Food for thought Diet and breast cancer What to eat after breast cancer treatment is a topic that causes a lot of worry. With the help of a dietitian, we ask why it can lead to such confusion.
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n a recent survey by Breast Cancer Care, 68% of women said they had experienced anxiety about diet as a result of their breast cancer diagnosis. The internet abounds with advice on what to eat if youâve had cancer. But how much of it should be taken with a pinch of salt?
A rabbit hole âThereâs so much conflicting information and people just donât know where
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to turn to for good evidence-based information,â says Ravneet Phalora, a senior specialist dietitian at the Royal Marsden. A Google search for âbreast cancer and dietâ does bring up some reliable information from organisations like Breast Cancer Care. But it also gives lots of other suggested questions, such as âWhich foods kill cancer cells?â and
âWhat foods should cancer patients avoid?â And clicking on these links brings up a confusing array of different suggestions. âThereâs so much unproven and inaccurate information out there about whether certain foods can impact the risk of breast cancer returning, we know finding clear-cut answers online can feel like going down a rabbit hole,â says Dr. Emma Pennery, Breast Cancer Careâs Clinical Director. So how should you know what to eat after a cancer diagnosis?
