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What are the Best Foods to Eat After Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a powerful tool against cancer, but it can cause significant stress on your body. You need extra nutrition to take care of yourself, but you may also have side effects that make it difficult to eat enough. The best foods to eat during chemotherapy pack plenty of nutrition in mild, easy-to-eat forms. 

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses chemicals to fight the growth and spread of cancer cells. These treatments work in many different ways. Many chemotherapy agents target various stages of cell division. Rapidly dividing cells, especially cancer cells, are affected by this treatment. However, fast-dividing cells in your skin, digestive system, and other areas are also affected.

What are the Best Foods to Eat After Chemotherapy?

Many people find eating during chemotherapy difficult. You may feel nauseous, have no appetite, or have mouth sores that make eating uncomfortable. We recommend that you eat any nutritious foods that appeal to you. This list can help you decide what to add or remove from your diet, but always listen to your body. 

Foods to Eat

  • Eggs in any form, especially when made without butter or oil
  • Oatmeal, lightly flavored or plain
  • Whole grain breats
  • Vegetable, chicken, or other broth
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Vegetables
  • Lean meat like chicken or fish
  • Beans and legumes

Foods to Avoid

Chemotherapy can affect your immune system. You should avoid eating foods that could possibly carry food-borne illnesses. These include:

  • Foods made with raw or undercooked eggs
  • Sushi or undercooked fish
  • Unwashed fruits or vegetables
  • Unpasteurized dairy products 

How Does Chemotherapy Work?

Chemotherapy drugs target cancer cells by affecting the process of cell division. This affects all the cells in your body that are dividing frequently. This includes cancer cells, but can also include your hair, bone marrow, or digestive system. Chemotherapy drugs can work in several different ways, including:

  • Agents that damage the DNA of cancer cells to keep them from dividing
  • Agents that cause cancer cells to build malfunctioning DNA
  • Agents that block key enzymes cells need to make copies of their DNA
  • Agents that inactivate proteins cancer cells need to grow and divide

Chemotherapy agents can also work in many other ways. The rapid pace of cancer cell growth makes them a target for drugs that hinder this process. As a result, chemotherapy can shrink tumors, stop the development of new cancer cells, and prevent cancer from spreading. 

How Effective is Chemotherapy?

The effectiveness of chemotherapy depends on several factors. Each person will respond to treatment differently, and each person’s cancer cells have unique genetic changes that affect how well the treatment works. If you have questions about what to expect from chemotherapy, make sure to ask your doctor at Cochise Oncology. 

Take the Next Step

Do you have questions about chemotherapy? Reach out to Cochise Oncology at (520) 803-6644 or fill out the consultation form on this page.

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January 10, 2025

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