Let Nutrition Be Your Secret Weapon During Breast-Cancer Therapy
Interviewee: Dietitian Su Su-Man, Department of Nutrition
Cancer surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, hormone blockade, immunotherapy—breast-cancer treatment can be a long campaign. Along the way appetite may wane, weight may fall, and malnutrition can creep in, eroding strength just when the body needs it most. Smart eating therefore becomes a decisive ally.
Why Extra Nutrition Matters
Every treatment session stresses immunity, healing, and stamina. A diet rich in protein and calories supplies the raw materials to repair tissue, rebuild the immune army, and keep weight stable, thereby reducing complications and allowing therapy to proceed on schedule.
Four Ground Rules for Daily Care
Watch the scales.
Weight is an early warning system. A drop of more than 2% in one week or 5% in one month; for example, more than 1.4 kg or 3.5 kg respectively in a 70-kg woman, signals serious nutritional risk and poorer treatment tolerance.
Keep the menu broad.
During high-metabolic phases the body demands extra fuel. If meals shrink or weight slips, add a balanced oral supplement to boost protein, fat, and carbohydrate in one shot.
Cook everything.
Low white-cell counts magnify infection danger, so skip raw salads, sashimi, and unpasteurised juices. Heat kills microbes; cooking is your safest friend.
Move and hydrate.
Gentle activity after meals stirs digestion and lifts mood. Adequate water speeds metabolism and helps flush drug by-products.
Building Your Plate: Taiwan’s Six Food Groups
The Health Promotion Administration divides foods into whole grains; beans, fish, eggs, and meat; dairy; fats and nuts; vegetables; and fruit. Your dietitian will personalise portions, but the principle is simple: include at least a little from each group every day so protein, vitamins, minerals, and energy all arrive together.
Breaking Four Common Myths
“Soy feeds breast cancer.”
Natural soy foods contain tiny amounts of isoflavones—only one-hundredth to one-thousandth the potency of human oestrogen—far too little to tip hormone balance. Enjoy tofu, soy milk, and edamame. Caveat: concentrated isoflavone supplements are another story; ask your oncologist before taking them.
“Red meat is forbidden.”
Poultry and seafood are lean protein stars, but pork, beef, and lamb supply iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B-12—nutrients crucial during treatment and in anyone prone to anaemia. Variety across animal sources brings true balance.
“If I eat less, I’ll starve the tumour.”
Undernutrition weakens healthy cells first, lowers immunity, and diminishes the impact of therapy. Think of nutrients as ammunition for both you and the medical team.
“All sweet things are dangerous.”
Differentiate carbohydrate (whole grains that provide energy and fibre) from added sugar (processed sweets that offer little nutrition and can be habit-forming). Whole-grain rice, oats, and bread help protein work better and assist detoxification. Craving dessert? Discuss a sensible limit with your dietitian.
The Bottom Line
Good food is not a luxury; it is frontline medicine. Tailored, balanced meals maintain weight, curb side-effects, and hasten recovery. Work with a registered dietitian, stay alert for unwanted weight loss, remain active, and trust nutrition to be the silent partner that helps you win the battle.