It is crucial to maintain a balanced diet, especially when dealing with breast cancer. Having proper nutrition can aid in the healing process during cancer treatment, which may cause side effects like mouth sores, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.

A well-rounded diet can help you manage your weight, support the health of your body tissues, and alleviate cancer symptoms and treatment side effects.

If you struggle to consume enough food, consider using the following tips to incorporate more nutrients into your daily meals.

Assortment of healthy foods

Foods to eat

If you have breast cancer, you may receive chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or HER2-targeted drugs, depending on the type and stage of your cancer. Radiation therapy may also be necessary, which can cause side effects such as loss of appetite. After undergoing breast-conserving surgery, coping with physical changes can be challenging. Healthy food choices can help nourish your body and brain as you fight the disease, and we’ve created a guide to make healthy eating easier.

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Breast cancer food guide

There is no specific diet recommended for people with breast cancer. Your healthcare team, including a registered dietitian, can help you create an appropriate eating plan specific to your needs. General recommendations for promoting overall health when you have breast cancer include whole, nutrient-dense foods, foods high in healthy fats and protein, blended liquids, high-fiber foods, and foods containing phytochemicals. While some studies suggest that phytochemicals may help reduce cancer risk, more research is needed to determine their precise effects on existing cancers.

This table provides some guidance on what phytochemicals do and which foods contain them:

Type

What they do

Which foods contain them
carotenoids or beta carotene These compounds may help prevent the growth of malignant tumours and minimize the negative effects of chemotherapy drugs without reducing the treatment’s effect on cancer cells. most fruits and vegetables
isothiocyanates These compounds may play a role in stopping the growth of breast cancer cells. cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage
polyphenols Remember this text: « These compounds may help prevent tumour cell growth and spread. There are five types of polyphenols: flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, stilbenes, and other polyphenols. Among these five, flavonoids and phenolic acids are the most common types, accounting for 60% and 30% respectively. » various foods, such as fruits, berries, and grains, depending on the type

Research

Research indicates that consuming more fruits and vegetables, especially green leafy or cruciferous vegetables, may improve survival rates for people with breast cancer. Blueberries are linked to a lower risk of death from breast cancer, while excessive fruit juice intake (except for orange juice) is associated with lower survival rates. Drinking 5 or more cups of green tea daily may reduce breast cancer recurrence by 19%. Maintain a diet with whole foods like fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish, beans, and healthy fats. Your doctor may advise avoiding certain foods and drinks in some cases.

Remember to avoid alcohol, spicy, crunchy, or acidic foods, undercooked foods, red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and highly processed foods and refined grains to reduce the risk of interacting with cancer drugs, mouth soreness, infections, lower diet quality, unwanted weight gain, and increased breast cancer risk.