Good nutrition is especially important if you have cancer because both the illness and its treatments can change the way you eat.
Cancer and cancer treatments can also affect the way your body tolerates certain foods and uses nutrients.
The nutrient needs of people with cancer vary from person to person. Your cancer care team can help you identify your nutrition goals and plan ways to help you meet them. Eating well while you’re being treated for cancer might help you:
- Feel better.
- Keep up your strength and energy.
- Maintain your weight and your body’s store of nutrients.
- Better tolerate treatment-related side effects.
- Lower your risk of infection.
- Heal and recover faster.
Eating well means eating a variety of foods to get the nutrients your body needs to fight cancer. These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins, and minerals.
In order to optimize your nutritional needs during and after treatment, we play close attention to this aspect of your care and your doctor or his team may discuss this in more detail during one of your visits.