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Original poster

What foods did you manage to eat while on chemotherapy?

40 replies

Weirdconditionaltense · 23/04/2026 17:09

What food did you enjoy, or at least manage to eat while on chemo?

I'm on day 4 after my first session of chemo. The nausea was quite bad this morning and comes and goes but no food appeals. Have now started the new anti-sickness pills so hoping they will keep the nausea at bay but no food or drinks really appeal. Tea doesn't taste right, nor coffee, nor squash. Just water left I suppose

Can you please share with me what you did manage or eat please?

OP posts:
Original poster
Weirdconditionaltense · 28/04/2026 16:27

SunnyValemin · 27/04/2026 13:40

I couldn't stomach tea or anything other than water apart from lemon barley water - also helps with making it sting less when you go for a wee.

I also ate a lot of tinned ravioli. Just felt like a proper meal at times when I couldn't stomach anything else, and easy to chew so didn't hurt my mouth ulcers too much.

My oncologist told me not to worry too much about it - just eat whatever I could, make sure I had calories going in.

Good luck with the rest of your treatment, it will soon be a distant memory!

Thanks Sunny,..just to be sure, are you saying drinking water helps with the sting of pee ? Not the barley water or tea ?.

OP posts:
Original poster
Weirdconditionaltense · 28/04/2026 20:04

Maddy70 · 27/04/2026 15:32

I was very lucky apart from a few occasions I didn't feel nauseous. However foods tasted different. I wanted strong flavours. Curries, chilli etc
Please ask your oncologist for better anti nausea drugs

Thanks Maddy. Yes I am definitely going to be asking about alternative anti-nausea meds. The metacloprimide has been working ok-ish in stopping the nausea but was giving me diarrhoea so I want to try something better next time..

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Original poster
Weirdconditionaltense · 28/04/2026 20:11

namechange0998776554799000 · 23/04/2026 17:57

In terms of anti sickness meds, this is what I learned: I was prescribed Aprepitant before every chemo, it is very strong and really helped me. Not sure if it's only prescribed for certain types of chemo.

Metaclopramide can sometimes cause diarrhoea/faster digestion and ondanestron can cause constipation/slow down digestion. I used to be prescribed both and had to keep the quantities in check to try & balance things. Be guided by your Dr/nurse/pharmacist and follow their advice. I just found it useful having this knowledge in the back of my mind!

I was also prescribed cyclizine later on, that could make me a bit spacey but worked well. There were also other options that were mentioned that I didn't end up needing.

Again I hope you won't need any of this, but just be aware there are lots of options you can discuss/ask for if you need them.

Hi Name change, thanks for your post. I have just looked up aprepitant. It seems to be good for delayed nausea,- I don't see how you know if it's delayed or not, Is that a stupid question? Also can I ask if you were taking carboplatin please?

OP posts:
SunnyValemin · 28/04/2026 20:16

Weirdconditionaltense · 28/04/2026 16:27

Thanks Sunny,..just to be sure, are you saying drinking water helps with the sting of pee ? Not the barley water or tea ?.

Show quote history

Sorry, I was unclear. The lemon barley helps with stinging when you pee. I found the Robinson's one was the best. I could only drink that and water tbh, occasionally a lucozade sport.

namechange0998776554799000 · 28/04/2026 21:34

Weirdconditionaltense · 28/04/2026 20:11

Hi Name change, thanks for your post. I have just looked up aprepitant. It seems to be good for delayed nausea,- I don't see how you know if it's delayed or not, Is that a stupid question? Also can I ask if you were taking carboplatin please?

Show quote history

Hi, no I was on escalated beacoppdac which is a really strong chemo for lymphoma, I think aprepitant is given as standard before that chemo because it's very hard on the stomach and I had to take it an hour before the infusion. I was also taking all the other drugs I mentioned so to be honest it's hard to know what was working at what point! It's probably best just to discuss it with your team, mention the possibilities you've heard of on here and be guided by them. There might be interactions or side effects they need to take into account - sorry I'm not familiar with carboplatin specifically

Robogob · 07/05/2026 02:58

Bizarrely, tinned pears. Cold fizzy drinks. That was it. And maybe like half a tinned pear a day. I was vomiting and retching pretty much every hour of every day.

Fortunately I ended up with a feeding tube up my nose and got much needed calories in, as I was getting so frail and fainting.

I’m now six years cancer free and back to eating with fine fettle. Sending you all good wishes to get through this and be restored to full health.

MeAndMyGhost · 07/05/2026 03:02

Another one who had to have strong cheese in every format: cheese and crackers, cheese crisps, cheese pasties, cheesy sauces etc. I don't tend to choose them now as I always prefer tomato based sauces, but, during chemo, it was a cheddar cheese fest.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 07/05/2026 05:22

Nothing, really. I didn't have nausea or sickness, but just completely lost my appetite (it's a well known side effect). Lost loads of weight. I would have maybe four spoons of porridge in the morning, and apple and some cheese at lunch, occasionally a yoghurt and some soup for dinner. Would randomly get cravings for things - Wheat Crunchies for a while, or Rice Krispies.

My appetite is still a bit all over the place, nearly a year and a half after chemo ended.

ginislife · 07/05/2026 05:41

I lived on orange Fanta ! Plus rice milk with pea protein powder. I was dairy intolerant so Fortisips used to come straight back up. Lost 4.5 stone in 4 months. I’ve put 1.5 stone back on 7 years on and can eat everything except chilli. Wishing you luck. It’s shit at the time but you’ll be ok.

Original poster
Weirdconditionaltense · 18/05/2026 12:48

YoureOnTheRightTrack · 23/04/2026 17:35

I actually find the nausea gets worse with each session. I didnt have too much for the first two, and I ate everything in sight and put on 10kg! The 3rd lasted about 12 days but was mild, the 4th was intense but lasted 5/6 days. I’m actually thinking that its not nausea for me per se, but the fact that everything tastes wrong, and any food I think about eating just gets a massive NO from my gut. Even water tasted awful this time.I’ve lost 2kg this round and just want clean, whole foods, nothing processed and get full quickly.
I think its highly individual, and you need to just go with what works for you.
when I really can’t face food in the post treatment days the only thing I’ve found that I can consistantly have is cream crackers and ice pops…but I can’t bear the thought if them now.
I’m aware none of this is particularly useful, but we’re all different.
wishing you lots of luck with the rest of your treatments.

Hi again, when you had cream crackers, did you have them on their own , so no butter or marge or cheese ? Last session I think I was ok with cheese but this time it's tasting sour so maybe plain crackers is the thing to try.

OP posts:
namechange0998776554799000 · 18/05/2026 13:15

I used to have plain crackers with nothing on, especially when feeling nauseous/on an empty stomach. They're great for just nibbling a tiny corner slowly over time when you have no appetite

Bbq1 · 18/05/2026 18:15

I lived mainly on Quavers and milkshakes during my chemo. Other than that it was salty and very light foods. I had a stem cell transplant immediately after chemo and it was still Quavers a lot during that. I don't touch them much now.

Original poster
Weirdconditionaltense · 21/05/2026 08:53

namechange0998776554799000 · 18/05/2026 13:15

I used to have plain crackers with nothing on, especially when feeling nauseous/on an empty stomach. They're great for just nibbling a tiny corner slowly over time when you have no appetite

Thanks yes I was doing this yesterday!

OP posts:
PoptartPoptart · 21/05/2026 16:43

I had a thing for wotsits during chemo. I ate them constantly.
Now I’m 6 weeks post chemo and can’t stand the sight of them!

Someone did advise me not to eat my favourite food during chemo because chances are you won’t be able to stomach it afterwards. I didn’t listen to that advice and ate my favourite meal of Mac and cheese a lot. Now I can’t even bear the thought of it as it just reminds me of chemo and feeling like shite.

Original poster
Weirdconditionaltense · 22/05/2026 11:55

PoptartPoptart · 21/05/2026 16:43

I had a thing for wotsits during chemo. I ate them constantly.
Now I’m 6 weeks post chemo and can’t stand the sight of them!

Someone did advise me not to eat my favourite food during chemo because chances are you won’t be able to stomach it afterwards. I didn’t listen to that advice and ate my favourite meal of Mac and cheese a lot. Now I can’t even bear the thought of it as it just reminds me of chemo and feeling like shite.

Thanks for this. That does make sense , about later going off what you can eat during chemo. For me it's only going to be porridge, lemonade and mints at this rate
I keep trying different crisps and salty snacks but everything tastes revolting these days. We haven't got whotsits in but I don't think they will be any different.. Hey- ho..thank you

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