Diet and food guidance for ovarian cancer

No food or diet treats or cures ovarian cancer. Good nutrition helps you stay strong during treatment and recover. Your oncology team and a dietitian can tailor advice.

Helpful habits

• Small, frequent meals if you feel full quickly or have little appetite
• Enough protein: dal, eggs, dairy, fish, chicken, tofu and nuts help healing and keep muscle
• Vegetables, fruit and whole grains for fibre and vitamins
• Fluids: water, soups, coconut water and oral rehydration, especially during chemotherapy
• Calorie boosters if weight is falling, such as milk-based drinks, nut butters and ghee in moderation
• Fibre and fluids to manage constipation

During chemotherapy

• Eat what you can tolerate, such as bland, dry foods for nausea
• Wash fruit and vegetables, cook food well and avoid raw eggs, unpasteurised milk and street food when blood counts are low
• Ask about food safety during neutropenia

Be careful with