Managing a brain tumour is a major challenge. Here’s a look at the role of nutrition in supporting you during your brain cancer treatment and recovery process.
Managing a brain tumour is a challenge, even if you are under the supervision of an expert medical team. If you have been diagnosed with a high-grade cancerous tumour, then you will be undergoing a highly specialised treatment plan that might include neurosurgery, anti-cancer therapies, or a form of stereotactic radiotherapy such as Gamma Knife surgery.
You can optimise your medical treatment by eating a nutritious and well-balanced diet. While there’s no specific diet that can directly treat a brain tumour, healthy eating choices will help your body to withstand and recover from the treatment process better. It will also help to protect you from developing further health problems such as heart disease or diabetes.
Here’s a look at how good nutrition can support you during your brain cancer treatment and recovery process.
The brain requires a lot of energy to function optimally, and a brain tumour can significantly impair this process. The most common treatments for brain tumours, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiosurgery, place further stress on the body, and can also make eating and drinking more difficult for some people.
A healthy diet can help to support the immune system, reducing the risk of infections post-surgery. It will also boost your energy levels, which will help to combat fatigue, a common side effect of brain tumour treatment or the cancer itself. Good nutrition will also enable your body to heal and repair, and recover from the side effects of treatment.
Staying well hydrated is also important to allow the body to process medications more effectively and guard against the risk of bladder infections and constipation.
Eating a varied and well-balanced diet is more important than consuming specific foods. A dietician or your care team can provide you with tailored advice, because the side effects of a brain tumour and the treatments can affect people in different ways.
If you want to follow a specific diet or take supplements, you should consult your care team first, because you may be consuming high doses of vitamins and minerals that could interfere with your treatment.
A balanced diet should include at least five portions of fruits and vegetables per day; lean proteins; wholegrain fibre; and smaller portions of dairy products and unsaturated fats. Some research suggests that eating a diet that is high in plant-based foods and low in animal fats may protect against the risk of cancer.
This includes limiting the consumption of red meat and increasing the intake of poultry, fish, beans and pulses. Sugar is not thought to directly contribute to cancer risk, but it can lead to weight gain, which increases the risk of other health complications such as obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure that can affect brain cancer treatment outcomes.
Brain cancer and the treatment and side effects can disrupt your usual eating patterns, making it more difficult to follow a balanced diet. The Brain Tumour Charity provides some useful detailed information about eating well with a brain tumour. Here are the main points.
The tumour itself, or the side effects of medication, can cause brain tumour patients to feel nauseous or to vomit. If you are facing this problem, talk to your care team as they may be able to prescribe an anti-sickness medication. Some people find that peppermint, lemon or ginger can help to ease feelings of nausea.
Other useful strategies include eating smaller and more frequent meals rather than three bigger meals per day; avoiding rich fatty foods; eating plain foods that are easy to digest, such as crackers, breakfast cereals, and yoghurt; and frequently sipping water or carbonated drinks in between meals to stay hydrated.
Undereating can lead to malnourishment that could impact your recovery and treatment, so if you have a reduced appetite it’s important to ensure you are consuming enough calories, vitamins and minerals. Staying active, setting reminders to eat, and eating your biggest meal of the day when your appetite is strongest can help you to stay well nourished.
If you feel low in energy, avoid consuming sugary products as these will only have a short term effect. Try eating smaller snacks with complex carbs, or asking for help with shopping and prepping meals if you are too fatigued to cook a full meal.
Certain medications may over-stimulate the appetite, particularly steroids. Some patients may also overeat for emotional reasons; for example, in an attempt to combat feelings of anxiety, depression, or boredom. This can lead to weight gain that could affect the outcome of the treatment and increase the likelihood of the cancer recurring.
To help manage overeating, try eating low-fat foods that are high in protein and fibre, such as lentils, beans, whole grains, fish and eggs. These will help you to feel fuller for longer. Gentle exercise can help you to manage weight and also boost your mood and distract you from comfort eating.
A healthy diet is important to help you manage symptoms, maintain energy levels, and support recovery from a brain tumour and the treatment. If you are struggling with any aspect of your nutrition, it’s important to seek medical advice.
Balanced eating should include foods that you enjoy, and consuming moderate amounts from all of the major food groups (carbs; protein; dairy; fruits and vegetables; and fats and sugars). You may find advice about specific diets such as the ketogenic diet that can help to treat brain cancer.
However, there is limited evidence for this, and the best approach is to eat a well balanced diet, and consult a medical professional before making any changes.
If you would like more detailed information about brain tumour treatment, please contact Prof. Andrew McAvoy of Amethyst Radiotherapy.
Centres of Excellence for Stereotactic Radiosurgery treatment of complex Brain Tumours
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