30 Jul, 2025
30 Jul, 2025
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This article is medically reviewed by Paheli Bhatt, Chief Dietician, HCG Aastha Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad.
Diet is an integral part of cancer treatment. It allows patients to recover from the side effects of the previous treatment cycle and prepare their bodies for the next one.
Therefore, patients should eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, healthy fats, carbohydrates, and antioxidants. Patients are advised or guided by the dietician or doctor about what to eat during cancer treatment.
Cancer treatment, primarily chemotherapy, causes several side effects, and the key ones are listed below:
1. Loss of Appetite: Loss of appetite is a common problem seen among cancer patients during their treatment. It may be due to anxiety, stress, depression, or even medications. Patients must remain hydrated and increase their protein and fat intake.
2. Constipation: Several cancer medicines and the cancer site cause constipation. Therefore, it is essential to drink adequate fluids and eat fiber-rich food.
3. Diarrhea: Patients undergoing cancer treatment may also suffer from diarrhea. It is because of the side effects of cancer treatment, such as radiation therapy or immunotherapy, which damages the lining of the gastrointestinal system.
4. Dry mouth: Patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy also experience dry mouth due to reduced saliva production caused by damage to the salivary glands during cancer treatment.
5. Other problems: Cancer treatment also causes several different issues. These may be caused by the side effects of therapy, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy, or by the location of the tumor.
These problems are lactose intolerance, nausea, oral sores, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, weight loss, and a change in smell or taste.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment are recommended to consume a balanced diet that has the right proportions of macro- and micronutrients.
The following are the different foods to eat with cancer:
Mono- and polyunsaturated fats have several health benefits. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, cashews, avocados, and walnuts, are preferred foods for cancer patients and help manage inflammation and promote cardiovascular health.
Patients with certain cancers have hypermetabolism. This situation alters how fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are used in the body. These patients have increased requirements for proteins and calories.
A study reported a positive change in BMI, fatigue, and body composition with a high-protein diet during chemotherapy treatment. Some of the sources of plant-based proteins that are recommended as good foods for cancer patients include soy proteins, lentils and beans, nuts, and whole grains.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment should choose minimally processed foods, such as bran, whole wheat, and oats. These foods for cancer patients have soluble fibers that maintain gut health by promoting good gut bacteria.
Further, soluble fibers also improve the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids, which play a crucial role in cellular repair and metabolism.
Vitamins and mineral supplementation during cancer treatment assist in managing side effects, maintaining nutritional health, improving the immune system, and boosting overall health.
Calcium and vitamin D are important for bone health, as they can be affected by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These are the foods that fight bone cancer symptoms.
Zinc and vitamin C help heal wounds and support the immune system. Vitamin B has a role in energy production and cell repair. Anemia is one of the common side effects of cancer treatment and can be managed through iron supplementation.
That said, patients should consult the doctor before taking any vitamin and mineral supplementation, as they may interfere with the efficacy of the cancer treatment.
Patients may consume several fruits for cancer symptom management. Avocado, one of the best fruits for cancer, helps manage several problems that patients encounter during chemotherapy. It helps manage constipation due to its high fiber content.
Further, its richness in monounsaturated fats also lowers LDL and HDL levels. A study has also reported the efficacy of avocados in managing leukemia, a type of blood cancer. However, the patient should thoroughly wash the avocado to prevent any contamination.
Fruits for cancer patients also include pomegranates and blueberries in their diets. These fruits are good for cancer and are rich in vitamin C and fibers necessary for cancer patients during treatment.
Further, they are known to possess antioxidant properties that help the body fight cancer cells. Some researchers have also reported that pomegranate intake during chemotherapy reduces bone pain, which is a side effect of cancer treatment.
Eggs are a vital source of several nutrients and are good foods for cancer patients. They provide proteins and fats, which provide the high energy necessary to prevent fatigue and weakness.
Proteins also help improve muscle mass. In addition, patients with mouth sores may primarily benefit from their soothing texture. However, patients must take thoroughly cooked eggs to avoid food poisoning.
Dieticians often recommend pumpkin seeds for cancer. These are an excellent protein source and help improve muscle mass. Further, it contains several B vitamins, such as folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and thiamine. It also helps patients fight against the depression that may erupt due to cancer and its treatments.
Pumpkin seeds also contain lignans, which help prevent the synthesis of estrogen. It is beneficial for patients with breast cancer. However, patients with iron overload, caused by frequent blood transfusions, should avoid consuming pumpkin seeds.
Those undergoing cancer treatment often ask, “Is oatmeal good for cancer patients to eat?” The answer is yes. Oatmeal is an excellent source of several nutrients. Further, it is one of the preferred foods for cancer patients suffering from side effects of cancer treatment, like mouth sores or dry mouth.
It contains antioxidants, carbohydrates, and proteins. It also helps in improving gut health by balancing the gut microbiome. In addition, oatmeal boosts immunity, increases appetite, reduces insulin resistance, and lowers the level of bad cholesterol.
The patients may consider incorporating cruciferous vegetables into their diet. Some of them are broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. All of them have an excellent nutritional profile.
However, broccoli is more favorable due to a significant quantity of cancer-preventing substance, sulforaphane. It also prevents healthy cells from being damaged due to chemotherapy. Broccoli is also rich in vitamin C, which will improve the immune system.
Nuts like cashews and almonds are good foods for cancer patients and contain many vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and proteins. Nuts also contain potent antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase, which help prevent cellular damage caused by oxidative stress.
You may opt for nut butter if you cannot chew the nuts because of mouth sores. These are foods that boost the immune system for cancer patients.
During the treatment of cancer, foods to avoid are:
Patients undergoing cancer treatment should avoid consuming unwashed fruits and vegetables. This is one of the most important things to avoid during cancer treatment.
Cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, weaken the immune system, making the patients vulnerable to foodborne infections. Unwashed fruits and vegetables may have harmful bacteria that may lead to infections.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment should avoid raw or lightly cooked fish, such as sashimi or sushi. Several parasites, harmful bacteria, or other pathogens may be present in the fish that may not be killed with light cooking.
As these patients are already immunocompromised due to cancer treatment, these foods increase the risk of infection. Patients should prefer consuming completely cooked fish.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment are advised to avoid soft-cooked eggs because of the risk of foodborne illnesses, especially from bacteria such as Salmonella.
Undercooked or soft-cooked foods may not gain the temperature required to kill the harmful bacteria, thereby increasing the risk of infection in patients.
Unpasteurized dairy products, such as certain yogurts, cheese, and raw milk, contain harmful pathogens, such as Salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli. Patients undergoing cancer treatment have weakened immune systems, so these products increase the risk of infection.
The safer alternative is to consume pasteurized dairy products. However, patients should consult their doctor to learn about safe food choices during cancer treatment.
As a leading hospital for cancer treatment in India, HCG has state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities to provide comprehensive care for different types of cancer.
The high-end diagnostic facilities available at the hospital allow for rapid and accurate diagnosis. The treatment options available at the hospital include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormonal therapy.
The cancer care team at the hospital comprises medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, paramedical staff, and psychologists.
The team provides customized treatment to the patients based on the type and stage of cancer, overall health, and response to previous treatment. The HCG Cancer Centre offers the services of nutritionists that provide a food list for cancer patients based on the type and stage of cancer and treatment the patient is undergoing.
A healthy diet is crucial for patients with cancer, aiding in recovery and managing treatment side effects. Key foods include healthy fats, plant-based proteins, and fiber-rich carbohydrates. Vitamins and minerals from fruits like avocados, pomegranates, and blueberries, and protein-rich options like eggs and pumpkin seeds, support overall health.
Avoid unwashed fruits, raw fish, soft-cooked eggs, and unpasteurized dairy to reduce infection risks. Always consult healthcare providers for personalized dietary guidance, as they will have expertise in creating individualized cancer patient diet menus that are going to positively impact the overall health of cancer patients.
Paheli Bhatt
Chief Dietician
MSc (Food Science and Nutrition)
Paheli Bhatt is a highly experienced dietician and nutritionist with more than a decade of experience in carrying out nutritional counseling to manage several health conditions and promote overall well-being. She is available for consultation at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre, a leading cancer hospital in Ahmedabad. She has specialized experience in nutritional counseling for cancer patients, wherein she guides cancer patients on their food habits and helps them improve their cancer journey with effective nutritional strategies. She holds membership with the prestigious Indian Dietetic Association.
