It is important to eat well during your cancer treatment. Eating well helps you maintain your strength and energy level during treatment. Good nutrition helps your body recover faster and feel better after treatment. It also strengthens your immune system to help your body fight the disease.

Cancer and its treatments can affect the way your body uses nutrients and can increase the loss of certain nutrients. It is important to replenish these nutrients by taking in adequate nutrition.

Side effects from treatment are possible but do not happen to everyone. It is important to be aware of side effects of treatment that can occur and to know how to manage them.

West Michigan Cancer Center Nutritionist

You may find that you have more questions about nutrition and cancer, even after you have read this section. Also, if you are already following a special diet prescribed for you by your doctor, you may need to know how to fit nutrition for cancer treatment into your current meal plan. In either case, it may be beneficial to you to meet with West Michigan Cancer Center’s nutritionist.

As a West Michigan Cancer Center patient, you have access to a nutritionist who is a registered dietitian (RD). These letters after one’s name signify that a person has successfully completed a four-year degree in nutrition, an internship and a national examination. West Michigan Cancer Center’s nutritionist is available for complimentary consultations should questions or concerns arise throughout your treatment and beyond. You may ask the schedulers on either floor for nutritionist availability and an appointment time. Generally, you can be scheduled at or near a time when you are already planning to be at West Michigan Cancer Center. If you have head/neck cancer and will be receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment, your doctor will be talking to you regarding a feeding tube at the start of treatment. You may not need it at the start of treatment; however, by the middle of treatment, you will be pleased that this is available to you. To contact the WMCC nutritionist, please call 269-373-0109.

Getting Started

• Review this nutrition section.
• Take a trip to the grocery store. Buy a variety of favorite foods that will be convenient and easy to prepare.
• Make food ahead of time. If possible, prepare large quantities of favorite foods and freeze in small containers when you’re feeling well for consumption later.
• Discuss possible side effects of your treatment with your doctors and nurses. Be aware that these may or may not occur, and know how to handle them if they do.
• If you are taking any vitamin, mineral, herbal or dietary supplements, ask your physician and nutritionist if you can continue taking them during treatment. There may be an interaction between these and other medications you are currently taking, or treatments you may receive in the future.
• Avoid large doses of antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, beta-carotene and selenium during treatment. However, standard amounts of these nutrients found in multivitamins with minerals, and in foods, are not of concern.
• There are many resources available to you. West Michigan Cancer Center has copies of the Eating Hints for Cancer Patients booklet available to you. This is published by the National Cancer Institute and can also be ordered by calling 1-800-4CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

Increasing Calories and Proteins in Your Diet

Increase Calories:

• Add butter or margarine to soups, mashed potatoes, hot cereals, rice, noodles and cooked vegetables.
• Use whipped cream on hot chocolate, desserts, gelatin, puddings, fruits, pancakes and waffles.
• Add cream vegetables and casseroles.
• Spread peanut butter on sandwiches, toast, muffins, crackers and fruit slices.
• Sprinkle nuts on fruit, cereal, ice cream, yogurt, vegetables and salads.
• Add chopped, cooked meat or fish to vegetables, salads, casseroles, soups and sauces.

Increase Protein:

• Melt cheese on sandwiches, meats, fish, eggs and vegetables.
• Mix cottage cheese with fruits and vegetables.
• Use milk in beverages and in preparing hot cereal, soups and pudding.
• Use powdered milk in casseroles, meatloaf, breads, muffins, sauces and mashed potatoes.
• Add ice cream or frozen yogurt to carbonated beverages such as ginger ale.
• Add chopped, hard-cooked eggs to salads, vegetables and casseroles.
• Spread peanut butter on sandwiches, toast, muffins, crackers and fruit slices.
• Sprinkle nuts on fruit, cereal, ice cream, yogurt, vegetables and salads.
• Add chopped, cooked meat or fish to vegetables, salads, casseroles, soups and sauces.

Soy & Organic Products

If you have questions regarding soy or organic foods, click on the links below to the American Dietetic Association’s Oncology Nutrition website for guidance:

• Soy and Breast Cancer
• Organic Food and Cancer