancer
                                                            Human Nutrition; C. Didinger,
                                Eat a variety of whole foods 
                                                            Graduate Student, Department
      patients, although some cancer
                                                            of Food Science Human
                                An eating pattern that emphasizes
      treatments may result in weight
                                                            Nutrition. Previously updated
                                whole, plant-based foods is
      gain. Even a small loss in body 
                                                            by: Bellows and R. Moore.
                                                            extension.colostate.edu
                © Colorado State University Extension.  12/10.  Revised 12/19.
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         important for a nutritionally complete diet.           alter the way that the body makes energy
         Incorporate whole grains, legumes, and lean            from food. With a cancer diagnosis, a lack
         protein sources, like non-fat or low-fat dairy.        of appetite may also be a result of
         Although it is important to eat fruits and             emotional distress or depression.
         vegetables, it may be advisable to choose               
         higher calorie options to avoid weight loss,           Changes in bowel habits or bladder
         such as sweet potatoes, squashes, bananas,             function 
         avocados, and dried fruit.                             Constipation, diarrhea, or pain when
                                                                urinating may result from colon, bladder,
         Limit caffeine, sugar, sodium (salt), and              and prostate cancer. This may interfere
         alcohol                                                with proper nutrient absorption and result
         Exceptions for this guideline include those            in loss of fluids and electrolytes.
         experiencing weight loss, as fat is a good              
         source of calories that will aid in weight gain.       Trouble swallowing 
                                                                Difficulty chewing or swallowing may result
         Hydration                                              from head and neck cancer, or esophageal
         Drink as many fluids as possible throughout            cancer. These symptoms may cause
         the day, as dehydration may be a problem               vomiting, early satiety, and fluid and
         with nausea, constipation, or diarrhea. Eat            electrolyte imbalances.
         foods with high water content, such as                  
         vegetables, fruits, soups, smoothies, and                2. Diet and Cancer — Side Effects of 
         popsicles.If weight loss is a problem, try high-             Treatment
                                                               
         calorie fruit smoothies or natural juices. Refer        
         to a medical professional for advice on specific       Surgery 
         dietary recommendations.                               The effects of surgery on the diet vary
                                                                greatly depending on the location of the
                                                                tumor and the surgical procedure used. If
         Coping with Cancer’s Effects on
                                                                surgery is scheduled, talk to the doctor
         the Diet 
                                                                about what side effects might develop.
          
                                                                When a side effect does develop, a doctor
         The effects of cancer on the diet fall into two
                                                                or registered dietitian can assist with the
         main categories: 
                                                                diet. Fatigue and weight loss are common
          
                                                                symptoms.
           1.Dietary side effects of the disease itself
                                                                 
          2.Dietary side effects of cancer treatment
                                                                Chemotherapy 
          
                                                                Chemotherapy works by destroying rapidly
           1.Diet and Cancer — Side Effects of the
                                                                dividing cells, such as cancer cells. It also
            Disease
                                                                destroys normal body cells that divide
          
                                                                rapidly, such as those in bone marrow and
         Loss of appetite and weight loss 
                                                                those that line the small intestine. Side
         Early signs and symptoms of cancer include a
                                                                effects can include nausea, vomiting,
         decreased ability to eat, digest, or absorb food
                                                                diarrhea, or constipation, all of which may
         and nutrients. Cancer cells may use the body’s
                                                                adversely affect dietary intake. Alterations
         energy reserves, or release chemicals that 
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          in taste are also common with patients             bitterness. This changes the flavor of foods
          undergoing chemotherapy. In addition, dry          like sweets, desserts, fruits, and vegetables.
          mouth is a frequent symptom, with                  Some individuals may experience an unusual
          decreased saliva production impacting the          dislike for certain foods, flavors, or odors; this
          amount of chemicals released from food,            may develop when unpleasant symptoms are
          contributing to alterations in taste.              tied to a food recently eaten. Some studies
                                                             indicate that zinc supplementation may
          Radiation therapy                                  protect against taste disorders.
          The dietary side effects of radiation therapy       
          depend on the location of the tumor. For           Overall, these side effects can result in
          instance, therapy for a head or neck tumor         decreased calorie intake and not meeting
          often causes nausea, fatigue, loss of              daily energy and nutrient requirements,
          appetite, swallowing pain, and dry mouth.          causing weight loss. In addition to effects
          Also, radiation can damage taste cells and         on appetite and body weight, psychological
          inhibit proliferations of new cells. Thus,         well-being can also be affected. The pleasure
          a frequent side effect of patients undergoing      associated with eating can be negatively
          radiation therapy is taste alteration.             impacted, resulting in social
                                                             and emotional impacts. Taking steps to
          Changes in Food’s Flavor and Odor                  improve nutrition and the eating experience
                                                             can thus help improve physical and
          Cancer and treatment often result in taste         emotional well-being. Everyone is different,
          alterations. For example, chemotherapy can         but Table 1 presents potential side effects
                                                            
          result in the reduced ability to taste             and coping strategies:
          sweetness and a higher sensitivity to 
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