Nutrition is a vital piece to the medical and self-management puzzle for someone with a brain tumour. The role of nutrition is important to support the medical treatment, so a well-balanced diet with enough variety from the major food groups is important. Compromising your friend or relative’s nutrition can disrupt medical management. Make sure that you talk to your doctor and consider a referral to a dietitian before restricting or overhauling their diet.
The Cancer Council has practical suggestions on eating well during and after cancer treatment. Call 13 11 20 for a free booklet about nutrition and cancer.
Useful websites
Cancer Council: Food and nutrition
Avoiding unproven diets
Despite what you may read or hear, there are no special foods or diets that have been scientifically proven to prevent, improve, or cure cancer. It is important that your friend or relative enjoys a wide variety of foods to keep well nourished.
Many unproven dietary treatments, particularly those that cut out whole food groups, such as meat or dairy, may not provide enough energy (calories or kilojoules), protein or essential nutrients. This can cause unwanted weight loss, tiredness and decrease the immune function. Quality of life can improve if a diet includes adequate amounts from each food group.
If you have read on the internet or have been told by someone who is not a qualified health professional (e.g. doctor or dietitian) about a particular diet, the following flip cards raise some points to think about before changing anything. Again, ask your doctor or care team and consider a referral to a dietitian before changing the person’s diet.
Is the diet likely to completely change the way you choose, prepare and cook food?
Some eating patterns can be harmful and may interfere with the success of medical treatment. Changing what and the way you cook can be a good thing if a qualified health professional has suggested it, because it is most likely backed by science. However, in other circumstances (like a friend recommended a diet) before radically changing the food the person you are caring for eats, talk to the doctor or your care team first. Ask for a referral to the dietitian if you or the person you are caring for have ongoing questions.
Is the diet likely to include large amounts of special supplements?
Some nutrition supplements or pills can be harmful and may interfere with the success of medical treatment. Before taking any vitamin/mineral pills or herbal remedies, talk to the doctor or your care team first. Ask for a referral to the dietitian if you or the person you are caring for have ongoing questions.
Is the diet likely to limit the cooking methods allowed?
The diet could affect the recovery of the person you are caring for and compromise their health. You need to check with the oncologist before starting such a diet.
Is the diet likely to exclude one or more of the following food groups? Dairy / fruit / vegetables / wholegrains and cereals / meat, poultry and seafood
A healthy eating pattern includes foods from all 5 major food groups. However, everyone needs different amounts. So instead of restricting these foods altogether, talk to the doctor or your care team first and ask for a referral to the dietitian if you or the person you are caring for have ongoing questions.
Is the diet written in a book or on a website that is asking you to pay a lot of money to read it?
People trying to profit by selling you a healthy diet for brain cancer should be a red-flag. It is something you should talk to the doctor about before handing over any money.
Is the diet likely to result in weight loss during cancer therapy?
The diet could really affect a person with cancer’s recovery and compromise their health in both the short and long term. You need to check with the oncologist before starting such a diet.
Is the diet likely to include large amounts of specific fruits, vegetables or their juices?
Fruits and vegetable are very important but sometimes too much can overwhelm your gut and prevent some of the more important vitamins from being absorbed. Its best to space out your intake rather than eating/drinking too much at once.
Is the diet likely to exclude or limit protein foods like meat, fish and chicken?
Protein is very important for recovery and helps build muscle. Protein plays an important role in preventing muscle wasting and malnutrition. Obtaining protein from meat, fish and chicken is the best source and so if you are planning on restricting these for the person you care for, it is best to chat with your doctor and/or dietitian.
Does the diet make promises that sound too good to be true or are promising different answers to questions you have had answered previously?
Sometimes people use selling pitches or ask questions about common problems that people in your same position have, as a way to convince you to click on their links (especially websites which profit from the advertisements on the websites). If you want a second opinion or are still unsure, ask another one of your treating doctors, your GP.