Why diet is important

Eating a balanced diet can help you cope with cancer and its treatments.

How cancer causes diet problems

Cancer can cause changes to your body, making it hard to eat or digest food and use its nutrients.

How cancer treatment causes diet problems

Cancer treatments can affect your appetite and cause problems with eating, drinking and digestion.

Types of diet problems

The side effects of cancer and its treatments might cause problems with your eating, digestion and weight.

Managing diet problems in cancer

Medicines, soft diets, adding calories to your diet or tube feeding are some of the ways to manage diet problems.

Diet in advanced cancer

Diet problems can happen when you have advanced cancer.

Your feelings about diet problems

Having diet problems when you have cancer can affect you emotionally. But there are things you can do to help you cope.

Resources and support for diet problems

There are lots of organisations, support groups and helpful books to help you cope with diet problems caused by cancer and its treatment.

Last reviewed: 
27 Mar 2024
Next review due: 
26 Mar 2027