It just makes good sense to maintain a nutritious diet during cancer treatment in order to increase your body’s tolerance to the medication and fully realize its benefits.
Here is a link and summary of an article titled “Eating Well During Treatment” from the American Cancer Society about the importance of good nutrition during cancer treatment.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/survivorship/coping/nutrition/once-treatment-starts.html
Summary:
A healthy diet is your first line of defense during cancer treatment. A healthy diet helps your body function at its best. This is even more important if you have cancer. You’ll better endure treatment and optimize your body’s ability to help keep up your strength, your energy level, and your defenses against infection. A healthy diet can also prevent body tissue from breaking down while helping to build new tissues. People who eat well are better able to cope with the side effects of treatment. In fact, some cancer treatments work better in people who are well-nourished and are getting enough calories and protein.
Try these tips:
- Don’t be afraid to try new foods. Some things you never have liked before might taste good during treatment.
- Choose different plant-based foods. Try eating beans and peas instead of meat at a few meals each week.
- Try to eat more fruits and vegetables every day in a variety of colors. Colorful vegetables and fruits and plant-based foods have many natural health-promoting substances.
- Try to stay at a healthy weight, and stay physically active. Small weight changes during treatment are normal.
- Limit or avoid red or processed meats, sugar sweetened beverages and processed foods.
If you can’t do any of the above during this time, don’t worry about it. Tell your cancer care team about any problems you have and ask if there is a dietician or nutritionist you could speak to. Sometimes diet changes are needed to get the extra fluids, protein, and calories you need.