Cancer and a healthy diet
Eating and drinking a balanced diet can:
- help you cope better with cancer treatments
- help you recover faster
- reduce the risk of your cancer coming back or you developing a new one
- reduce your risk of other long term health conditions. For example; heart disease
A balanced diet will also:
- keep your immune system working well
- help you to fight off infections
- help your body kill cancer cells
Weight loss or problems eating
Cancer can affect your appetite and make it hard for you to eat. It can also change the way that your body digests food and uses nutrients.
If you're undergoing cancer treatment, finding it difficult to eat, or have unintended weight loss you may need to change the balance of your diet.
According to Cancer Research UK, up to 4 out of 10 people diagnosed with cancer have unintended weight loss or problems with nutrition early on.
Find out more about how to cope with eating and drinking difficulties on the Cancer Research UK website.
Weight gain
Some people put on weight as a result of cancer treatments. There are many different things that can cause this including cancer treatments, side effects and lifestyle changes.
You should speak to your GP, cancer doctor or nurse before trying to lose weight. They will be able to talk to you about the right way to do this based on the type of cancer you have and its treatment.
Drink less alcohol
Alcohol is linked with an increased risk of getting 7 different cancers.
Try to keep within safe drinking limits of 14 units a week with 2 or 3 alcohol free days.
Life after cancer
Most doctors will advise you to eat a healthy balanced diet.
Useful websites
Visit our healthy diet webpages to find more information about what makes up a healthy balanced diet.
The Macmillan Cancer Support website has information about how cancer treatments can cause you to put on weight.
You can also find lots of information about healthy eating and a collection of recipes tailored specifically for people with cancer.