Nutrition & Cancer

Cancer can affect what and how you eat, your digestion, and your energy levels, often in ways you don’t expect. Whether you've just been diagnosed, you’re preparing for surgery or recovering, nutrition plays an important role in how you feel when living with cancer.

Good nutrition can help to support your body’s nutritional needs, as well as preserve muscle mass and function. In other words, helping you stay as strong and active as possible. Nutrition is key because during cancer your body's nutritional need can significantly change, and it is important to feed your body with the nutrients it needs to help preserve weight and muscle mass and function.

The section below includes clear, practical guidance, reviewed by medical experts, to help you nourish your body at every stage of your cancer journey. Start exploring and find out about the most common nutritional challenges faced during cancer treatment and how these can be managed.

Many people with cancer experience weight loss, reduced appetite, or loss of muscle mass, sometimes even before treatment starts. Early nutrition screening and support from a dietitian can help identify problems early and support your health throughout treatment and recovery.

Good nutrition is important at every stage of the cancer journey. Discover which foods could help support your body’s nutritional needs from diagnosis and beyond.

Spotting the signs of malnutrition and muscle loss early is important. Ask your care team whether nutritional screening may be right for you.

You may feel less hungry during cancer treatment or have no appetite at all. Find out why this happens, and what you can do to help your body get the nutrition it needs when eating is hard.

Cancer and its treatment may leave your body feeling weak and tired. Learn how nutrition can help support your energy levels, maintain muscle strength and support physical function during treatment and recovery.

You may lose weight or muscle during cancer treatment. Understand why this happens and how body changes can be managed during your cancer journey.

Weight gain during cancer treatment might be less talked about than weight loss, but it can happen. Find out why, and what that means for your nutritional needs.

You may have lots of questions about your diet, you may be wondering what you should or shouldn't be eating. You do not have to manage your nutrition alone.

Cancer may impact what and how you eat in many different ways. Explore the most common eating challenges during cancer treatment, why they happen, and what support is available to you.

Taste changes, such as a metallic taste in the mouth, are a common yet frustrating side effect of some cancer treatments. Discover why this happens, and what simple changes could make eating more manageable.

Swallowing difficulties can be both a symptom of some cancers and a side effect of treatment. Find out what might be causing them and what options are available to help you keep eating safely.

Feeling full (or early satiety) after a few mouthfuls can make it hard to get the nutrition you need. Read more about why this may happen and what could help you keep up your nutritional intake.

Nausea, or feeling sick, is a common symptom of certain cancers and cancer treatment and can make eating feel really challenging. Find out what might help support your nutrition, even on difficult days.

With so much conflicting advice out there on food and cancer, it can be hard to know what to believe. Read on to learn what current evidence says about nutrition and cancer, and how to make informed choices based on reliable information.