Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSafety ConcernsFoods to AvoidDining OutFood PrepHand Washing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Safety Concerns
Foods to Avoid
Dining Out
Food Prep
Hand Washing
When undergoing cancer treatment, you may stop eating certain foods because of taste changes,mouth sores, ornausea. If you are receivingchemotherapy, it’s also important to pass on raw and undercooked foods because of an increased risk of food-borne illnesses.
For example, unwashed vegetables, unpasteurized dairy, raw sushi, and runny eggs are all foods that should be avoided while on chemotherapy.
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Chemotherapy suppresses your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections. And if you do get one, your symptoms may be worse than if you got sick and weren’t undergoing treatment.
This article provides examples of foods to avoid while on chemo and other precautions you should take.
Why Some Foods Are Unsafe During Chemo
Chemotherapy suppresses your immune system, which may affect what you should and should not eat until your immune function is back to its full potential.
Many people experienceneutropenia related to chemotherapy. Neutropenia refers to a reduced number of white blood cells called neutrophils. These are white blood cells that fight off bacteria that enter the body.
Ordinarily, when you eat foods containing harmful bacteria, these white blood cells fight them off, and you’re unaware of their presence. Chemotherapy can change that.
Raw or undercooked foods can actually make you sick. If your immune system is already tied up fighting on other fronts, the sickness can become more serious than a case ofdiarrheaor a bellyache.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 48 million Americans suffer foodborne illnesses annually.If your immune system is weakened, the chance of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death increase with one of these illnesses.
Not only are ordinary infections worse than they otherwise would be, but you are more likely to develop infections that would never even begin if your immune system was in good order.
Foods to Avoid on Chemo
Foods to avoid during chemotherapy include:
Hidden Ingredients
Some off-limits foods can be hidden in other products.Don’t forget to exclude foods that aremadewith these products, such as raw eggs in:
When in doubt, ask your healthcare provider before eating the food in question.
Does My White Blood Cell Count Matter?There will be times during chemo when yourwhite blood cell countis higher or lower than others. (Most often, your white blood cell count will be lowest 10 days to two weeks following a chemotherapy infusion, but this can vary.) It’s best to be safe and avoid certain foods, even if you’ve just had your blood checked and it’s normal.
Does My White Blood Cell Count Matter?
There will be times during chemo when yourwhite blood cell countis higher or lower than others. (Most often, your white blood cell count will be lowest 10 days to two weeks following a chemotherapy infusion, but this can vary.) It’s best to be safe and avoid certain foods, even if you’ve just had your blood checked and it’s normal.
Precautions When Dining Out on Chemo
If you are immunosuppressed (havebone marrow suppression from chemotherapy), eating out may have to take a hiatus for now.Think about how many hands restaurant-prepared food travels through:
Although a buffet of germs may not actually be present in your food, it isn’t worth the risk.
Speaking of buffets, you should avoid them during and shortly after chemotherapy, when your body has the least chance of fighting off common germs.
Similarly, avoid any delicatessen or self-serve salad bars.
Food-Prep Awareness
Perishable foods should not be left out for grazing. After any meal or snack is served, the food should be packaged safely and refrigerated within at least two hours of preparation.
Be sure to use a cutting surface that is not made of wood or another permeable surface while chopping or preparing raw meats. Wood can harbor bacteria despite how well you wash it.
Swap rare beef for some well-cooked poultry—at least until your chemotherapy is over. Use a meat thermometer to figure out whether your meat is thoroughly cooked, instead of “eyeballing it.”
Safe Cooking TemperaturesPoultry:165 degrees at the thickest partRed meat:160 degrees at the thickest partReheated casseroles and leftovers:165 degrees
Safe Cooking Temperatures
Poultry:165 degrees at the thickest partRed meat:160 degrees at the thickest partReheated casseroles and leftovers:165 degrees
Be sure that your meat thermometer is not placed too shallow and it is not touching the bone if there is one, as both mistakes could cause a false reading.
How to Prevent Salmonella
The Importance of Hand Washing
One of the most important things that you can do—and not just before eating or preparing food—is towash your hands.
Remember: PICCYThis can be a lot to remember. To help you choose safer foods while you are undergoing chemo, remember the PICCY pneumonic:P:Pasteurized. Make sure foods such as dairy products have been heated or say “pasteurized” on the packaging.I: Inspect. Take a careful look at any foods before eating them. Check for mold, as well as for cuts or breaks in fruits and veggies.C:Clean. Clean the foods that you eat, and use clean cutting boards and other surfaces. Always prepare food with clean hands and tools.C:Cook.Cook any meats, poultry, or seafood thoroughly.Y:Yuck.Mark dates on leftovers and throw them out after a few days. Remember that refrigeration doesn’t stop bacteria growth. (In fact, scientists bacteria samples on a dish and let them grow in a fridge.)
Remember: PICCY
This can be a lot to remember. To help you choose safer foods while you are undergoing chemo, remember the PICCY pneumonic:P:Pasteurized. Make sure foods such as dairy products have been heated or say “pasteurized” on the packaging.I: Inspect. Take a careful look at any foods before eating them. Check for mold, as well as for cuts or breaks in fruits and veggies.C:Clean. Clean the foods that you eat, and use clean cutting boards and other surfaces. Always prepare food with clean hands and tools.C:Cook.Cook any meats, poultry, or seafood thoroughly.Y:Yuck.Mark dates on leftovers and throw them out after a few days. Remember that refrigeration doesn’t stop bacteria growth. (In fact, scientists bacteria samples on a dish and let them grow in a fridge.)
This can be a lot to remember. To help you choose safer foods while you are undergoing chemo, remember the PICCY pneumonic:
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Food safety during cancer treatment.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: HealthyPeople.gov.Food safety.Johns Hopkin Medicine.Cancer diet: foods to add and avoid during cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Food safety during cancer treatment.Stanford Medicine.Food safety during cancer treatment.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevention & control - Immunocompromised persons.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infections in cancer patients.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Food safety during cancer treatment.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: HealthyPeople.gov.Food safety.Johns Hopkin Medicine.Cancer diet: foods to add and avoid during cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Food safety during cancer treatment.Stanford Medicine.Food safety during cancer treatment.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevention & control - Immunocompromised persons.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infections in cancer patients.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Food safety during cancer treatment.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: HealthyPeople.gov.Food safety.Johns Hopkin Medicine.Cancer diet: foods to add and avoid during cancer treatment.American Cancer Society.Food safety during cancer treatment.Stanford Medicine.Food safety during cancer treatment.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevention & control - Immunocompromised persons.
American Cancer Society.Food safety during cancer treatment.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: HealthyPeople.gov.Food safety.
Johns Hopkin Medicine.Cancer diet: foods to add and avoid during cancer treatment.
Stanford Medicine.Food safety during cancer treatment.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevention & control - Immunocompromised persons.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infections in cancer patients.
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