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Nutrition for People With Cancer

Nutrition is an important thing to consider when you're getting cancer treatment. Eating healthy foods before, during, and after treatment can help you feel better and stay stronger. But cancer and its treatment can sometimes cause problems that can make it hard to eat. Not everyone with cancer has nutrition-related side effects, but this information can help you address them if and when they come up.

Nutrition During Cancer Treatment

Learn about nutrition needs during treatment  and how to manage treatment side effects that could affect how well you eat.

More information

Get more nutrition information from the American Cancer Society.

Where to find help

If you have any questions or concerns about nutrition, you should talk to a doctor, nurse, or dietitian. A registered dietitian can be one of your best sources of information. If you are going to meet with a dietitian, be sure to write down your questions before your meeting so you won’t forget anything. And be sure to ask the dietitian to repeat or explain anything that’s not clear.

For more information or to find a registered dietitian, contact the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

From the ACS Bookstore

The second edition of What to Eat During Cancer Treatment contains more than 130 recipes. The book provides practical tips and suggestions to help patients and their caregivers anticipate—and overcome—the major challenges of eating well during treatment. Written by Jeanne Besser, an award-winning cookbook author; Barbara Grant, a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition; and experts in nutrition and cancer care from the American Cancer Society. 

For more information or to place an order, visit the ACS Bookstore.