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Cancer can present unique challenges when choosing foods to support your health. These resources can help you make healthy food choices if you are living with cancer or are a cancer survivor.
Healthy eating for cancer prevention
There are small changes you can make to reduce your risk of getting cancer. Eating more vegetables and fruits is one of them. Learn about other ways to reduce your risk of cancer below.
Cancer diagnosis
A healthy eating pattern supports your health before, during and after cancer treatments. Eating well can help you feel your best and stay strong. It also promotes recovery and supports optimal immune function.
Breast cancer
After you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, making healthy food and lifestyle choices can help improve your overall health and reduce your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. They could also help lower the chance of your breast cancer returning. See: Breast Cancer: Healthy Eating After a Diagnosis
Prostate cancer
Once you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, making healthy food and lifestyle choices can help improve your overall health. Healthy choices can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and other types of cancer.
The Vancouver Prostate Centre offers the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care (PCSC) Program. This comprehensive survivorship program:
- has seven modules on a variety of topics including information on healthy eating after a prostate cancer diagnosis
- is for prostate cancer patients, their partners and family
- accepts both health care provider and self-referrals
Cancer survivors
Good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. It also helps you feel your best after cancer treatment ends. See: Healthy Eating Guidelines for Cancer Survivors.
Cancer and physical activity
Research shows that physical activity is helpful before, during and after cancer treatment. Aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. This could include walking or strength training. Learn more about keeping active while living with cancer in this section:
Useful Websites
BC Cancer Agency
This website provides information about cancer and its treatment. It also provides information on nutrition for breast, prostate and lung cancer, how to cope with cancer, and the side effects of treatment. For information on nutrition and lifestyle choices to lower cancer recurrence, improve survival rate, and promote overall health, click on the links below:
Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization. They have information on cancer prevention and treatment including supports and services, research, nutrition and physical activity.
Last updated: January 13, 2023