Eating + Supplements

During chemotherapy it is important to eat the right foods, while avoiding foods that may make your side effects worse or interfere with the treatment.

Eating a well balanced diet with protein at every meal (or snacks) is key. During chemotherapy your you lose quite a bit of your strength (muscles) and you often need to increase your calories in general for energy.

You will also need to eat more or differently to overcome some of the side effects of chemo like mouth sores, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, weight gain or loss, and as a result of the changes in how food tastes and smells.

Use supplements that your doctor and dietitian approve beforehand.

The National Cancer Institute provides a booklet for free that you can download or read online here.(1) It is a comprehensive booklet, including what to eat or avoid depending on specific symptoms. Pretty much everything I did as far as preparation of food, storage and eating is listed in this booklet. For more information, see the Helpful Links section, below.

Food safety is also critical while on chemotherapy (and the 6 or so weeks after chemotherapy where you are still building up your immune system and vulnerable to infections.) 

The booklet I linked above from the National Cancer Institute covers food safety, but here is another link for more information.(2) It is from ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology).

Here is a helpful link to Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures. (3)

I was given a lot of information from the hospital where I received my chemotherapy. It was covered in my Orientation where we were given handouts and also where we were introduced to the Dietitians on staff. I was also given booklets that contained food information as it related to individual side effects as well as a food safety sheet of information.

For supplements, I was told to avoid Iron and Vitamin C during chemo. I did take a Vitamin B Complex (which also contained biotin), a Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc supplement, and Vitamin D daily.

I added peanut butter to my diet and puddings as was suggested in the list of foods to eat. I bought a good quality tapioca and rice pudding. Cold cuts were foods to avoid. I cooked all of my egg yolks. I was told that alcohol, green tea, vitamin C supplements, some natural health products and certain citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, blood oranges, pomegranate and star fruit could interfere and interact with the chemotherapy drugs I was taking. Stay away from moldy cheeses (like Bleu or Roquefort) or aged cheeses like Brie, Camembert and Old Cheddar. Eat mild cheeses as well as soft cheeses like cottage cheese and cream cheese.  I kept saltine crackers on hand, including when I went to my infusion sessions.

I also did my own research as far as foods to help with protecting against Breast Cancer, the symptoms of Hair Loss, and healthy Nails. Many foods overlapped. I researched on the web, but also referred to my Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch. It is a wealth of information that I have referred to for decades.

For hair loss, I sourced foods with biotin like brown rice, green peas, lentils, oats, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. I have always loved avocados, and made sure to include them in my weekly menus. For cleaning my hair, I looked for natural biotin shampoos that were enriched with other ingredients like silica, aloe vera, vitamins such as E, or jojoba oils. 

For my nails I ate foods high in protein (including meats such as chicken, pork and some beef), grains, legumes, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, eggs, fresh fruit and veggies, broccoli, fish, onions, sea vegetables, biotin, whole grain foods, plenty of water, and smoothies that contained some of the above including spirulina or kelp. And I used hand cream multiple times during the day to keep them from drying out and also to protect my nails as much as possible. I did not have a problem with brittle nails, but the last week of chemo my nails became extremely painful as they separated from my fingertips. It also happened to my toenails. Watch out for this!  Keep them cut short.

What I ate in general did not differ too much from what I normally ate before cancer. I did cut out ALL sugar with the exception of the puddings for the protein and nail health, ALL coffee, ALL chocolate, ALL alcohol and carbonated beverages. My stomach could not handle the coffee. I was told that I could follow up the coffee with milk to help with the indigestion, and it seemed to work for the most part, but I decided to stay off of caffeine until my 52 weeks of Herceptin was completed as Herceptin can effect the heart. I did not want to add to that with the caffeine hit. I eventually had to stay clear of any spicy foods due to indigestion.

I avoided freshly popped popcorn because it tore the tissue in my mouth and gums. I lightly toasted my multi-grain bread, too, so that it would not damage my gums or mouth.

I researched foods to help stave off breast cancer in the future. The list was long, but here’s a sampling:

Foods high in fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, raw nuts, seeds, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and yellow and orange vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, yams), brown rice, oats, wheat, apples, cherries, grapes, plums, berries, onions, garlic, flax seeds, fish (I ate seafood 3-4 times per week during chemo. Usually salmon (which I love and always ate anyway), and/or another fish or seafood, such as shrimp, and tuna for lunches.), kale, dark leafy vegetables and yogurt. Limit fatty, charred, grilled foods.

 Choose the foods that make you feel good, yet stay within the guidelines of your doctor or dietitian’s recommendations. It makes all of the difference in the world. You want to feel as good as you can and alleviate side effects as much as possible during chemotherapy. The recommendations from your team as well as the cancer organizations linked above offer wisdom from years of experience, but remember, no two patients are alike. Speak with your team of specialists.

Once my chemotherapy and radiation therapy was completed, my oncologist prescribed my hormonal therapy.

In May 2019 after my radiation treatment ended. I was prescribed an aromatase inhibitor, Arimidex (generic name anastrozole).

I will be on the anastrozole for a minimum of 5 years (until 2024). My oncologist will determine, given the most recent research at that time, if I should stay on it for more years.

I started taking the pills on May 11th. So far my side effects have been bouts of blurry vision, which goes away, dizziness and some nausea. I am hoping that the symptoms will dissipate over the next weeks or months. And I need to continue strength building and exercise in general to keep my bones strong during treatment.

As of September 2019 my knuckles and hands are swelling quite a bit from the hormone inhibitor, Anastrozole. My oncologist mentioned that since I am on the cusp of menopause that my symptoms are a bit worse and that my hands are like “70 year old” hands right now. Argh! The mornings are the worse.

Due to the risk of bone weakening and degradation, I was also prescribed Vitamin D. 10,000UI tablets to be taken once a week. I already voluntarily take Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc supplements. I am also continuing my B complex supplements.

I added Melatonin to my list of supplements on September 14th 2019 per my oncologist’s suggestion. The Herceptin infusions and the Anastrozole are contributing to insomnia and I needed some relief. He warned me that it would take up to 2 weeks to realize the effects of the Melatonin, so to be patient.