Breast Cancer -Chemoptherapy -What to Eat and What to Avoid, Managing Side Effects
- medina roberts
- Jun 26
- 11 min read
Updated: Jul 4
Chemotherapy -What to eat and what to avoid, Managing side effects
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Chemotherapy: What to Eat and What to Avoid, Managing Side Effects.
Regime I followed daily during my 12 weeks on chemo.
Certain foods and eating habits can help alleviate common side effects of chemotherapy, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, mouth sores, and loss of appetite.
Chemotherapy can cause fatigue, and consuming a balanced diet with adequate calories and protein can help maintain energy levels. Supporting the Immune System: Cancer and its treatment can weaken the immune system, and a nutritious diet helps support it, potentially reducing the risk of infection. Maintaining Strength and Weight: Some individuals experience weight and muscle loss during chemotherapy. A healthy diet can help maintain weight and preserve muscle tone. Improving Overall Well-being: Eating well can enhance overall well-being, both physically and emotionally, during chemotherapy.
Regime I followed daily during my 12 weeks on chemo.
I ate grapes during the infusions and made sure to drink plenty of water. Believe me, I missed it once, and there was a massive difference in how I felt the next day. (Read to the end to understand how I got to this conclusion.)
Benefits of Grapes during Chemo Infusion:
Hydration: Grapes, like other fruits with high water content, contribute to staying hydrated, which is crucial during chemotherapy to help flush out toxins and replenish fluids lost due to potential side effects like diarrhea or vomiting.
Nutrients and Antioxidants: Grapes, especially red and purple varieties, contain beneficial phytonutrients and antioxidants like resveratrol, which can have potential health benefits.
Snack Option: Grapes can be a refreshing and easy-to-eat snack during chemo infusion, especially if you prefer cool or room-temperature food
I took one tablespoon of organic virgin olive oil first thing in the morning to help with digestion and inflammation.
Consuming a tablespoon of olive oil in the morning, especially on an empty stomach, can provide several potential benefits. It may aid digestion, improve nutrient absorption, and promote heart health due to its healthy fats. Additionally, some suggest that it can aid in weight management and reduce inflammation.
I gargled with a pink solution of baking soda.
Yes, rinsing or gargling with a baking soda and salt solution is a common and recommended practice during chemotherapy.
Why is this helpful during chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy can cause side effects, such as mouth sores (oral mucositis). This can be painful and increase the risk of infection. Regular rinsing with a salt and baking soda solution can help:
Keep your mouth clean: This helps prevent infections.
Soothe and protect the mucosal lining: This can reduce discomfort and aid healing.
Ate one cooked beet – every other day
Beets, also known as beetroot, are believed to offer potential benefits during chemotherapy due to their rich antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help manage side effects and improve overall well-being. While research is ongoing, some studies suggest beets may help reduce fatigue, protect against kidney damage, and even enhance the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs.
I replaced one meal with either carrot or celery juice.
Drinking carrot or celery juice during chemotherapy can be beneficial, but it's essential to be aware of specific considerations:
Benefits:
Nutrient intake: Juicing facilitates the easier absorption of vitamins and nutrients from fruits and vegetables, which can be particularly beneficial if you have trouble chewing or swallowing due to treatment side effects.
Managing side effects:
Carrot juice, rich in beta-carotene, may help offset mouth sores caused by chemotherapy.
Carrot juice can also help with constipation, a common side effect of chemotherapy and pain medication.
Celery juice may contribute to hydration during treatment.
Antioxidant boost: Both carrots and celery contain antioxidants, which are beneficial for overall health.
I removed from my diet the following:
Lemons and other citrus fruits have caused me to experience heartburn and stomach discomfort.
Yes, avoiding lemons and citrus fruits during chemotherapy is generally recommended if you have mouth sores or increased sensitivity as a side effect of treatment.
Why are citrus fruits a concern?
Mouth sores: Chemotherapy can lead to painful mouth sores (also called mucositis). The acidity of citrus fruits, such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruit, can irritate these sores, making them more painful and hindering their healing.
Irritation: Even without sores, the acidity of citrus fruits may cause discomfort or irritation in the mouth and throat during chemotherapy.
Grapefruit Interaction: It's crucial to note that grapefruit can interact with certain chemotherapy drugs, making them less effective or potentially causing toxic levels to build up in the body. This is due to furanocoumarins in grapefruit interfering with enzymes that break down these medications. Therefore, avoiding grapefruit and grapefruit juice during chemotherapy is strongly advised.
If you do not have mouth sores, moderate consumption of other citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemonade, might be acceptable. However, it is always best to consult a doctor or registered dietitian about your specific situation and treatment plan for personalized recommendations.
High arginine foods
To avoid skin rashes, outbreaks of enzymes, and fever blisters, which are caused by herpes simplex virus outbreaks.
Believe me, anytime I eat high-arginine foods, I get outbreaks. Even today, I still have one because I had rice and some bread yesterday. It’s remarkable how food can have such a profound impact. Please read this blog to the end to understand and gain a better understanding.
Chemotherapy can affect the body in various ways, and dietary adjustments are often recommended to manage side effects and support the immune system. While arginine is an amino acid essential for cell growth, including cancer cells, its role in cancer treatment is complex. It depends on the specific type of cancer and other factors. There is no universal recommendation to avoid all high-arginine foods strictly during chemotherapy.
I took all simple sugars out during chemotherapy, but it is essential to read below.
While sugar doesn't directly cause or fuel cancer growth, it's generally recommended for cancer patients to moderate their intake of added sugars, particularly those found in processed foods. Focus should be on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, rather than eliminating all sugars.
Sugar and Cancer Cells:
Cancer cells, like all cells, utilize glucose (a type of sugar) for energy. However, no evidence suggests that consuming more sugar will cause cancer to grow faster, nor will eliminating sugar cause tumors to shrink.
Added Sugars vs. Natural Sugars:
It is essential to distinguish between added sugars (found in processed foods such as soda, candy, and baked goods) and natural sugars (found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains). Added sugars provide empty calories and can contribute to weight gain, which is linked to increased cancer risk.
Moderation is Key:
While eliminating sugar is not necessary or recommended, cancer patients should be mindful of their added sugar intake. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being during treatment.
Additionally, because I was undergoing chemotherapy with Paclitaxel and Herceptin, I would avoid eating the following.
During Herceptin treatment, it's essential to avoid certain foods that can interfere with the medication or worsen side effects. Generally, foods to avoid include alcohol, grapefruit and its juice, as well as foods high in copper or cadmium. Additionally, some patients may need to limit or avoid certain foods based on individual tolerance and
side effects.
Foods to Avoid or Limit:
Alcohol: Alcohol can increase the risk of cardiotoxicity and other complications.
Grapefruit and its juice: These can interfere with how Herceptin is processed in the body.
Foods high in copper and cadmium: Some foods, like liver, nuts, and shellfish, are high in these minerals and may be restricted.
Sugary foods and drinks: High sugar intake can negatively impact overall health during cancer treatment.
Foods that irritate the mouth or throat: Spicy, acidic, or rough-textured foods can exacerbate side effects like mouth sores or irritation.
Foods that cause digestive issues: If experiencing diarrhea or nausea, bland, low-fiber foods may be recommended while avoiding those that trigger symptoms.
Foods that may interact with Herceptin or other medications: It's crucial to consult with the medical team or a registered dietitian about any potential food-drug interactions.
Week #1 January 5th – January 15th
Chemotherapy #1 - January 5th
Taxol full dose and Herceptin only 1/3 dose.
Blood test results were good.
Meds:
(I was very nervous and didn’t know what to expect, so I took all the meds they recommended in case of nausea. I was taking them to prevent or before it started.)
Every 8 hours, Prochlorperazine for nausea and vomiting.
Every 8 hours, ondansetron for nausea (I didn’t have nausea, but I was so nervous that I took it to prevent it, as I heard it’s better to take it and not wait for nausea to set in.)
So, I was taking one anti-nausea medicine every 4 hours for the first 3 days: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
On Sunday, I took only one dose of ondansetron once a day in the morning.
Meals
Meal 1 - Azikiwe bread with manuka honey and 100% cocoa
Meal 2 - veggie soup with tofu
Meal 3 - wild rice with vegetables
Meal 4 - plant-based protein shake with berries
Drink - 1 gallon of water
My side effects this week
Are skin rashes and a fever blister caused by a herpes simplex outbreak?
Spotting the first 2 mornings
I had no nosema or any pain. On the third day, I experienced some constipation and hemorrhoid pain in my colon, which I later discovered were side effects of the antinausea medication. I felt tired in the morning and afternoon. I felt my best between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Best days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
Worst day: Friday (constipation and colon pain). Even though I felt drained, I would still get up and go for a walk on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays to help prevent neuropathy. I rested on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Week #2
Chemotherapy #2: January 15th, 2025
Taxol full dose - Herceptin 1/3 dose
The blood test results came back very good.
1/15/2025 – 01/22/2025
Medicine
This week, I only took medicine on Thursday and Friday (I wanted to try to avoid constipation).
Every 8 hours, I took Prochlorperazine for nausea and vomiting.
Every 8 hours, I took ondansetron for nausea.
To prevent constipation, I am taking Meta Mucil twice a day and Miralax.
Gargle my mouth with warm water mixed with salt and baking soda.
Bath - hot water mixed with sea salt.
Meals
1 - Slice of gluten-free sprouted bread with 2 slices of organic apple butter or steel-cut oats with Manuka honey.
1 big cup of 100% cocoa with almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
2 - Veggie soup with tofu.
Or cabbage soup with tofu and chickpeas.
Or lentil soup with tofu.
3 - Veggies, beans, and wild rice or red or brown rice
4 – 1 cup of blueberries.
I drank a lot of mint and echinacea tea this week.
Side effects:
Still experience some rashes on the sides of my belly and fever blisters -herpes outbreaks.
Colon issues and pain.
The doctor put me on one antiviral medicine, valacyclovir, once a day.
Spotting for the first 2 mornings after the chemo.
Week 3
Chemotherapy #3 01/29/2025 9 (My son Agan came to help me with ice packs for my feet and hands)
01/22/2025-01/29/2025
Blood test showed some liver damage - aspartate aminotransferase was high at 78.
They still proceeded with a full dose of Taxol and, this time, a full dose of Herceptin.
Medication
This week, I was only taking antinausea medicine on Thursday (I wanted to try to avoid constipation)
Every 8 hours, Prochlorperazine for nausea and vomiting
Dr AW recommended not to continue taking Meta Mucil.
I stopped taking valacyclovir.
Gurgle with warm water with a salt and baking soda solution
Bath -hot water mixed with sea salt
Food – same as week #2
This time, I stopped drinking tea and switched to coffee in the morning (I read that drinking tea during chemo is not recommended)
Side effects
Still, skin rashes and the Herpes outbreak were bigger than ever.
No constipation
Spotting only on the first day
Best days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday (did my 4-mile walks to prevent neuropathy from getting worse)
Chemotherapy #4 01/29/2025 cancelled
Week 4-01/29/2025-02/05/2025
The blood test results returned to normal, with aspartate aminotransferase at 22. This means I stopped drinking tea, and my liver numbers returned to normal in just six days.
While some teas may offer potential benefits during chemotherapy, such as chamomile for mouth sores or peppermint tea for nausea, certain teas and supplements can interfere with chemotherapy drugs. It's crucial to consult with a doctor or oncologist before consuming any herbal teas or supplements during chemotherapy.
Potential Concerns:
Interference with chemotherapy drugs:
Some teas may interact with chemotherapy drugs, potentially making them less effective or increasing their toxicity, which can affect the liver.
Impact on drug metabolism:
Certain herbal teas and supplements can affect the enzymes responsible for metabolizing chemotherapy drugs, potentially altering their effectiveness.
Individualized advice is key:
What is safe for one person may not be safe for another, depending on the specific chemotherapy drugs being used, the individual's overall health, and other medications they are taking.
However, my enzyme and fiber blisters, which are herpes simplex outbreaks, were significant; my belly was covered in red, dry, painful skin rashes, leading my beautiful oncologist, Walaa Aldhahri Al, to decide against the infusion for me. So, no chemo for week #4.
I researched my herpes outbreak and found that my diet was excessively high in arginine and very low in lysine. If I were not undergoing chemotherapy, I would add lysine supplements, but that is not recommended during chemo.
Therefore, I had to reintroduce dairy products, eggs, and fish into my diet.
For meals, I eliminated high-arginine foods, including Ezekiel bread, wild rice, steel-cut oats, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, soy milk, and almond milk.
Week #5
Chemotherapy #4 ( we skipped # 4 on 01/29/2025 ) 02/05 /2025
Only Taxol, no Herceptin (now Herceptin is every 3 weeks)
02/05/2025 -02 /12/2025
Meals Week #5
Breakfast - Coffee with 2% lactose-free milk or goat milk, and either 1 small, sweet potato sprinkled with cinnamon, or 1 banana dusted with cinnamon powder.
Snack- berries paired with yogurt.
Lunch -Kale and pea carrot soup or cabbage soup with chickpeas (veggie soup with egg whites or chicken breast). I would eat it, maybe only once a week, chicken.
Snack -One cooked beet or one avocado.
Dinner -Salmon served with vegetables, broccoli, and broccoli sprouts.
Snack
Two glasses of fresh-squeezed carrot juice. - Popcorn with sea salt
Side effects:
Rashes and outbreaks have stopped.
Spotting lasted just 1 day on the first day. No side effects observed.
Medicine non
No side effects except feeling tired
Week #6
Taxol and Herceptin full doses
Side Effects
On Thursday morning, I experienced some chest pain when I breathed through my throat. Friday was my worst day since starting chemotherapy. I noticed that my chest and stomach hurt when I moved, bent, or breathed, so I spent the entire day feeling unwell and stayed in bed with minimal movement because it hurt so much. I realized that all this was due to skipping, for the first time, my routine of gargling twice a day with salt and baking soda, taking a teaspoon of olive oil in the morning, and not eating my grapes during the infusion, as well as not drinking plenty of water on the day of and the day after, as I had done in the weeks before. On Friday, I only ate soup, but for the rest of the week, see below. I made sure to gargle twice a day with my salt baking solution, took 1 teaspoon of olive oil first thing in the morning, and drank plenty of water. By Sunday, I started to feel much better.
Meal’s week 6
1. Banana or sweet potatoes with cinnamon powder and 2% lactose-free milk in coffee.
2. Veggie soup with mushrooms.
3. A snack of Spanish sheep cheese. Or Greek yogurt
4. Yogurt mixed with two scoops of grass-fed whey protein powder, vanilla flavor.
5. A cup of fresh-squeezed carrot juice. Or one avocado or beet
6. Broccolini with salmon, eggs, or canned tuna with bell peppers, onions, and asparagus.
For the remainder of my treatment, I maintained a similar diet. I ensured I avoided high-arginine foods to prevent skin rashes and herpes outbreaks while also making sure to consume enough high-lysine foods. To avoid liver damage, I stopped drinking tea. To prevent sore throats and discomfort, I regularly gargled with a solution of salt and baking soda. For issues related to my colon and digestion, I took 1 tablespoon of olive oil each morning to ensure I drank plenty of water. However, I must share this: after my last treatment, I was so excited that I forgot I was still on chemo for the next 7 days post-infusion. I didn't follow my regular diet; I had a slice of pizza, cake, some chips, and oh my god, I got so sick with severe digestive issues—rectal bleeding and constipation. This was very important for me to share because what we eat during chemo matters.
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