Eat Well, Feel Better, Heal Faster During Breast Cancer Treatment

For people with breast cancer, there are important and sometimes confusing decisions to make at every juncture along your treatment journey. Good nutritional choices are among them. Eating the right foods while fighting breast cancer can help you feel better, maintain your energy, heal faster, and better tolerate side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

6 Tips to Eating Well During Breast Cancer Treatment

Eat three balanced meals a day

Along with meals, include nutritious snacks between meals to keep hunger at bay. Choose foods high in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, light tuna, and walnuts, which have cancer-protective action.

Include 5 or more servings of vegetables (3) and fruits (2) each day

Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (health-protective plant substances).

Choose whole grains

Avoid processed (refined) grains and sugars.

Choose lean sources of protein

Choose protein like fish, poultry, low fat dairy, beans and nuts. Limit the amount of red meats you eat, especially processed meats and those high in in fat.

Stay hydrated

Drink lots of water. Maintaining the fluids your body needs is very important during chemotherapy. Keep coffee and caffeinated drinks that act as diuretics to a minimum. Try a smoothie. Eliminate or reduce alcohol.

Choose foods that appeal

During chemotherapy, you may find you no longer like foods that used to be among your favorites. If this happen, choose foods that appeal at the time. When treatment ends, return to a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight control.

Resources For Your Journey

Always check with your doctor or cancer care team member if you have questions about your nutrition during cancer treatment. The multidisciplinary team at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute offers a wide array of resources to support a woman’s breast cancer journey, including guidance on maintaining a healthy, balanced diet during treatment and beyond.

In addition, the LG Health Hub features a special section of recipes developed by our dietitians for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Family members will enjoy the tasty and nutritious recipes too. Some of those recipes are featured in the links above.