While many opinions vary regarding diet through different stages of treatment, I tried to follow some simple guidelines suggested by my physicians & through my own research.  This is what worked for me & got me through my cancer treatment.  Even while taking care of my daughter who was home with the flu, my husband who was sick with a chest & head cold & both kids brought home sniffles & coughs several times, but I managed to somehow stay clear & healthy.

Let me begin with what you might opt to avoid & why.  This is especially considerable if you’re experiencing low blood count also known as neutropenia, a frequent side effect of chemo.

It’s advisable to avoid raw fruits & vegetables or juices, as well as undercooked or raw meat & seafood, processed meats & steer clear of unpasteurized products.  These items can contain certain bacteria that could potentially lead to a systemic infection that a weakened immune system would have difficulty fighting in most cases.  Did I cheat on this one?  If you follow me on Instagram, you already know the answer to this is admittedly, yes…  I am a salad lover through & through, as well as unpasteurized cheeses make up most of my favorites.  No feta, brie, gorgonzola or goat cheese is a tall order for me!  I was however cautious & definitely reduced my intake of these items.  When I could find a pasteurized version I’d obviously opt for that, though they are far & few between in my experience.

It’s believed that sugars & some carbohydrates may accelerate the growth of cancer cells, or “feed” them.  With that in mind, some oncologists recommend their patients try a ketogenic diet, also called a keto diet.  This is a high fat, low carb diet that promotes the process in the body known as ketosis.  Keto diet works under the theory that fat burns fat, which causes the body to burn fat rather than sugars or glucose for energy.  Research & opinions vary regarding this type of diet & some feel it may be unhealthy over long periods of time, especially when not done properly.   If this is something you want to consider, I would recommend consulting with your physician first as with any major diet change.

Soy has been shown to increase the body’s production of estrogen.  In some cancers, such as breast cancer, estrogen accelerates the growth of some cancer cells so it may be optimal to cut back if you’re regularly ingesting a good amount of soy.  Any amount in minimal proportions should be fine though, I’ll admit that I still occasionally order my Starbucks with soy, but at home I’ve made the change to Almond milk or cream.

It’s especially important to maintain a nutrient & protein rich diet during treatment to help your body rebuild those necessary cells as quickly as possible.  Your treatments can be delayed if your blood count doesn’t seem to be regenerating enough between.  Doctors prefer to provide your body time to rebuild those cells before moving onto the next treatment if possible.

Hydration is so important through treatment.  Drinking plenty of water can aid in reducing side effects by getting medications through your body faster.  Aim for at least the standard eight glasses of water a day, but if you’re looking to help reduce some of those side effects & flush the meds out as quickly as possible, make a conscious effort to increase that water intake even more.  It’s important to keep this in mind through radiation as well as chemo.  Don’t forget many other items can make up part of your water intake as well, such as juice, sports drinks, tea & coffee, even foods containing water like fruits, vegetables, yogurt, soups, smoothies, etc.

If you’re experiencing any side effects that can increase risk of dehydration such as vomiting or diarrhea, be sure to rehydrate as much as possible.  Keep water or any hydrating beverage available to you at all times to promote drinking often.  Consider sports drinks or Pedialyte if dehydration may become an issue.

Loss of appetite or a sore mouth & throat are normal side effects of chemo, but can make eating difficult & painful.  But it’s also important to maintain your nutrient intake during this time.  Room temperature foods may be easier for a sensitive mouth or stomach to handle.  Try eating soft or pureed foods, even liquid if it’s all you’re able to do & using a straw can help.  Supplements like Boost nutrition drinks are a good option, as well as clear soups & broths or a bouillon cube dissolved in water.  My throat always hurt terribly the days following chemo making it difficult for me to eat.  I drank a lot of smoothies made by Bolthouse Farms & cold pressed juices from their branch called 1915 Organics.  Some offer a lot of nutrients & I used them as a meal replacement when I didn’t feel up to eating.  These juices are located in the produce section of my grocery store.  You might think about purchasing a juicer if you don’t have one already & you’re able to have raw juices, if not cook them slightly after juicing.

Certain chemo, pain medications & supplements such as iron, can cause constipation.  Fiber is important to combat this; try to increase your intake of fibrous foods like fruits if allowed, dried fruits, seeds, vegetables, juices, grains, beans, etc.  If you’re not able to combat constipation with diet alone, your doctor may recommend a stool softener such as Colace or water additives like Metamucil or Fibercon, all of which can typically be purchased over the counter at your local drug store.  A laxative can provide relief, but only as a last resort since these can have quite an adverse effect & potentially dehydrate.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, if you experience diarrhea during treatment, first eliminate any fibrous foods from your diet & obviously, no stool softeners or laxatives.   Avoid eating for a couple of hours & then work to slowly introduce clear liquids.  Avoid high fat or spicy foods, nuts, beans, dairy, carbonated beverages & coffee as they all tend to worsen diarrhea.  Many recommend the B.R.A.T. diet to combat diarrhea, consisting of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce & Toast.  If you’re avoiding raw produce, skip the B & the A, sorry…  I was very sad to find I needed give up coffee myself, for two to three days following chemo to prevent this.  I love my coffee, so it made for a rough couple of days for me without it.

Overall it’s important to listen to your body through treatment, eat what makes you feel good, obviously avoid what doesn’t & pay attention to your reactions to different foods.  Eating more frequent smaller meals throughout the day may help as well, especially at first when you’re learning what your body can tolerate during treatment.  Speak with your physician about any changes in your diet, body, bodily functions or any concerns you may have.  In so many cases, it’s easier to treat an infection or illness early on.  Always err on the side of caution my friends, it’s better to be safe than sorry.