Cancer nutrition

Nutrition

Whether you’re living with cancer or seeking to prevent it, good nutrition is essential.

Whether you are at risk, living with cancer, or have completed your cancer treatment, balanced eating is essential. Good nutrition habits help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk, and deal more effectively with the side effects of chemo and other treatments.    

Sharsheret can connect you to a wealth of resources that empower ovarian and breast cancer patients to make healthier diet decisions.     

Cancer nutrition basics
Special nutrition tips
GLP-1 drugs and cancer treatment
Resources for cancer nutrition

Fuel for life: Cancer nutrition basics

Balanced eating for cancer patients, survivors, and those at high risk for cancer are not much different than recommendations for anyone who wants to stay healthy:

  • Focus on plant-based foods. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds should make up the majority of your meals. 
  • Limit fast food and other highly processed foods. Do most of your shopping in the produce aisle, and cook from scratch as much as possible. Check ingredient lists on packaged foods to avoid excess sodium, sugar, and preservatives. 
  • Limit red meat. A high intake of red meats like beef and lamb has been linked to an increased risk for colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and pancreatic cancer.  
  • Avoid processed meats entirely. Cold cuts, sausage, and hot dogs often contain nitrates/nitrites and other harmful compounds that increase cancer risk.
  • Limit alcohol. Alcohol intake has been linked to many different forms of cancer, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, etc.  

Special nutrition tips during cancer treatment.

Those undergoing chemo and other treatments may need to adjust their eating habits and routines to accommodate side effects like nausea and fatigue. A few tips to help you cope with treatment include:

  • Prepare meals in advance. Before undergoing treatment that may leave you fatigued, prepare and freeze batches of soup or other favorite foods that you can easily reheat later.
  • Stock up. When you’re feeling nauseous or tired, you won’t want to go grocery shopping. Stock up on healthy, easy-to-prepare favorites in advance, or have someone do it for you.
  • Learn and adapt. Treatments can affect people in different ways. Once you learn the side effects most common to you, you can be prepared. For instance, if treatment leaves you constipated, you can stock up on high fiber foods; if you experience gas and bloating, you’ll know to avoid gas-producing foods like beans, broccoli, or cauliflower.
  • Change your eating schedule. If treatment makes you nauseous or diminishes your appetite, try eating smaller meals several times a day instead of three large ones.
Learn about the Nutrition Counseling Program

GLP-1 drugs and cancer treatment

New research suggests GLP-1 drugs are enabling cancer patients to address weight issues more quickly and effectively, helping along their cancer treatments. 

The drugs are also thought to be able to help with lymphedema — swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid from the body’s lymphatic system that can affect arms, legs and other body parts. 

Sharsheret is actively exploring this new development and spreading awareness with ongoing conversations and webinars. 

Watch GLP-1 Drugs and Breast Cancer Webinar

Anyone considering GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as part of a breast cancer treatment plan should speak with their healthcare team to understand the benefits and risks.

For more tips, download the guide, Eating Well During Cancer Treatment, available from CancerSupportCommunity.org. 

Order our Thriving Again Kit, which includes a cookbook on nutrition during treatment.

More resources for cancer nutrition: Education, recipes, and more. 

Nutrition Blogs

Nutrition Webinars

Recipes

Visit our Recipes page for dozens of delicious, healthy recipes for meals and snacks 

Sharsheret in the Kitchen: This educational program connects you to guidance from registered dietitians who specialize in cancer nutrition. Sharsheret has a dietician who can work one-on-one with you through our Nutrition Education Program. 

Intelligent Nutrition Assistant (INA): Get customized tips for nutrition through this interactive text-based tool.   

Additional Resources