Breast Cancer Diet and Nutrition
Updated on February 24, 2026
If you have a history of breast cancer or are currently in treatment, what you eat can affect your recovery, risk of recurrence, and long-term health. But a survey of 2,022 women found that only 19% said a health care provider discussed nutrition’s role in breast cancer risk with them.
There are several things to keep in mind when thinking about diet and nutrition before, during, and after treatment.
Foods to eat — and avoid — if you have breast cancer
No specific foods have been shown to cause breast cancer or breast cancer recurrence, but eating an unhealthy diet can increase your risk. Similarly, there isn’t a list of foods to eat if you have breast cancer, but a balanced diet can make you feel better and help keep your risk for breast cancer as low as possible.
Designing an eating plan
Creating a healthy eating plan can make it easier to eat well — and easier to prepare food when you don’t feel up to it. Front-loading the meal planning, while keeping a few basic principles in mind, can simplify the rest of your week.
Dietary supplements
Some dietary supplements can ease treatment side effects or benefit your general health, while others may interfere with some breast cancer treatments. With so much information online and on social media, it can be hard to tell the difference. The number-one guideline is to talk with your doctor before taking any supplement.
