When on chemo, avoid foods that increase infection risk (raw/undercooked items, unpasteurized dairy, bulk bins), spicy/acidic/hard foods if you have mouth sores, greasy/fatty/processed foods that cause nausea, and potentially very cold items if you have cold sensitivity, while also limiting alcohol and sugary items for overall health, and always consult your oncology team for personalized advice. Focus on bland, well-cooked, nutritious foods to manage side effects and support your body.
Eating during chemotherapy—Foods to Avoid
What is the 7-day rule in chemotherapy? Treatment days followed by rest days: Chemotherapy cycles may be planned in such a way that there will be 5 days of chemo with 2 days of rest, all within 7 days (roughly). Maintaining drug levels: The 7-day rule helps ensure that there is enough chemo in the body to fight cancer.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment should avoid consuming unwashed fruits and vegetables. Unwashed vegetables and fruits contain several harmful parasites and bacteria that may cause infections, especially in patients with poor immunity.
Avoid foods that may aggravate cancer treatment side effects. Hard, spicy and acidic foods can aggravate the mouth sores that are sometimes a side effect of chemotherapy. So, you may want to skip these types of foods during treatment.
After a chemotherapy infusion, the body must recover from the harsh chemicals. Ways to flush chemo out of body include staying hydrated, eating nutrient-rich foods, and supporting liver and kidney function.
The oncologist may plan to administer chemotherapy in cycles of 1–5 days each, with 2 days off, for a total of 7 days (7-day rule chemotherapy), or continuously for 1–5 days per session and rest for 3–4 weeks to allow the white blood cells and the body to recover and be ready for the next session.
Miracle fruit has been proposed for use in taste changes caused by chemotherapy and for weight loss, but studies are quite limited. Data suggest that some patients undergoing chemotherapy reported improved taste, but no change in weight with miracle fruit.
Bring a small, bland snack to chemotherapy appointments. Consider one of the above foods, low-acid juices (apple, grape, and fruit nectar), liquid yogurt, crackers, and fruits such as bananas, melon, and applesauce.
The side effects from chemotherapy tend to be the worst the day after it's administered. “If you're on a strong chemo regimen, usually the day after is when you'll experience the worst symptoms,” says Iheme. “By worst, I mean you'll experience the most fatigue, weakness and nausea.
3. If you have severe night sweats, sleep in a separate bed. “Sweating a little bit during the night is fine, but if you're getting drenching sweats that soak the sheets, you may want to sleep separately from your partner,” says Patterson. “And wash your pajamas and sheets thoroughly.”
Regular exercise increases your sense of well-being after cancer treatment and can make your recovery faster. Cancer survivors who exercise may experience: Increased strength and endurance. Fewer symptoms of depression.
This can lead to low blood cell counts, which are the most common side effect of chemotherapy. There are different types of low blood cell counts. A low white blood cell count (neutropenia) increases the risk for infection, which could be a medical emergency.
Make sure that your eggs are cooked all the way while your immune system is low during cancer treatment to reduce the risk of foodborne illness (that means no soft-boiled, poached, or any other form of eggs with a runny yolk).
Include protein
Low-sugar, 100% whole-grain cereals and fruit. You can pick up low-fat or non-fat milk or yogurt at a store or coffee shop to go with it. An ounce of mixed nuts and a piece of fresh fruit, like apple or pear. While nuts are higher in calories and fat, they have many health benefits including fiber.
To maintain their immune system and reduce the chances of infection, patients should eat a diet with enough protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, antioxidants, and fiber. Some examples of foods to eat during chemo include chicken, hard-boiled eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other vitamin- and protein-rich foods.
Why You Might Want to Avoid This: Some patients may get mouth sores from chemotherapy. Acidic foods like oranges and grapefruits can make them worse.
12 chemotherapy tips from cancer patients who've been there
Plant-based Proteins. Some of the best foods to eat during chemotherapy or other cancer treatments are plant-based proteins. They offer the highest levels of vitamins and minerals, Rajagopal says. This means eating lots of vegetables as well as beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.
The strongest protective anti-cancer effect has been shown with:
Staying hydrated after chemotherapy is important for the prevention of side effects. Drinking enough water and fluids will help to flush out some of the toxins that are released during chemotherapy or radiation therapy as well as help prevent future health problems.
Try high-protein foods that may taste better cold or at room temperature. Examples include cheese or cottage cheese plates; macaroni salads with shrimp, ham or cheese; tuna, egg, ham or chicken salad; cold meat or luncheon meat sandwiches; or cold salmon.
Chemo and its waste can harm or irritate skin, and may cause damage. Other people and pets could be exposed to chemo waste for a few days if they come into contact with any of your body fluids. If possible, have others use a separate toilet during this time.
Fatigue often tends to get worse with each progressive round of chemo. This means that if you feel weak after your first chemo session, you'll likely feel weaker after the second. Still, there isn't a set timeline for when chemotherapy side effects start.
Avoid rectal intercourse, tampons, douches, enemas and rectal thermometers. Do not eat raw foods such as sushi and sashimi, Caesar salad or milk shakes made with raw eggs, until you complete chemotherapy and your blood counts have returned to adequate levels. Raw foods may carry bacteria that can lead to infection.