STEPS YOU CAN TAKE - Nutrition

Long-Term Nutrition Issues for the Cancer Survivor

Additional nutrition studies are needed but there is consistent biological and epidemiological evidence relating nutritional factors to risk for recurrence and survival – for some cancers more than others. 

The summarized American Cancer Society nutritional guidelines for cancer prevention are equally recommended for cancer survivors. For more details, see the publication named below: 

Brown JK, Byers T, Doyle C, Coumeya KS, Demark-Wahnefried W, Kushi LH, McTieman A, Rock CL, Aziz N, Bloch AS, Eldridge B, Hamilton K, Katzin C, Koonce A, Main J, Mobley C, Morra ME, Pierce MS, Sawyer KA; American Cancer Society.  Nutrition and physical activity during and after cancer treatment: an American Cancer Society guide for informed choices. CA Cancer J Clin. 2003 Sep-Oct;53(5):268-91.

Breast Cancer Survivors:  The evidence has quite consistently linked having a healthy body weight with lower risk for recurrence and greater likelihood of survival.  For someone who is overweight, this is best achieved with increased physical activity and a modest reduction in caloric intake (e.g., a deficit of 500-1000 calories per day will promote a healthy rate of weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week).  Some studies have suggested that eating more vegetables and less fat may improve the long-term prognosis for breast cancer survivors.  Two large clinical trials are currently testing the effects of diet modification in this target population, and the results of these studies will be known in a few years.

Fat Intake and Prostate Cancer:  Eating less saturated fat (found in meat and full-fat dairy foods) and more monounsaturated fat (found in nuts and nut butters, avocados, and canola and olive oil) has been observed to be favorably associated with survival in men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, based on a few studies.  Regardless of an association with prostate cancer survival, this pattern of fat intake would be the general nutritional recommendation for these men to reduce their risk for heart disease, which is a major health problem for men in the U.S.

Obesity and Colon/Rectal Cancer:  Obesity has been adversely associated with survival in a few studies of individuals who have been diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer.  Again, healthy body weight would be recommended for this target group regardless of cancer status, due to association between obesity and higher risk for other diseases common in U.S. adults, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Survival and Diet Supplements or Vitamins:  Scientific evidence does not support that use of supplements or vitamins promotes survival.  Controlled clinical trials involving supplemental beta-carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C have not found increased survival in individuals with a history of head and neck cancer or lung cancer.  Although all the known vitamins are certainly essential for normal functioning, too much of a good thing can cause serious problems.  Large doses of most of the vitamins and minerals unfortunately can cause annoying symptoms (such as diarrhea), toxic effects, and even death.