Overview
Eating well has many health benefits for people with cancer. It can give you more energy, improve your mood and help your body cope with cancer treatment.
Find out why it’s important to eat well when you have cancer, and how side effects, such as feeling sick (nausea) and loss of appetite, can make that a challenge. Learn if you need to change what you eat, so that you get enough protein, energy, vitamins and minerals.
After a cancer diagnosis, it’s common to have questions about nutrition and cancer. Call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 to talk it through with our qualified professionals.
What's in this booklet
About the importance of eating well
Learn why eating well is important for your overall health and how to adapt what you eat after a cancer diagnosis.
Key questions
Find out what the link is between food and cancer, if you should avoid alcohol, and the importance of having a dental check-up before treatment starts.
Treatment side effects and nutrition
Explore ways of coping with common treatment side effects, such as loss of appetite, taste and smell changes, swallowing problems, nausea, and weight changes.
Other nutrition concerns
Find out about nutritional issues that need extra care, such as diabetes, or not getting enough nutrients from your food (malnutrition).
Nutrition and advanced cancer
Learn how advanced cancer can affect how you eat and drink, and ways to manage problems such as nausea, a sore throat, and bowel issues.
Meal and snack ideas
Explore easy-to-make meals, snacks and soups that are high in protein and energy, as well as enriched drinks.
Caring for someone with cancer
Find important nutrition tips and advice for carers, like how to prepare food safely and make mealtimes as enjoyable as possible.
Questions for your health professionals
It can be a good idea to prepare a list of questions before your appointments. See our list of questions about nutrition and eating well.
Seeking support
There are many sources of support for eating well, including your GP and treatment team, as well as a dietitian, nutritionist, and speech pathologist.
Find support services
Find the right services for your needs, wherever you are in Australia
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