Diet advice for cancer patients

The food pyramid can help you to see how to balance your own diet, by getting the right amount of different types of foods. Cancer and cancer treatment can affect your body in different ways. You may need to eat different types of foods or different quantities. You might need special advice from a dietitian to keep a good balance in your diet. Ask to be referred to the dietitian if you have any worries about your diet.

Foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt - there are no recommended servings for these foods because they are not needed for good health. 

Serving sizes:

• Small or fun-sized servings of chocolate, biscuits, cakes, sweets, crisps and other savoury snacks and sugary drinks – not every day, maximum of once or twice a week

Meat, fish, poultry, beans, eggs, nuts - 2 servings a day

Serving sizes:

• 50-75g cooked lean beef, lamb, pork, mince or poultry (half size of palm of hand)
• 100g of cooked fish, soya or tofu
• ¾ cup of beans or lentils
• 2 eggs
• 40g unsalted nuts or seed

Milk, yoghurt and cheese - 3 servings a day (5 for children aged 9-12 and teenagers aged 13-18)

Serving sizes:

• 1 glass (200ml of milk)
• 1 carton (125g) yoghurt
• 2 thumbs (25g) of hard or semi-hard cheese such as cheddar or Edam
• 2 thumbs (25g) of soft cheese such as brie or camembert

Wholemeal cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice – 3-5 servings a day (up to 7 for teenage boys and men aged 19-50)

Serving sizes:

• 2 thin slices of wholemeal bread
• 1½ slices wholemeal soda bread or 1 pitta pocket
• 1/3 cup dry porridge oats
• ½ cup unsweetened muesli
• 1 cup flaked type breakfast cereal
• 1 cup cooked rice, pasta, noodles or cous cous
• 2 medium or 4 small potatoes, 1 cup yam or plantain

Vegetables, salads and fruit – 5-7 servings per day

• 1 medium sized fruit – apple, orange, pear or banana
• 2 small fruits – plums, kiwis or mandarin oranges
• Small fruits – 6 strawberries, 10 grapes or 16 raspberries
• ½ cup of cooked vegetables - fresh or frozen
• 1 bowl salad – lettuce, tomato, cucumber
• 1 bowl homemade vegetable soup
• 150ml unsweetened fruit juice

It may take some time before you feel more like yourself. Don’t worry if you don’t feel like cooking home-cooked meals straight away.

• Make simple meals using easy-to-prepare recipes.
• Buy some prepared foods like grated cheese or peeled and chopped vegetables to make cooking easier.
• Stock up on healthy snacks. For example, salads, cheese portions, yogurts, nuts and seeds, fruit, baked beans, smoothies, soups.
• Buy foods you are able to eat even when ill.
• Cook enough for two or three meals. You can freeze any extra if you have a freezer.
• Buy healthy ready-made meals, frozen meals and takeaways for when you don’t feel like cooking. For example, soup, salads, stir-fries, fish pie, stews, pasta bakes, curries. Look for meals that include plenty of vegetables and protein. Avoid meals with a lot of additives, fat or salt.
• Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member for help with cooking or shopping.

During cancer treatment, some people are advised to eat a high-protein, high calorie ‘build-up’ diet, to help them maintain their weight. You will be advised to follow this type of diet if you are losing weight unintentionally, if you’re having difficulty eating or if you’re underweight. 

Read more about the build-up diet for cancer patients.

Common eating problems include; poor appetite; taste and smell changes; sore mouth, gums or throat; difficulty swallowing; nausea; vomiting and diarrhoea. You may lose muscle, which can make you feel weaker. You may also lose or gain weight.

It's best to avoid alcohol, or at least reduce how much you drink, during chemotherapy or targeted therapies. This is because it may affect treatment or dehydrate you. Ask your doctor for advice.

Alcohol may also irritate your mouth if you are receiving radiotherapy to your head, neck or chest region. Even small amounts found in mouthwashes can hurt if your mouth is inflamed.

Some citrus fruits – particularly grapefruit – can interact with some cancer drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should avoid grapefruit or other citrus fruits during treatment.

Herbal products and vitamin/mineral supplements may also affect your treatment. Don’t take any supplements unless recommended by your medical team, even if you have used them safely before. Read more here.

Avoid probiotic supplements if you're having chemotherapy. If your white blood cell count is low (neutropenia), it is best to avoid probiotic foods, such as probiotic drinks and yoghurts, as they contain live bacteria.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions and foods you should avoid with your medicine.