How does nutrition help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy?

Nutrition helps cancer patients by providing adequate energy and protein to cope with treatment stress, strengthening immunity, improving tolerance to treatment, and reducing side effects like nausea.

What is the importance of individualized diets for cancer patients?

Individualized diets are important for cancer patients as they are tailored to their specific medical condition, chemotherapy cycles, and comorbidities, helping to counter dietary myths and support overall well-being.

What are the risks of omitting food groups during cancer treatment?

Omitting food groups during cancer treatment can lead to loss of muscle and fat, and can cause complications as the body requires significant energy for treatment.

Home / Health / Nutrition: Cancer's Secret Weapon for Recovery

Nutrition: Cancer's Secret Weapon for Recovery

5 Feb

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Summary

Special diet camp for chemotherapy patients highlights nutrition's role.
Food is a therapeutic tool, aiding treatment and recovery.
Individualised diets counter myths, supporting patient well-being.

Nutrition: Cancer's Secret Weapon for Recovery

On World Cancer Day 2026, the Department of Dietetics at PGIMER, Chandigarh, organized a special diet camp for day-care chemotherapy patients. This event highlighted nutrition's critical, often overlooked, role in cancer management, presenting food as an essential component of treatment and recovery.

Experts stressed that proper energy and protein intake help patients tolerate treatment stress better. Oral nutrition supplements can safely bridge nutritional gaps caused by side effects like nausea or poor appetite. Nutrition is not merely supplementary but integral to strengthening immunity, improving treatment tolerance, and enhancing quality of life.

Personalized dietary counseling was a key feature, with plans tailored to chemotherapy cycles, comorbidities, and individual assessments. This approach ensures practical dietary guidance beyond the hospital. Clinicians also warned about food-drug interactions, emphasizing informed dietary choices alongside medication adherence for optimal treatment outcomes. Avoiding food group omission is crucial to prevent muscle and fat loss, with recommendations for fruits and oral nutrition support when intake is difficult.