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Common side effects and questions

When you’re going through cancer treatment, we know you experience all sorts of side-effects and have lots of queries relating to what you eat and drink, and how much physical activity you need.

Here, we try to cover the most common questions about diet and exercise during cancer treatment.

Keeping active
A pair of football boots and a football

Keeping active

It’s safe and beneficial for people with cancer to keep physically active

Why exercise is important
Home workouts
A barbell, and exercise mat and a drinks bottle

Home workouts

What exercises can I do at home during or after cancer treatment?

Find out more
Staying strong
Some hands raised in the air

Staying strong

Are there any nutrition tips that could help support my fitness goals?

Find out more
Mouth problems
A sparkling, clean mouth

Mouth problems

A sore, dry mouth and thick saliva are some of the most common mouth problems

Find out more
Heartburn
The digestive system with a flame inside it

Heartburn

Nutritional tips for heartburn during cancer treatment

Find out more
Fatigue – extreme tiredness
A battery

Fatigue – extreme tiredness

What can help?

Find out more
Taste changes
A toothbrush with toothpaste on it

Taste changes

How can I deal with a change or loss of taste as a result of treatment?

Find out more
Reduced immunity
Ginger and mint tea

Reduced immunity

Nutritional tips to reduce the risk of infections

Find out more
Beyond treatment
An illustration of someone ringing a bell

Beyond treatment

How long will it take for my taste to return to normal?

Find out more
Reliable advice
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Reliable advice

Is this advice based on the latest scientific evidence?

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Vegan diets
Vegan diets

Vegan diets

Can a vegan diet delay or stop the growth of cancer cells?

Find out more
Meat and cancer
A steak

Meat and cancer

Can I eat meat if I have cancer or have had cancer?

Find out more
Should I avoid sugar if I have cancer
A swordfish steak, creme fraiche and half and half an avocado

Should I avoid sugar if I have cancer

If I avoid sugar will it starve the cancer cells?

Find out more
Does sugar cause cancer growth
Sugar

Does sugar cause cancer growth

Is eating sugar bad when you have cancer?

Find out more
Soy and breast cancer
Soy beans

Soy and breast cancer

Should I avoid soy if I have breast cancer?

Find out more
Constipation
A blocked drain

Constipation

Infrequent bowel movements can be helped by eating more fibre

Overcoming constipation
Supplements
A glass of water and a bottle of pills

Supplements

Should I take dietary supplements during cancer treatment?

Find out more
Protein and cancer
A chicken drumstick, some prawns and mushrooms

Protein and cancer

What benefits does protein intake have during cancer treatment?

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Vitamin D, prostate and breast cancer
A fish, a cod liver oil tablet and an egg

Vitamin D, prostate and breast cancer

Should I take vitamin D if I have or have had breast or prostate cancer?

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E-news for you
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E-news for you

Our Living with Cancer e-news offers advice & support on nutrition & cancer

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Does cancer affect my bone health?
An x-ray of someone's legs with a magnifying glass hovering over a joint

Does cancer affect my bone health?

Does cancer increase the risk of bone thinning?

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Weight loss
Scales for measuring body weight and a tape measure

Weight loss

Practical nutrition tips you can use for weight loss during cancer treatment

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Weight gain
A meter with a dial leaning to the right

Weight gain

I need tips for unwanted weight gain during cancer

Find out more
Diarrhoea
A gushing tap, above an overflowing sink

Diarrhoea

What can I do if I have diarrhoea during cancer treatment?

Find out more
Nausea (feeling sick)
A plate, with the knives and forks crossed over on top of it

Nausea (feeling sick)

Sickness and nausea can make even your favourite food a turn-off, but there are things that can help.

How to beat nausea
Wind
An electric fan

Wind

Help if you’re passing wind more often than usual and finding it uncomfortable.

Dealing with wind problems