Faith Regional Health Services | living WELL | Summer 2016

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Cancer treatment can take a lot out of you. So it’s a
good idea to pay careful attention to what goes into
you—particularly what you eat.
Good nutrition can help you better tolerate side
effects and heal more quickly. It can also help you
generally feel better.
A healthful diet typically doesn’t change a lot when
you have cancer. The emphasis is on getting a variety
of nutrients necessary for good health. However,
during treatment, you may encounter challenges to
eating well.
The American Cancer Society and The
American Institute for Cancer Research offer these
suggestions.
Tips for eating well
during cancer treatment
Talk with your doctor
about possible side effects
Knowing the difficulties that might lie ahead can help you better
deal with them.
For example, if nausea is a side effect of the chemotherapy
drugs you’ll receive, it may be helpful to eat dry foods—such as
toast or crackers—when you wake up and every few hours.
If radiation to your neck causes a sore throat, soft foods—such
as eggs or mashed potatoes—may be best.
Consider asking your doctor for a referral to a registered dieti-
tian. He or she can help you form an eating plan tailored to your
specific nutritional needs.
Be open to new ways of eating
Six small meals, for instance, may be tolerated more easily than
three large ones. Or eating your largest meal at breakfast, rather
than dinner, may be best if you usually feel better in the morning.
Plan ahead
There may be days when cooking or
grocery shopping sounds too tiring.
Stocking your home with healthful
snacks and frozen meals might make it
easier to eat. It’s good to ask for help
when you need it too.
Our registered dietitians
can help with more
eating tips. Talk to your
doctor for a referral or
visit and click on
“Our Services,” “Service
Directory” and “Nutrition
Services” to learn more.