How should breast cancer patients eat during Tet?

Breast cancer patients do not need to abstain from any food during Tet but should limit consumption of too many candies, banh chung, and fried foods.

Tet holiday is an opportunity for everyone to relax and unwind after a busy year. Everyone gets to go out and enjoy many of their favorite dishes.

Dr. Do Anh Tuan, Department of Breast Surgery, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, recommends that people with underlying diseases such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and gout should be careful. Patients do not need to abstain from any foods, but need to ensure a balanced menu and provide enough necessary nutrients for the body.

Tet dishes are diverse, from braised pork with eggs, stewed pork leg to jellied meat, all of which contain a lot of fat from animal fat. Cancer patients in general and breast cancer patients in particular should limit animal fat from skin, fat, organs, heart, kidney, and brain. Instead, patients should eat lean meat and prepare it simply such as boiled, grilled, braised, etc. Increasing green vegetables helps the body eliminate harmful fats.

There are also many types of cakes, candies, jams, and dried fruits. Cancer patients taking hormonal drugs can gain weight due to the side effects of water retention. Therefore, eating a lot of cakes, candies, and jams can easily lead to weight gain. Breast cancer patients who also have diabetes should not enjoy cakes and candies because they increase blood sugar, affecting their health.

Cancer patients should not eat a lot of sweets. Photo: Freepik — Cancer patients should not eat a lot of sweets. Photo: *Freepik*

Banh chung, banh tet or fried, greasy, stir-fried dishes are also dishes that breast cancer patients should limit. Banh chung, banh tet are made from sticky rice, which is hot and causes indigestion and bloating.

Patients need to have a healthy diet, limit alcohol consumption; replace sweets with cakes made from nuts (walnuts, almonds, melon seeds, pumpkin seeds...). Breast cancer patients should eat nuts as a snack to supplement good fats, add energy and nutrients.

During Tet, people are often busy with schedules to go home, visit relatives, travel, but should not skip meals, forget to eat. Should bring water and nuts (walnuts, almonds, macadamia) when going out to eat, drink to avoid hunger.

Nguyen Tram

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