Many people diagnosed with cancer wonder if they should change their diet.
You cannot cure cancer by eating certain foods. However, several studies seem to show that a healthy and balanced diet (see the complementary brochure “Daily nutrition”) combined with regular exercise can improve quality of life and prognosis of cancer.
But there is no proof that diets based on a single "anti-cancer" food are effective. It is not advised to follow a restrictive diet.
You may have difficulty eating because of symptoms related to cancer and/or treatments (changes to your taste, mouth ulcers, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, etc.).
There is a risk of undernutrition (your body does not get enough of the nutrients it needs from what you eat) or malnutrition (you do not eat a wide variety of foods, so your body does not get all the nutrients it needs to function properly).
This risk is present even in cases of being overweight and should be monitored by your healthcare team.
We recommend that you get this checked out as soon as possible after your diagnosis, before you have surgery or treatment. You should get your nutrition checked regularly, especially if you have lost your appetite or weight.