What food should one avoid during breast cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mom's age is 60, and she is currently undergoing chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer. She is taking Paclitaxel as part of her treatment, and I have noticed that she has been struggling with some side effects like nausea and a lack of appetite. Could you please advise on what foods she should avoid during this time to ensure her treatment is as effective as possible? I am particularly concerned about anything that might interact with her medication or exacerbate her side effects.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Thank you for posting your query.

Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy approved for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. It can be used with chemotherapy or other medicines before surgery and then continued alone after surgery to treat early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer at high risk of recurrence.

The American Cancer Society advises people to limit or avoid the following foods and beverages: red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened drinks, and highly processed foods. The list of cancer-fighting foods is usually topped with berries, broccoli, tomatoes, walnuts, grapes, and other vegetables, fruits, and nuts. If you look at the typical foods that reduce cancer risk, they are pretty much all plant foods that contain phytochemicals.

Foods to avoid with breast cancer include raw or undercooked meat, fish, poultry, raw or soft-cooked eggs, unpasteurized dairy products, juice, unwashed fruits and vegetables, leftovers that are more than three to four days old, and any food that has sat out at an unsafe temperature for four or more hours. Exercise and dietary counseling led to loss of body fat and improved quality of life in survivors of triple-negative breast cancer.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

Take care.

Thank you.