Nutrition and Lung Cancer

There is no data to support that eating any one food or taking any supplement will help cure or fight your lung cancer. You should be wary of any claims that a certain food or supplement will cure your cancer.

However, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains could help you feel your best during treatment. When you are feeling good, you can tolerate treatment better and increase the chances that you will be able to stay on a treatment that is fighting your cancer.

Some patients struggle with certain treatment side effects like nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, and taste changes that can make it difficult to eat a healthy diet. Your doctor and a registered dietitian can work with you to adjust your diet to help you maintain a healthy body weight, manage your side effects and help you feel your best. Always consult your doctor before taking any type of supplement, as it could interfere with your treatment.

It depends. Each person's nutritional needs during lung cancer are different. They are based on your lung cancer treatment plan and side effects, your current height and weight, and any other illnesses you may have such as diabetes or heart disease. Here are some nutrition goals to keep in mind as you face lung cancer:

• Maintain a healthy weight. For some people, this may mean eating enough calories to avoid weight loss and for others, it may mean safely losing weight. Your doctor can help you determine your healthy weight.
• Get essential nutrients the body needs, mostly from food if possible. These are protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water.
• Avoid foods that make your lung cancer treatment side effects worse. Certain foods worsen diarrhea, constipation and mouth sores.

Always talk to your doctor before taking any type of vitamin or supplement. Certain vitamins and supplements could interfere with your treatment. Individuals who smoke in particular should avoid beta-carotene as it increases their risk of lung cancer. Doctors may prescribe a multivitamin for patients who are suffering from side effects of treatment and can’t get their nutrients through food. It is recommended to try and get all of your nutrients through healthy foods and only take a supplement if you are deficient.

Right now, the diet recommendations are not different for someone on an immunotherapy or targeted drug. If you have any side effects from your treatment, talk to your doctor who will help you manage them

When you are receiving treatment for lung cancer, your immune system may not be at its best, which puts you at a greater risk of infection. Follow these general guidelines when preparing food:

• Wash hands thoroughly before eating
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly
• Use special care in handling raw meats, fish, poultry and eggs
• Clean anything that has touched raw meat
• Cook food to proper temperatures and drink pasteurized beverages
• Store foods promptly at low temperatures to minimize bacterial growth (below 40°F)
• Avoid foods that may have potential bacterial contamination such as salad bars, sushi or under cooked meat
• Contact your local health department if you are worried about water purity

• There are no foods or supplements that will cure your cancer. Talk to your doctor before you consume anything with such claims.
• Work with your doctor and a registered dietitian to determine your nutrition goals and what you should be eating. 
• Reduce your risk of infection by following food safety guidelines.

• Ask your doctor about anti-nausea drugs and make sure you are taking them correctly.
• Stick to clear liquids and bland, mild and cold foods. Dry, crunchy foods such as crackers and pretzels can also help.
• Eat small meals throughout the day.
• Ask your doctor about a juice supplement with protein.
• Eat ginger candy and drink ginger tea. Try combining ginger and peppermint tea together.
• The first few days after treatment are often the worst. Do the best you can and focus on getting more nutrients when the nausea and vomiting subside.
• Take sips of fluid throughout the day. Consider electrolyte popsicles.
• If vomiting is severe, hold off on solids altogether until you get it under control. Focus on hydration. Then start adding in one food at a time so you know what foods you tolerate better.

• Work closely with your doctor to make sure you aren’t losing too much weight.
• Drink shakes and smoothies with protein.
• Add healthy fats to your foods like avocado, nut butters and olive oil.
• Eat more often if you can.

• Ask your doctor for a mouth rinse that you can buy or make at home.
• Talk to your doctor about good oral hygiene.
• Stick to cool foods, nothing too hot or too cold.
• Eat foods that are soft, smooth and mild.
• Drink liquids with a straw to bypass mouth sores in the front of your mouth.

• Stay well hydrated. The amount of liquid you need is different for every person, but the recommendation is 2-3 liters a day.
• Limit liquids before bed time if using the bathroom is interrupting your sleep.
• Eat regularly when possible.
• Exercise when possible. Try walking for 10-15 minutes, three times a day.