Lung Cancer Nutrition
If you have lung cancer, you may need to make changes to your diet to maintain nutrition. Through good lung cancer nutrition, patients can potentially live longer and recover from treatments. Learn more about the benefits of managing nutrition after a lung cancer diagnosis and get help affording medical care.
How Do Diet and Nutrition Affect Lung Cancer?
Following a lung cancer diagnosis, it’s important to work with your health care team to develop a nutrition plan that will help you.
Managing diet and nutrition play several roles with regard to lung cancer, from making recovery easier to boosting your overall strength. For example, following a specific diet can help you maintain a proper weight, stimulate your appetite, and rebuild lost muscle mass.
Every patient’s nutritional goals and plans will be different, but a lung cancer doctor can determine what will work best for you.
Key Facts About Lung Cancer and Nutrition
- Lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats are common in lung cancer nutrition plans.
- Nutritionists may recommend that lung cancer patients avoid saturated, processed, or sugary foods, alcohol, and red meat.
- Many lung cancer centers have nutritionists on staff who can create custom meal plans for patients.
Lung Cancer Group can help you or a loved one explore nutrition plans and find compensation options to afford care. Get started with our Free Lung Cancer Guide.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
Foods to Eat During Lung Cancer Treatment
Certain foods can be incredibly beneficial as you undergo lung cancer treatment. The American Lung Association (ALA) specifically recommends lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Learn how these foods may help you or a loved one in your lung cancer nutrition journey.
Lean Protein
Lean protein is great to eat during lung cancer treatment because it can help tissues and cells recover and boost your overall energy.
According to Sarah Cannon Cancer Network, good proteins for lung cancer patients include:
- Beans
- Cheese
- Chicken or turkey
- Eggs
- Fish
- Milk
- Nuts and nut butters
- Soy-based foods
- Yogurt
Protein can also help repair muscle mass lost from chemotherapy or radiation and support healing after invasive surgeries.
Fruits and Vegetables
Different fruits and vegetables contain substances like vitamins and antioxidants that improve your body’s ability to fight lung cancer.
Vegetables and fruits often found in lung cancer nutrition plans include:
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Eggplant
- Grapefruit
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Plums
- Watermelon
Certain fruits can also reduce nausea or stimulate the appetite, helping people struggling with weight and appetite loss during treatment.
Call (877) 446-5767 now to pursue financial compensation to cover treatment and nutrition planning after a lung cancer diagnosis.
Fats
Some fats offer health benefits in that they reduce inflammation caused by lung cancer.
Healthy fats are found in:
- Avocados
- Nuts and seeds
- Olive oil
They also improve nutrient absorption, tissue repair, and appetite.
Whole Grains
Following a lung cancer diagnosis, whole grains are important in boosting energy through fiber and carbohydrates.
Whole grains that may help in a lung cancer nutrition plan include:
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
- Whole grain pastas
- Whole wheat bread
Whole grain foods also contain antioxidants, which work to fight against diseases like cancer.
Foods to Avoid During Lung Cancer Treatment
There are several types of foods to avoid during lung cancer treatment, either because they can cause reactions with treatments or upset your stomach.
Foods to stay away from during lung cancer treatment include:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Carbonated drinks
- Food that is too salty, spicy, or sugary
- Greasy and fried foods
- Hot food or drinks
- Red meat and processed meat
“Eating a diet that is low in red and processed meats and processed sugar can help you maintain a healthy body weight and blood sugar levels. Both are important for preventing and fighting cancer.”
– Moffitt Cancer Center
It is very important that people with lung cancer also avoid raw or unwashed food, which can carry bacteria.
Looking for the best tips on fighting lung cancer? Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to get tips on maintaining nutrition, accessing treatments, and covering health care costs.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
Vitamins, Herbs, and Supplements to Help Lung Cancer Diets
Lung cancer patients may benefit from integrating vitamins, herbs, and supplements into their lung cancer diets.
These supplements may be helpful in a lung cancer nutrition plan:
- Ginger to ease nausea and inflammation
- Melatonin to improve sleep and potentially reduce treatment side effects
- Mint to stimulate appetite
- Omega-3 fatty acids to support overall health and reduce inflammation
- Selenium to help protect cells from damage
- Vitamin D to reduce inflammation and keep bones stronger
However, some dietary supplements can interfere with treatments and lead to dangerous consequences, according to the ALA.
For this reason, always consult with your oncologist (cancer doctor) and care team before adding any of these supplements to your diet.
Lung Cancer Nutrition and Meal Planning Tips
Because diet and nutrition are so important for lung cancer patients, it’s often recommended to plan out meals in advance.
Patients and caregivers can work with on-staff dietitians at lung cancer hospitals to ensure their meal plan meets their lung cancer nutrition goals. Find 5 top tips to use in your nutrition plan below.
1. Choose High-Calorie and High-Protein Foods
When making your lung cancer nutrition plan, make sure to choose items that are high in calories and protein, as they can help you rebuild muscle mass and maintain a healthy body weight.
2. Opt for Soft and Mild Foods
During lung cancer treatments, many patients follow a “soft diet,” consuming food that is easy to chew and swallow.
Cancer treatment can make people feel exhausted, and soft foods can take some of the work out of eating. Some treatments can also cause mouth sores, so patients will want to stick with foods that are mild and easy to eat.
3. Keep Nutritional Supplements on Hand
Make sure you have lung cancer nutrition supplements on hand like protein drinks. Supplements can stimulate your appetite or reduce your nausea, making it easier and more comfortable to eat.
Always make sure to speak with your oncology team before taking any over-the-counter supplements, as some can negatively affect your treatment plan.
4. Stay Hydrated
Besides ensuring you get proper nutrients through different types of food, it’s also important to drink enough water and fluids. Water will help your body recover from lung cancer treatments and ease side effects that you experience.
“Water is always good, or you can opt for liquids rich in electrolytes. Coconut water is a great natural option.”
– Chelsea Ebrus, senior clinical dietitian at MD Anderson Cancer Center
5. Tailor Your Lung Cancer Nutrition Plan
Every patient is unique, so lung cancer nutrition needs and goals will vary.
Depending on your diagnosis, the following nutrition tips could help you:
- Avoid foods that have strong aromas if you experience nausea.
- Drink high-calorie beverages like smoothies or milkshakes.
- Eat small, frequent meals rather than a few large meals.
- Make sure all foods are washed and properly cooked before eating.
- Partake in a Mediterranean diet (plants, seafood, and nuts).
- Stay away from hot foods, as they can upset your stomach and irritate mouth sores.
- Stimulate your appetite with light exercise or physical activity.
- Try to add high-protein foods like peanut butter to every meal.
Speak to a lung cancer nutritionist or registered dietitian who can determine which of these tips could work best for you.
Need help with nutrition and treatment expenses after a lung cancer diagnosis? Contact us now to get assistance.
How Do Treatments Affect Lung Cancer Nutrition and Diet?
Lung cancer treatments can have a strong effect on a patient’s nutrition and diet, impacting both what they can safely consume as well as what they might enjoy.
Lung Cancer Chemotherapy
After chemotherapy for lung cancer, patient diets should be tailored to the side effects they face. For example, patients who are nauseous may benefit from low-salt, bland foods and cold drinks, according to University of California San Francisco.
Lung Cancer Radiation
Radiation therapy can make eating uncomfortable by causing loss of appetite and nausea. People who have just undergone lung cancer radiation should stick with foods that are soft, moist, and easy to chew and swallow.
Lung Cancer Surgery
After lung cancer surgery, it is vital to eat proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. These foods can help your tissues to repair and heal, keep your energy levels up, and allow you to avoid constipation.
Other Treatments
Other types of treatment, particularly immunotherapy, can also cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Doctors can recommend a lung cancer nutrition plan based on your overall health, which treatments you receive, and any side effects you’re experiencing.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide now for tips on managing nutrition and affording lung cancer treatments.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
Help for Lung Cancer Nutrition and Diet
If you or a loved one is currently living with lung cancer, maintaining a proper diet and nutrition is vital. By doing so, you can potentially recover faster, manage side effects, and feel better.
Lung Cancer Group is here to assist you and your family members after a lung cancer diagnosis.
Our team can help you:
- Better understand your lung cancer nutrition options
- Find and afford lung cancer treatments
- Receive other forms of support
Don’t wait: We can get you started right now. Call (877) 446-5767 or get our Free Lung Cancer Guide.
Lung Cancer and Nutrition FAQs
What is the nutritional support for lung cancer?
Lung cancer hospitals typically have registered dietitians or nutritionists on staff to support patients. These specialists can recommend tailored lung cancer nutrition plans to reduce symptoms and side effects and improve overall quality of life.
It is not necessary to work with a nutritionist in order to maintain a healthy diet while fighting lung cancer, but they can be very helpful. You or a loved one can ask your lung cancer doctors about nutritionists who may be on staff.
What foods should be avoided with lung cancer?
Highly processed and sugary foods, red meat, and alcohol are just a few foods that should be avoided with lung cancer. Consuming these can potentially make your symptoms worse and recovery harder.
Your cancer care team can recommend specific foods to avoid as part of your lung cancer and nutrition plan.
How does nutrition affect lung cancer?
Nutrition greatly affects lung cancer. By maintaining good nutrition and diet, it may be possible for you to recover faster and experience fewer side effects from major treatments.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide for more nutrition tips after a diagnosis, explore treatment options, and find ways to afford any health care expenses you face.
Can lung cancer affect your appetite?
Yes, loss of appetite is both a symptom of lung cancer as well as a potential side effect of treatment.
It is estimated that around 50% of lung cancer patients experience loss of appetite, and many of them also experience unintentional weight loss as a result.
However, changes to your diet can improve your appetite while fighting lung cancer. The best nutrition for lung cancer patients will be unique to each person’s specific appetite and dietary needs.
