Food/drink and chemotherapy treatment

I was told to basically follow the rules as if I were pregnant by and large. Some cheeses, Brie and Camembert included are made with unpasteurised milk hence their inclusion. Alcohol, coffee and tea are included mainly because they can cause digestive irritations, I didn’t really feel like drinking alcohol often but when I did I drank it! I also drank tea throughout. Only look on reputable sites, there is so much misinformation out there, best of luck x

I think it is only unpasteurised products like blue cheese, but some camembert and feta is pasteurised, but you have to read the label. We are supposed to avoid honey and shellfish. You can have nuts, alcohol, caffeine etc, though best to avoid anything dehydrating in the couple of days before chemo, until a few days afterwards. We had some takeaways from places we trusted - I found mild curry appealed to my chemo taste buds. I don't think you are panicking, it is just there is so much to take in. The idea is just to avoid things that are most likely to cause infection/ food poisoning. You aren't panicking its just there is so much to take on board. This is the right place to ask any questions. xx

Thank you for your message, we are being careful to have any milk product pasteurised. I would be very miserable if I couldn't have any dairy products. Like you I don't really feel like having alcohol but as my first week of treatment os finished I though of maybe having a drink over the week-end before the next session. I had to stop coffee as it now taste wrong.. I don't want to spoil it for the future :-). I am still figuring out what I like to drink now that the taste buds have changed. I did found a couple of things that didn't use to like but now are ok. I will just have to try and be careful. All the best xx

Thank you Zephr, it's nice to know it's not all in my head and that you don't have to give up everything because of the treatment. It does feel like we are being bombarded with information and it is difficult to see through it all sometimes.

I am glad to have found this community.

All the best xx

Yes I still had a drink when I felt like it too. I also didn’t like the taste of coffee throughout, I found citrus flavours quite pleasant though x

Hi, as others have said, I was told to treat it like pregnancy when it comes to food but alcohol, in moderation, would be ok. There were many times I didn't feel like it, but there were also days I enjoyed a glsss of wine. Hope you cope ok with the chemo 

Thank you both, I tried several drinks like plain and sparkling water, lemonade, some juices and herbal teas. I don’t like regular tea to start with but maybe I should try it now. I found Moroccan mint tea works also cranberry juice with plain water but not sparkling water!!!. Next will be to try pineapple juice. These treatments really play havoc with our taste buds, don't they. Take care xx

Pineapple (juice and the fruit) was recommended to me to help with the “bad taste”

I will definitely give a go then. Thank you xx

Hi Daxy,

I hope you're getting through Chemo OK.

Can I jump on this thread to ask if anyone knows how soon after your last session you can start eating cheese again? My last chemo should/will be on 12 December, will I be able to eat cheese on Christmas Day? (Sorry for mentioning Christmas in November, but I'm trying to plan things to look forward to to get me through my last few sessions.

Thanks