For breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, proper nutrition is important for managing treatment and supporting well-being. A well-chosen diet can help maintain strength, support the immune system, and improve how a patient feels during this demanding period.
Understanding Nutritional Needs During Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy often alters the body’s nutritional requirements. A primary goal of nutrition is to maintain body weight and preserve muscle mass, which can diminish. The body needs sufficient calories and protein for energy and tissue repair. Nutrition also supports the immune system, which chemotherapy can weaken, and helps the digestive system absorb nutrients effectively. Dietary adjustments ensure the body receives necessary building blocks for recovery.
Using Diet to Manage Treatment Side Effects
Chemotherapy can cause side effects that impact eating, making dietary adjustments important for comfort.
Managing Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are common. Eating small, frequent meals can prevent an empty stomach. Bland, easy-to-digest foods like toast, plain rice, or baked potatoes are often better tolerated. Cool or frozen foods, such as popsicles or ice chips, can also reduce nausea. Ginger in various forms, like tea or crystallized ginger, or sipping lemon water, may also help.
Combating Fatigue
Fatigue is a common side effect. Maintain consistent energy levels with regular, small meals combining protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. If preparing meals is taxing, convenient snacks or pre-cooked meals ensure nourishment. Eat the largest meal when energy levels are highest to ensure adequate calorie intake.
Addressing Appetite Loss and Taste Changes
Appetite loss is common. Serving food on smaller plates encourages consumption. Nutrient-dense, high-calorie foods like puddings, custards, milkshakes, smoothies, and Greek yogurt provide nutrition in smaller portions. Trying different foods and flavors, especially tart ones like pomegranate or lemon, may help with taste changes, but avoid them if mouth sores are an issue.
Soothing Mouth Sores
Mouth sores make eating painful. Choose soft, easy-to-chew foods like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or pureed dishes. Foods served at room temperature or cooler prevent irritation; avoid hot or acidic items like citrus fruits or spicy foods. Using a straw for liquids can bypass sore areas, and good oral hygiene helps prevent further irritation.
Managing Constipation
Constipation can result from reduced activity, certain medications, or decreased food and fluid intake. Increase fluid consumption to at least 80 ounces daily and gradually incorporate high-fiber foods like whole-grain bread, fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, and lentils for regularity. Warm beverages like prune juice or certain teas provide relief.
Managing Diarrhea
Diarrhea requires replenishing fluids and electrolytes. Oral rehydration solutions, broths, and diluted juices maintain hydration and electrolyte balance. Bland, low-fat, easy-to-digest foods are preferable. Avoid very hot or cold foods; room-temperature options are better tolerated.
Key Foods to Include and Limit
A balanced diet emphasizes nutrient-dense foods. Focus on:
- Lean Proteins: Chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, and legumes (beans, lentils) support tissue repair and the immune system. Include protein with every meal and snack to maintain strength and energy.
- Whole Grains: Brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread, and oatmeal provide sustained energy and fiber, aiding digestion. Aim for 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily from these sources.
- Colorful Fruits and Vegetables: Dark leafy greens, berries, and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower) offer vitamins and antioxidants.
- Healthy Fats: Olive oil, avocados, nuts, and seeds provide concentrated calories and support bodily functions.
Limit or avoid certain foods during chemotherapy to minimize adverse effects. Highly processed and packaged foods, sugary drinks, and excessive unhealthy fats offer limited nutritional value and can worsen side effects. Fried, greasy, or very spicy foods may irritate the digestive system. Alcohol should be limited or avoided as it can interfere with treatment effectiveness and potentially cause liver enzyme elevations. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with certain chemotherapy medications, affecting drug metabolism, so avoid them.
Food Safety and Hydration Essentials
Strict food safety practices are important for breast cancer patients during chemotherapy, as their immune systems may be weakened, increasing susceptibility to infections. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling any food, especially raw meats, poultry, fish, and unwashed produce. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw and ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination. Cook all meats, poultry, fish, and eggs thoroughly to their proper internal temperatures. Avoid raw or undercooked items, including sushi, raw oysters, rare steaks, and soft-boiled eggs. Unpasteurized dairy products, unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, raw sprouts, and deli meats also carry a higher risk of bacterial contamination and are not recommended. Cool leftovers quickly within two hours, refrigerate promptly, and reheat until steaming hot before consumption.
Adequate hydration is also important during chemotherapy. It helps prevent dehydration, which can be caused by side effects like vomiting and diarrhea, and aids in flushing toxins from the body. Patients should aim to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid per day, though individual needs may vary. Water is the primary fluid choice, but broths, diluted fruit juices, and oral rehydration solutions also contribute to fluid intake. Sucking on ice chips or popsicles can increase fluid intake, especially with nausea or mouth sores.