Nutrition and exercise

You may wonder if you need to change what you eat or how much exercise you do. This will depend on the cancer type, any treatments you have and your general health. Your doctor, treatment team and other health professionals can give you advice about what suits you. This section also has general information on how healthy food and movement can help your wellbeing.

Eating well

Cancer and its treatment can put extra demands on the body. Eating well can help you feel as good as possible, increase energy, cope as best you can with treatment side effects, and speed up recovery.

Cancer Council recommends that most people with cancer follow the Australian Dietary Guidelines:

• Eat a wide variety from the 5 food groups – fruit, vegetables and legumes, wholegrains, meat or alternatives and dairy or alternatives.
• Limit foods high in saturated fat, added salt and added sugars. 
• Avoid sugary drinks and limit alcohol.

While it’s best to get vitamins and minerals from eating whole foods, your doctor may sometimes recommend that you take specific supplements during and after treatment.

If you are already taking vitamins, herbs or other supplements, ask your cancer specialist whether they are safe to continue taking, and if there are any foods that could interfere with treatment or medicines.

For more information, see Nutrition for people living with cancer. 

Who can help with eating and nutrition

Sometimes it can be hard to eat enough. You may have trouble swallowing or eating certain foods. These health professionals can help you with any eating problems. 

Dietitian

An accredited practising dietitian has a university degree in dietetics and is accredited by Dietitians Australia, the recognised peak body. They can:

• help you to meet your nutritional needs
• give you tailored advice on food and nutrition 
• assist with managing side effects.

Nutritionist

• There are accredited dietitians, nutrition scientists and naturopathic nutritionists. Some accredited dietitians also use the title “nutritionist”.
• Nutritionists focus on how food affects health.
• Nutritionists working in the natural health industry should have at least a diploma of nutrition, or a similar qualification, from a university or naturopathic college.

Speech pathologist

• If you have trouble swallowing food and drink, a speech pathologist can help. 
• They can suggest ways to prepare food and drink if swallowing is painful or difficult.

How to find a qualified health professional

• To find an accredited practising dietitian, visit Dietitians Australia. 
• To find a nutritionist, visit Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) or the Australasian Association and Register of Practicing Nutritionists (AARPN).
• To find a certified practising speech pathologist, visit Speech Pathology Australia.

Unproven diets

Some complementary therapies include general dietary advice, while others have their own specific eating plans. Check with your doctor before starting any diet or eating plan that suggests cutting out entire food groups.

You might also see claims (e.g. on social media) that a particular diet or way of life can cure or control cancer. However, there are no special foods, diets or vitamin and mineral supplements that have been scientifically proven to cure cancer.

Restrictive or unproven diets can be dangerous, especially for people who have cancer. Following these diets may mean that you don’t get enough energy (kilojoules/calories), protein, fat, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals. This can then affect your energy levels, cause unwanted weight loss and fatigue, and even weaken your immune system. 

Getting the right nutrition

Cutting out whole food groups and losing weight can increase your risk of malnutrition, which can make it harder to cope with treatment and slow your recovery. You can become malnourished regardless of how much you weigh.

Fasting – unless it is something that your doctor has said you need to do before a test, scan or treatment – can be harmful, especially when you have cancer.

Before starting any special diet, ask your doctor, healthcare team and complementary therapist for advice. They can help you make safe choices and support your overall care.

Taking care with special diets 

Check with your doctor and treatment team before starting any diet. Some may be harmful, especially during cancer treatment.

• ketogenic or keto – High-fat, low-carb diet that puts the body into ketosis. Some claim it slows cancer growth, but there’s no strong evidence. May cause nutritional issues.
• vegan raw – Excludes all animal products and focuses on plant foods. May lack key nutrients such as iron and B12. No evidence it cures cancer. Needs careful planning during treatment.
• paleo diet – Includes fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, meats and eggs, but excludes grains and dairy. Check with your doctor or nutritionist, as it may not be recommended for everyone.
• alkaline diet – Claims eating alkaline foods, such as green vegetables, fruits, oily fish and nuts, lowers acidity in the body and stops cancer growth. No evidence to support this.
• high-dose vitamins and minerals – There is little evidence that high-dose vitamins and minerals strengthen the immune system during treatment. Certain supplements can be toxic, increase bleeding risk, or interfere with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and medicines. Some examples include folic acid (B9), which can increase some treatment side effects, and antioxidants (e.g. vitamin E, COQ10, selenium), which can affect radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
• Gerson diet/therapy – Involves drinking fresh juice several times a day, limiting foods you can eat, taking supplements, and doing coffee enemas. No scientific evidence that it is an effective treatment for cancer. Evidence shows coffee enemas can be dangerous if used too often.

Physical activity

Before starting any new exercise program, ask your cancer care team or GP about the type and amount of exercise that’s best for you, and any precautions that you may need to take.

Exercise can help during and after cancer treatment. It may reduce the severity of treatment side effects; improve physical function, fatigue and psychological wellbeing; and potentially reduce cancer recurrence and improve survival for some cancer types (e.g. breast, bowel, prostate).

How much exercise should I do?

The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) recommends that most people with cancer aim for and maintain per week:

• at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) of moderate intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes (1¼ hours) of vigorous aerobic exercise
• 2–3 strength or resistance sessions of moderate to vigorous intensity targeting major muscle groups to build muscle strength.

Who can help with physical activity

Exercise professionals can develop an exercise program to meet your specific needs and show you how to exercise safely. Some treatment centres offer exercise help, but you may need to see someone privately.

• Exercise physiologist: An accredited exercise physiologist (AEP) uses exercise to help with chronic disease management and to improve overall wellbeing. To find an exercise physiologist near you, visit Exercise & Sports Science Australia.
• Physiotherapist: They focus on physical recovery and prevention/treatment of injuries using techniques such as exercise, massage and joint manipulation. To find a physiotherapist, visit the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Movement and muscle techniques

While studies into the use and safety of the below therapies in people with cancer are limited, these forms of therapist-led movement exercise can help improve breathing, strength, flexibility, mobility, fitness and general wellbeing.

Bowen technique (Bowtech)

A therapist applies gentle pressure to acupuncture and reflex points to release the muscles and tension in soft tissue and tendons. A Bowen session lasts up to an hour, and most people have 3–4 sessions.

Pilates

A system of strengthening and stretching exercises that focus on developing the body’s core (abdominals, lower back and hips). Pilates encourages the mind to be aware of its control over the muscles and change postural habits that have contributed to pain, reduced mobility and poor coordination. It started as a form of physical therapy.

Alexander technique

This therapy teaches people ways to improve posture and movement, and to use muscles efficiently. By changing the way people use their body, this therapy may enhance mental and physical functioning.

Feldenkrais method 

A series of guided movements designed to improve balance and flexibility. It helps people become more aware of the way they move and how this contributes to, or compensates for, bad posture, pain and mobility restrictions. Trained therapists use touch, movement, guided imagery and mindful body awareness to stimulate the brain to improve movement and posture.