Your gift is 100% tax deductible
Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment
There are many benefits to eating well and staying active during cancer treatment and beyond. But this can be hard, especially if you have side effects or just don’t feel well.
Here you'll find resources on nutrition and physical activity during and after cancer treatment. Learn about exercising safely, managing eating problems, and eating well after treatment.
Staying active
For most people, exercise is safe and helpful before, during, and after cancer treatment.
Physical activity can improve your quality of life, give you more energy, and help you cope with side effects. It’s also a great way to relieve stress, which is an important part of getting and staying well.
Eating well
Eating well during treatment means choosing the right foods to get the nutrients your body needs to fight cancer. This includes getting enough protein, fats, carbohydrates, water, vitamins, and minerals.
After you finish cancer treatment, eating a healthy diet can help you regain strength and energy and feel better overall. It could also help lower the risk of your cancer coming back.
Managing eating problems caused by cancer and treatment
Getting the nutrients and calories you need isn’t usually a problem when you're healthy. But this can be harder during cancer treatment, especially if you have side effects or just don’t feel well. There are steps you can take to manage eating problems and get the nutrients you need.
ACS Nutrition and Physical Activity Guideline for Cancer Survivors
Healthy lifestyle choices can play a vital role in improving your health and quality of life as a cancer survivor. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has cancer-specific, science-based recommendations on diet, physical activity, body weight, and alcohol consumption for survivors.
- Written by
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: December 12, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
American Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.
