Foods to eat and to avoid during Chemo??

Septmom · November 2013

Hello Ladies,

I was wondering what foods you all were eating during chemo. I started chemo last week 11/14. I have been reading a lot on foods breast cancer survivors should avoid eating such as dairy, processed sugars, processed foods etc. I found that the only thing I could stomach on my first day out of chemo was the frozen greek yoghurt yasso bars and some rice and lentils with yoghurt. Now I am reading that yoghurt (dairy) is bad. I was wondering what diet plan everyone is following during treatment. Thanks!!

Trisha-Anne · November 2013

Septmom

During chemo - you eat whatever you can stomach :-) If you can eat it, then don't worry about what you should or shouldn't be eating, it's more about what you can get into your body.

I ate a lot of jelly beans (they are full of glucose) and that helped. I couldn't stand the taste of tea or coffee, so didn't have any while my taste buds were off. I had extreme taste changes on Taxotere, and couldn't eat very much of anything - everything tasted like mud, yuk. But I could get down a half a teaspoon of chocolate chip icecream every half hour or so - so that's what I did. I could at times eat part of a boiled egg.

The thing is - everyone's different, so you need to find what you can manage, and stick to it. Don't try to force yourself to eat something that tastes awful - even if it's your favourite food - you might find once you've finished chemo you'll never be able to eat that particular food again.

Sending you (((((hugs)))) I hope all your treatments are gentle on you.

Trish

xoxo

Melrosemelrose · November 2013

From what I have read.... yogurt is fine as long as it is low fat and is organic. The organic means less hormones in the milk used to make the yogurt. The yogurt does provide a source of calcium and probiotics which are helpful. I try to find ones with minimal sugar and opt to buy plain and add my own fruit.

As for the taste buds going on vacation, it happens. I decided to view eating as fuel for my body rather than a means to comfort myself. So on those bland days, I would eat potatoes ( mashed, baked), mac n cheese and baked chicken. Just try to avoid your favorite foods on those days when nothing tastes great, especially if you want those foods to remain your favorite foods after you finish chemo.

I used two books while I was in chemoland which seemed to give me some guidance on what to eat

Eating Well Through Cancer by Holly Clegg and Gerald Miletello, MD ( book is divided by chapters on what to eat when you have certain side effects, the day before chemo, shopping lists, menus and recipes and tips)

The Cancer Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz. Great pics and recipes.

I also bought food magazines periodically to look at the pictures in an effort to stimulate my desire to eat. I also ate 5-6 small meals everyday and kept a food diary so I could remember what I ate when and what tasted good.

Wishing you the best with your chemo!!!!

Septmom · November 2013

Thanks Ladies, I guess I will stick to what works during chemo. Melrose I will check out those books! Thanks!!

Moderators · November 2013

Septmom, as well as the great advice you've already received, the main Breastcancer.org site includes the section Healthy Eating During Treatment that's packed with suggestions for planning meals, and eating when you have treatment-related side effects.

Best wishes!

• The Mods

SelenaWolf · November 2013

Eat what you can during treatment and try not to fret about what's "good" and what's "bad". If you fear you're not getting enough nutrition, talk to your treatment team; they may have a nutritionist they can refer you too. There's lot of time later for you to begin adjusting your diet. What is important now is that you eat.

Foods to eat and to avoid during Chemo??

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