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Eating Well During Cancer Treatment

Table of Contents


Overview

Eating well when you have cancer means eating enough to prevent weight loss and keep your strength up. Cancer and cancer treatments can make it harder for your body to get what it needs from the food you eat. And your body needs good nutrition to prevent infection and heal quickly. You may feel better and have more energy if you eat the right kinds of food before, during, and after your treatment.

You may find it hard to eat during treatment for cancer because:

Some people continue to enjoy food throughout most of their cancer treatment. Others may have days when they don't feel like eating at all. Even the thought of food may make them feel sick. Here are some things to keep in mind:

If you have serious problems eating and cannot get enough nutrients in your body, you may need to get nutrients another way. This can be done through a tube placed into your stomach or through intravenous (I.V.) fluids.

Good eating habits for people who have cancer may be very different from normal healthy eating guidelines. Additional information about nutrition is provided by the National Cancer Institute at www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/nutrition/Patient.


Credits for Eating Well During Cancer Treatment

Current as of: September 20, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.


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