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Nutrition and daily life

Eating before treatment: a time to build strength

There may be days or weeks between diagnosis and the start of treatment. This is valuable time to settle your eating, protect your weight and prepare your home for the weeks ahead. This section explains how.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Chicken, rice, vegetables and yogurt on a dark table.
Figure 1.A balanced home meal.

01Short answer

Before treatment the goal is not to lose weight or "cleanse the body", but to keep your strength and weight. Eat regularly, include protein at every meal and drink enough. Have your teeth checked, as a mouth infection can cause problems during treatment. Freeze home-cooked meals in portions and build a store of sealed foods. Tell your team which supplements you take. Record your weight.

02Simple explanation

The goal is to keep strength.

Protein at every meal.

A dental check.

Build a store at home.

03Scientific explanation

ESPEN: nutrition should be assessed from the start of treatment; weight loss spotted early is easier to correct.

ESPEN: enough energy and protein matter for preventing weight and muscle loss in people with cancer, and nutritional status should be assessed regularly.

NCI: practical eating tips exist for treatment side effects such as nausea, taste changes and mouth sores.

04What happens in the body?

Preparing at home

Freeze cooked meals in portions and keep sealed tins, rice, oats and long-life milk for tired days.

A blank planning board and tidy food containers.
Figure 2.Plan ahead — Eating before treatment: a time to build strength

With family

Agree in advance who shops and who cooks, and share the food-safety rules with them.

Neat portions of home cooking in a freezer.
Figure 3.Portions in the freezer.

Dietitian

If you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.

Food safety

Food-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.

05Nutrition: four steps

Assess, swap the risky, cook safely, eat regularly.

Assess — Weight and appetite.1AssessWeight and appetite.
Swap — A safe choice.2SwapA safe choice.
Cook — Hot throughout.3CookHot throughout.
Eat regularly — Small portions.4Eat regularlySmall portions.
StrengthEnergy.
ProteinFor muscle.
SafetyFood rules.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
Preparing at homeFreeze cooked meals in portions and keep sealed tins, rice, oats and long-life milk for tired days.
With familyAgree in advance who shops and who cooks, and share the food-safety rules with them.
DietitianIf you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.
Food safetyFood-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.

07Key terms

Baseline weight
Your weight before treatment.
Portion
The amount of food for one meal.
Dietitian
A nutrition specialist.
Protein
A nutrient for repairing muscles and tissues.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • Do not try to lose weight.
  • Build a food store.
  • Record your weight.
  • A diet is not a treatment.
  • Talk to a dietitian.

09Frequently asked questions

Should I detox before treatment?

No; it can weaken you and has no benefit.

Should I start vitamins?

Only with your doctor; some affect treatment (see “Is natural always safe? Herbs, supplements and the value of asking”).

Can a special diet cure leukemia?

No. Good nutrition helps you cope with treatment, but it does not cure.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Should I detox before treatment?

  2. Should I start vitamins?

  3. Can a special diet cure leukemia?

My questions

12Sources

  1. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  2. ESPEN. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer (2021)
  3. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Food and Nutrition
  4. World Health Organization. Healthy diet fact sheet
  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Selecting and Serving Produce Safely
  6. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Diet Guidelines for Immunosuppressed Patients
  7. NHS. Listeriosis
  8. NCCIH. Probiotics: What You Need To Know
  9. American Diabetes Association. Food & Nutrition
  10. NIDDK. Eating & Nutrition for Chronic Kidney Disease
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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