I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February this year, surgery in March (lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy), more surgery in April (axillary clearance - 32 nodes in total), chemo started beginning of May and finished 3.5 weeks ago. Radiation started last week and will finish mid December. I’m so looking forward to having salad including Camembert. When can I start eating these types of food again? Thank you

I was never told to avoid eating any certain food groups, nor not to eat raw fruit or veg that wasn't cooked or peeled. That seems strange to me that you were told that, unless of course you have comorbidities that are of concern. I had a full one hour (one on one) with an oncology nurse who gave me a rundown of what to avoid, it was called an education session on do and don't whilst on chemotherapy. It sounds like they are talking about listeria concerns. As long as everything is washed and no cross contamination is wise whether going through cancer treatment or not. @Bluehibiscus can I ask who gave you the advice not to eat soft cheese? Take care and best wishes. xx

I have actually just been discussing this with my nurse.foods like deli meats, soft cheese, raw seafood (oysters, salmon, etc), sushi, unwashed fruits and vegetables, just to name a few, can carry listeria bacteria.since chemo can lower your neutrophils, having these foods can cause you to become really sick since you can’t fight off the infection like someone with a “normal” immune system can. It’s similar to the advice given to pregnant women to avoid these types of foods.

@ilovewhenitrains, yes, that was the advice I was given. @Afraser, it’s like the advice given to pregnant ppl now. As @ilovewhenitrains says the advice for chemo recipients is similar to the advice given for pregnancies but when I had my kids I wasn’t told not to eat certain foods because of listeria etcI had a nurse review yesterday about my radiation treatment so I asked her the questions. The nurses at the clinic I’m going to alternate between chemo and radiation. So I can eat what I like now that I am one month post chemo but still need to be careful with preparation of food because the immune system still isn’t great (that applies at all times though). Thank you everyone for your help

Thanks. The advice I got was no fruit or vegetables that either couldn’t be cooked or peeled while having chemo so that left a few salad vegetables out. I usually leave the skin on cucumbers but diligently peeled them. I bought a lettuce, tomatoes etc this morning but now second guessing myself.

It seems that some advice centres around washing raw vegetables, which is pretty normal with salad anyway. All I can add is that I ate a lot of salad and had no ill effects!

When can I start eating salads, soft cheese and the like?

Bluehibiscus
Member
3 years ago
Thank Cath62. I was told no spicy food, no coffee, no soft or runny yolks, no processed meat, no deli products, no prawns, lobster, oysters, etc as well as no raw fruit or veg that wasn’t cooked or peeled. I guess I will just reintroduce foods I used to enjoy and see how I go. My taste buds are still all over the place at the moment
Cath62
Member
3 years ago
I never heard of any food being off the menu during active treatment. I ate whatever I wanted to and no harm done. I eat very healthy ie lots vegetables and fruit, a little protein, nuts, grains but I don't eat sugary things or high carbs. I eat that way because that's what feels good for me.
Bluehibiscus
Member
3 years ago
Yes, definitely wash them well. So salad is back on the menu thank goodness. I’m really missing Camembert and Brie, hopefully I can find an answer to that as well (and it’s a positive “yes, you can eat that too” 🥰)
Thank you @Afraser
Afraser
Member
3 years ago
It seems that some advice centres around washing raw vegetables, which is pretty normal with salad anyway. All I can add is that I ate a lot of salad and had no ill effects!
Bluehibiscus
Member
3 years ago
Thanks. The advice I got was no fruit or vegetables that either couldn’t be cooked or peeled while having chemo so that left a few salad vegetables out. I usually leave the skin on cucumbers but diligently peeled them. I bought a lettuce, tomatoes etc this morning but now second guessing myself.
Afraser
Member
3 years ago
I didn’t have any radiation but salad was one of the few things I could taste during chemo (it affected my tastebuds). No one suggested I shouldn’t have it.

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When can I start eating salads, soft cheese and the like?

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