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A cancer diagnosis can change your life in an instant. One moment, you’re juggling a full plate of work, chores, and family responsibilities. The next, you’re facing an unfamiliar road of scans, treatments, and an unknown future.

If you’re currently undergoing cancer treatment, you may wonder if you can do anything to minimize symptoms and improve your mental wellness.

Read on to learn lifestyle changes that may help make life less stressful and more hopeful while you undergo cancer treatment.

Does Lifestyle Matter During Cancer Treatment?

Your lifestyle habits can play a big role throughout your cancer journey. And they aren’t just important during treatment — they continue to play a role in survivorship and life after cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, healthy lifestyle habits may:

• Help reduce some side effects during treatment.
• Help lower the risk of your cancer recurring or of being diagnosed with a new cancer.
• Help you live longer.

However, there may be gaps in providing this information to patients and their caregivers.

A 2024 study in Supportive Care in Cancer reported that many oncologists only gave general advice on healthy lifestyle habits. The advice also often came only at the beginning of treatment, the study added. The authors said care teams should offer patient- and cancer-specific lifestyle advice throughout treatment and into survivorship.

What Should I Pay Attention to During Cancer Treatment?

Healthy lifestyle advice during cancer treatment looks similar to health tips you would receive at any other time in life. However, a healthy lifestyle can be even more critical when your body is undergoing a strong treatment regimen.

Before implementing any big changes into your routine, talk with your oncologist or care team. Doing so can help ensure that these changes will not affect your cancer treatment.

Physical activity

While everyone’s cancer journey is unique, most people undergoing cancer treatment can safely continue some form of an exercise routine.

Physical activity has many benefits in general. It can boost energy, lower health risks, reduce stress, and improve overall quality of life. But it can also lessen treatment side effects and lower the risk of cancer recurrence and future cancer diagnosis.

It’s important to listen to your body and adapt your exercise routine to how you are feeling. The goal of body movement during cancer is to help retain muscle mass and keep the body functioning. Talk with your care team so they can approve any new exercises you may be considering.

Here are some tips for staying physically active during cancer treatment:

• Start small and slow — A few minutes of light exercise can make a difference. You can slowly increase the length and frequency of exercises as you start to build a foundation. Don’t be discouraged if your workouts are short in the beginning. Any movement is better than no movement!
• Take breaks — Short bursts of exercise with frequent stops are a great way to begin. Walk down the street and back, take a break in a chair, then do the walk again. Pausing every once in a while ensures you can catch your breath and aren’t overdoing it.
• Track your progress — It can be rewarding to look back on all the exercise you have accomplished during your cancer journey. Recognize your achievements and celebrate accordingly. Share your progress with loved ones and even invite them to join you. Goals are more fun to accomplish with others as witnesses!
• Try different types of exercise — There are many ways to be active. What works for you right now may be completely different from your normal workout. Yoga, walking, swimming, tai chi, strength training, and body weight exercises are all options to consider.

Healthy diet

A healthy diet is an important pillar to a healthy life, and this certainly remains true during cancer treatment. Unfortunately, some cancer medications and treatment protocols can:

• Cause a total loss of appetite.
• Cause food to taste bitter, metallic, too salty, or too sweet.
• Cause nausea.
• Make food taste slightly “off” or have no flavor at all.

Taste and appetite changes can make mealtime a frustrating experience. Some tips for overcoming trouble during mealtime include:

• If eating enough calories/eating at all is a problem — Try snacking throughout the day instead of eating large meals. Have your favorite foods or any foods that haven’t caused an aversion on hand to pick up at any moment. Consider nutrient-dense milkshakes and liquid supplements. Drink fluids between meals so you have more room for food at mealtime.
• If you can’t taste your food or it tastes “off” — Try eating fruit, tart foods, or salty foods. Add herbs, sauces, spices, and marinades to bring more flavor to your meals.
• If you have a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth — Try eating sweet fruits or sugar-free candies. Avoid red meat and metal containers or silverware. Plastic or bamboo utensils may help lessen the metallic taste.
• If food always tastes too salty or too sweet — Try adding sugar or honey to salty foods and a pinch of salt to sweet foods. Increase bland or sour foods.
• If food odors are overwhelming — Try eating in a well-vented area. Avoid cooking any foods with a strong odor or using pungent spices.

In general, build a nutrient-packed diet during your cancer journey by choosing:

• Drinks that aren’t sugar-sweetened or overly processed. For example, opt for tea, seltzer water, or real fruit juices over sodas, sugary coffee drinks, and fruit juices made with corn syrup.
• Fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors.
• Lean proteins, such as poultry, fish, beans, and tofu. These are better options than red meat (beef, lamb, pork) and processed meats (deli meat, hot dogs, bacon).
• Low-fat dairy products.
• Unprocessed foods that are high in fiber over prepackaged foods.

Talk with your doctor about any big diet changes you plan to make. Be sure to avoid any foods that aren’t compatible with your medications, treatments, or allergies.

Mental health

Mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to living a clean, balanced life. A cancer diagnosis can stir up many emotions. Processing those emotions is important for both your mental and physical health.

Here are some guidelines for taking care of your mental well-being during cancer treatment:

• Get support — Talk with your trusted loved ones about how you’re feeling. Including your family and friends in your cancer journey can be healing for you and them; you all may be experiencing heavy or scary emotions. Lean on support from your partner or spouse, and encourage them to seek others to process their own emotions. Finding a therapist, mental health coach, or spiritual or religious guide can prove beneficial for everyone.
• Learn a new home–based hobby — Gentle pastimes that bring you joy can be great mood boosters during cancer treatment. You can even take some with you to the hospital during treatments! Meditating, journaling, yoga, mindfulness, gardening, drawing or painting, knitting, crossword and word search puzzles, and reading are all great options. These low-energy hobbies can improve your mental health and perspective on life.
• Prioritize sleep — Healthy sleep habits help with cancer treatments. Be sure to wind down at least an hour before bedtime by turning off screens, dimming the lights, and focusing on relaxing activities. Find a sleep position and atmosphere that works for you, and be sure to get as much rest as you can.
• Reduce stress — Your cancer diagnosis may have come during a time when you have many other tasks to accomplish. Reflect on your responsibilities. Find ways to cut out stress by leaning on community members and offloading some work.

What Should I Avoid During Cancer Treatment?

You should avoid risky substances that are known to cause adverse health effects when undergoing cancer treatment.

Here’s what to avoid:

• Alcohol — Alcohol is a known cancer-causing agent. Avoiding alcohol altogether is the best bet for reducing risks associated with drinking. If you do imbibe, try to stick to one drink per day. Unfortunately, alcohol also has addictive properties that can make it difficult to stop. If you feel yourself unable to control your urge to drink, talk to your doctor about resources to quit.
• Tobacco — Tobacco use can cause cancer in many parts of the body. The only way to avoid this possibility is by abstaining from cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco altogether. If you live with someone who smokes, talk with them about quitting or at least not smoking around you. While e-cigarettes and vaping have become popular alternatives, they are also known to cause health problems and should be avoided.

What Resources Are Available for Cancer Patients?

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center offers integrative oncology throughout Pennsylvania.

You can also find resources for spiritual care, mental health, and support services, and outpatient pain programs for cancer patients.