When a patient receives radiation therapy, they often wonder how they can maximize the efficacy of the treatment by changing other aspects of their lifestyle. At Epic Care CyberKnife we believe that the best way to strengthen your body while fighting cancer is to adopt a healthy diet. Our office specializes in giving patients access to the most advanced technology in the field of radiation oncology, at our Walnut Creek cancer center, as well as thoughtful tips for adapting your lifestyle to support treatment and recovery. Here are the top 5 diet adjustments we recommend to patients.

1) Calorie and Nutrient Dense

Depending on the part of the body where radiation therapy is applied, different symptoms can arise that harm appetite. For instance, treating cancers of the throat and mouth can cause sores and difficulty swallowing. Meanwhile, the body needs nutrients and calories to promote healthy tissue growth, so getting enough calories from invigorating ingredients is more important than ever. Whenever you prepare a meal, find ways to add calories by using sauces, broths, gravies, cheese, or dressing. Start with a base of whole grains, lean meat, and use a variety of vegetables to strengthen your immune system.

2) Vitamins and Minerals with Healing Properties

While eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is always healthy and recommended, selecting them for their healing properties and avoiding those that cause digestive distress is even better. For example, dark leafy green vegetables like spinach, collard greens, kale, and chard contain carotenoids that slow and prevent cancer growth.

3) Smaller Meals More Often

Because it can be difficult to get through a big meal when your appetite is waning, try eating five small meals throughout the day. Vary the ingredients to keep things interesting, and explore flavors and smells that you find truly tasty. Snacks can help add additional calories throughout the day.

4) High Protein

Many patients receiving radiation therapy go on a high protein diet to maintain muscle density and boost the immune system. Eating a variety of proteins including lean meats, fish, and healthy soy (such as edamame) gives you variation and taps into a range of benefits. Yogurt and legumes make great protein-rich snacks.

5) Green Tea And Hydration

The cornerstone of any healthy diet is good hydration. Drinking water throughout the day is crucial for cell function throughout every system of the body. It is recommended that you drink 3-4 quarts of water a day. Drinking enough water can also provide relief to patients experiencing diarrhea. Green tea makes a wonderful drink of choice for its antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties.

6) Choose Non-Invasive Radiation

Radiation therapy can be a complicated process, with a lot of side effects and considerations for the patient. That’s why it is crucial to be precise with radiation delivery, to keep treatment time to a minimum, and avoid any adverse effects on surrounding healthy tissue. CyberKnife technology has built-in tumor-tracking capabilities, allowing the mechanical arm to target the cancerous cells and adjust fluidly if the patient moves slightly during treatment. Not only is radiation therapy more comfortable with CyberKnife, but it is also more accurate, and requires less downtime because of this precision. If you are interested in starting CyberKnife treatment, book a consultation today. Check out our patient testimonials and meet our team of radiation oncologists to find out more about Epic Care CyberKnife!