Nutrition and Cancer

Diet is important for any healthy lifestyle, but it’s especially important in the fight against cancer. Proper nutrition and cancer treatment go hand in hand. Before, during and after cancer treatment, managing nutrition is a part of recovery and future prevention.

A well-balanced diet is the fuel your body needs to maintain energy and a strong immune system throughout treatment and survivorship.

Do I need to manage my diet?

Nutrition for cancer patients is vital for recovery.

You may benefit from diet and nutrition support services if you experience:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Dry or sore mouth
  • Taste changes
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Weight loss or weight gain

Benefits of Managing Diet and Nutrition

Knowing what foods will help you get better and what foods to avoid can help you take back control of your health. Our registered dietitians work with you to come up with a personalized diet plan. Individual consultations are tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

You’ll have a personal advocate supporting you, answering your questions and guiding you through cancer treatment and diet management. You also may experience reduced side effects and a stronger recovery from managing your diet.

After you complete treatment, maintaining a nutritious diet can significantly reduce risk of recurrence.

What to Expect

OSF HealthCare registered dietitians will work with you one on one to craft a sustainable diet plan that meets your unique needs and goals.

A registered dietitian will perform a complete evaluation to assess your risk for malnutrition and analyze your lifestyle, body weight, metabolism, food tolerances, tastes and medical conditions to create your personalized nutrition program.

They will also provide nutrition recommendations to maintain lean body mass and digestive health.

They can also identify individual strategies for maintaining good nutrition and adhering to your specific dietary needs during and after cancer therapy.

Get Started

To learn more about nutrition and diet services near you, please reach out to a member of your oncology care team.

Cost

There is no cost for receiving diet and nutrition support services.

Blogs

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Diet for cancer patients going through treatment
Managing diet during treatment can be difficult. Fill your body with the right foods and know what to eat and avoid.
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Know what to eat after cancer treatment end
You survived. Now it’s time to thrive. Nutrition and cancer don’t break up after cancer treatment is over. Eat right after cancer.
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Get in the greens with leafy vegetables
Are you getting enough green leafy vegetables? They support overall health and are full of vitamins and minerals.