Cancer can present unique challenges when choosing foods to support your health. These resources can help you make healthy food choices if you are living with cancer or are a cancer survivor.

Healthy Eating for Cancer Prevention

There are small changes you can make to reduce your risk of getting cancer. Eating more vegetables and fruits is one of them. Learn about other ways to reduce your risk of cancer below.

• Cancer Prevention Eating Guidelines
• Plant-Based Diet Guidelines

Cancer Diagnosis

A healthy eating pattern supports your health before, during and after cancer treatments. Eating well can help you feel your best and stay strong. It also promotes recovery and supports optimal immune function.

• Eating Guidelines for After a Cancer Diagnosis
• Eating Well During Cancer Treatment

Breast Cancer

After you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, making healthy food and lifestyle choices can help improve your overall health and reduce your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. They could also help lower the chance of your breast cancer returning. See: Breast Cancer: Healthy Eating After a Diagnosis

Prostate Cancer

Once you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, making healthy food and lifestyle choices can help improve your overall health. Healthy choices can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and other types of cancer. See: Eating Guidelines for After a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis.

Cancer Survivors

Good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. It also helps you feel your best after cancer treatment ends. See: Healthy Eating Guidelines for Cancer Survivors.

Staying Active with Cancer

Research shows that physical activity is helpful before, during and after cancer treatment. Aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. This could include walking or strength training. Learn more about keeping active while living with cancer in this section:

• Cancer and Physical Activity
• Exercises After Mastectomy

BC Cancer Agency

This website provides information about cancer and its treatment. It also provides information on nutrition for breast, prostate and lung cancer, how to cope with cancer, and the side effects of treatment. For information on nutrition and lifestyle choices to lower cancer recurrence, improve survival rate, and promote overall health, click on the links below:

• BC Cancer Agency
• A Nutrition Guide for Women with Breast Cancer (PDF 1.21 MB)
• Support Programs

Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization. They have information on cancer prevention and treatment including supports and services, research, nutrition and physical activity,

Prostate Cancer Supportive Care (PCSC) Program: This comprehensive survivorship program from the Vancouver Prostate Centre is for prostate cancer patients, their partners, and family. The program offers seven modules including one on nutrition and exercise. People can self-refer to the program or be referred by their doctor. Visit the website to learn more about healthy eating after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Last Updated: June 2021