Mesothelioma Diet and Nutrition

How the Right Mesothelioma Diet Helps Patients

After a diagnosis, mesothelioma nutrition becomes important for patients. Mesothelioma takes a toll on the body, leading to a weaker immune system, more severe treatment side effects, and malnutrition. These factors can greatly impact the well-being of the patient.

Patients can work with registered dietitians on staff at top cancer centers to ensure that their unique mesothelioma nutrition needs are met. These dietitians can coordinate with other members of the patient’s care team for the best results.

With a mesothelioma diet and nutrition plan, patients can:

• Avoid malnutrition
• Better tolerate treatment side effects like fatigue and nausea
• Improve their energy levels
• Maintain a healthy weight during treatment
• Support their immune system

Since 1979, Sokolove Law has helped thousands of patients facing mesothelioma. Our mesothelioma lawyers may be able to pursue compensation to help you pay for treatments and nutritional counseling. Our registered nurses can also answer questions about your diagnosis and treatment options.

Diet and Nutrition Tips for Mesothelioma Treatment

Simple changes to mesothelioma diet and nutrition plans can go a long way to supporting your body throughout the treatment process.

When facing an aggressive cancer like mesothelioma, it’s crucial to give your body and cells the energy they need. Getting the right nutrients — and the right amount of food — is key.

General diet and nutrition tips for mesothelioma treatment include:

1. Eat small meals instead of large meals
2. Choose soft or easy-to-digest foods when needed
3. Try smoothies or blended meals for added nutrition
4. Eat with family or caregivers to improve appetite
5. Add salt or acidity through lemons, vinegar marinades, herbs, and spices to make them more appealing if tastes have changed following mesothelioma treatment
6. Adjust the temperature of meals as needed, because the same foods may taste better or worse for patients dealing with metallic tastes due to cancer treatments
7. Follow up with your care team regularly and address any pain points or concerns
8. Stay proactive and keep your diet well-balanced from the outset of a diagnosis

In some cases, mesothelioma patients have credited long-term survival with diet changes. Paul Kraus, one of the longest peritoneal mesothelioma survivors, made radical dietary and lifestyle changes following his diagnosis.

Despite a life expectancy of less than 6 months, Paul survived for 27 years after his diagnosis before passing from unrelated causes.

Medical Nutritional Therapy for Mesothelioma

A personalized nutrition plan can help meet your body’s changing needs as you fight mesothelioma. This is known as medical nutrition therapy (MNT).

Cancer centers have registered dietitians on staff to help guide mesothelioma nutritional plans for patients. These dietitians have been trained and certified, unlike general nutritionists.

Nutritional therapy for mesothelioma may include:

• Assessing a mesothelioma patient’s nutritional goals
• Developing a specific diet for their body and case
• Ensuring the patient understands how the diet will help meet their needs
• Checking in with the patient and adjusting the plan as needed

At top cancer hospitals, many registered dietitians have Board Certification as Specialists in Oncology (CSO). This means they specifically understand the nutritional needs of cancer patients and are in the best position to support you or someone you love.

“Make your health care team aware if you would like to meet with a dietitian. There may be a dietitian within your cancer center, and you just didn’t have the opportunity to meet with them yet, or they may be able to refer you to a provider within the community.”
– Joanna Myers Casale, Registered Dietitian & CSO

Best Foods to Fight Mesothelioma

Each mesothelioma patient’s diagnosis and associated nutritional needs are unique. Registered dietitians can recommend the best foods to fight mesothelioma based on a specific diagnosis.

Many foods could help support the body during mesothelioma treatment by providing energy, maintaining weight, and managing side effects.

Some of the best mesothelioma foods to eat include:

• Fiber-rich foods: Vegetables like sweet potatoes and some whole grains can support digestion and help manage issues like constipation, which is a common treatment side effect.
• Fruits and vegetables: Fresh fruits and vegetables, like kale, broccoli, and salad, provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
• Healthy fats: Sources of unsaturated fats like olive oil, avocados, nuts, and seeds provide long-lasting energy and support overall well-being. These fats can also help increase calorie intake when needed.
• Herbs: Ginger teas and candies can be used to support digestion and reduce nausea among cancer patients. Another herb called turmeric is an antioxidant that may help the body fight cancer, according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
• High-calorie foods: Mesothelioma makes the body burn calories faster, which can lead to weight loss, per the health publication CURE. Calorie-dense foods like smoothies, peanut butter, and olive oil can help maintain a healthy weight.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fish such as salmon and sardines, omega-3s may help reduce inflammation and support your recovery from treatments like chemotherapy. They also preserve muscle mass in some cases, according to Pharmacology & Therapeutics. For example, in a study of lung cancer patients, 69% either retained or gained muscle with fish oil supplements compared to only 29% among patients who didn’t.
• Protein-rich foods: Beef, chicken, fish, seeds, and nuts can help patients get enough protein, maintain muscle, and repair tissue. This is especially important for mesothelioma patients experiencing weight loss or fatigue during cancer treatment. In general, cancer patients should eat over 1 gram to up to 1.5 grams per kilogram of protein per day as recommended by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN).
• Soft or easy-to-eat foods: These can be helpful for patients with significant appetite loss. Soup, cereals, oatmeal, and casseroles are easier to eat since patients don’t have to chew as much.

Ask your mesothelioma doctor about which foods could be helpful following your mesothelioma diagnosis.   They can recommend options based on which treatments you'll receive and refer you to registered dietitians as needed.

At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma nurses can also answer questions related to your diagnosis, treatment, and nutritional needs at no cost to your family.

Foods to Avoid with Mesothelioma

After a diagnosis and as you undergo treatment, your care team may recommend cutting out or limiting different foods depending on your specific situation.

Some foods can make it harder for your body to fight mesothelioma, recover from treatments, or manage symptoms and side effects.

Foods to avoid with mesothelioma include: 

• Alcohol: Drinking alcohol can worsen mouth sores caused by treatments and interfere with medications, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). It can also make chemotherapy harder to tolerate and increase the risk of dehydration and nausea, per MD Anderson Cancer Center.
• Greasy or fried foods: These are harder to digest and can worsen nausea. They also irritate the intestines, leading to diarrhea. Fast foods, fried chicken, pizza, and more all should be avoided.
• Heavily processed foods: Deli meats, sodas, and prepackaged meals may contain preservatives that harm the body.
• Raw meat or unpasteurized dairy products: These increase your chances of developing food-borne illnesses, which could be more severe since your immune system is already weakened from cancer, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center.
• Spicy or well-seasoned foods: While spicy foods can sometimes stimulate appetite, they may increase the risk of nausea, diarrhea, and mouth sores.

Mesothelioma patients may wonder whether they need to limit sugar intake. While avoiding highly processed sugary foods and drinks is often recommended, cutting out sugar completely is likely not necessary.

The Role of Supplements in Mesothelioma Nutrition

Oncologists and dietitians may recommend supplements to help patients with nutritional deficiencies, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Different supplements could help mesothelioma patients manage treatment side effects, ease cancer symptoms, and feel more like themselves. Supplements are available as pills, chewable tablets, and gummies.

Common supplements for mesothelioma include:

• Amino acids
• Beta-carotene
• Caffeic acid
• Calcium
• Capsaicin
• Cinnamic acid
• Magnesium
• Selenium
• Vitamins (A, B12, D, E)
• Zinc

However, not all supplements are safe to use during mesothelioma treatment. Always speak with a dietitian, nutritionist, or another member of your oncology care team before adding supplements.

“Supplements may seem harmless, but CBD oil, herbal supplements, and even melatonin could potentially interact with other medications, including those used to treat cancer. This could make them less effective or even dangerous.”
– Dr. Amy Hassan, MD Anderson Cancer Center Oncologist

Food Safety and Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma patients, particularly those who are actively going through treatment, could have weaker or even compromised immune systems. Because of this, they are at a higher risk of foodborne illnesses and serious complications.

As a result, it is important for patients and loved ones to pay closer attention to how they prepare their food.

To reduce the risk of contamination for mesothelioma patients:

• Avoid buffets and potlucks since food could sit out for hours
• Cook food to safe temperatures
• Prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods
• Refrigerate food promptly
• Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating
• Wash hands and cutting boards often

Mesothelioma patients should also be aware of food-borne illnesses like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria. Patients can stay up-to-date by following food safety alerts and recalls of potentially contaminated foods.

If you suspect severe food poisoning, report symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, or dehydration to your doctor right away.

Meeting Nutritional Needs During Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma treatment can significantly affect a patient’s diet and nutritional needs. Patients must maintain their strength and energy levels to tolerate more intensive treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.

At the same time, mesothelioma and its treatments take a major toll on the body. Without proper nutrition, patients may face complications such as weight loss, fatigue, muscle wasting, and malnutrition.

Common nutritional concerns during mesothelioma treatment include:

• Improving appetite: This is crucial to getting enough nutrients and having energy to withstand chemotherapy and other treatments.
• Managing side effects: Dietary changes can help ease side effects of mesothelioma treatment like nausea, constipation, and mouth sores.
• Preventing weight loss and wasting: Many mesothelioma patients are at risk of losing weight and muscle mass due to cachexia (a muscle-wasting condition), but changes in diet can help manage these.

Understanding these nutritional challenges before treatment begins and working with your care team can make them easier to manage.

Boosting Appetite

It's very common for mesothelioma patients to experience a loss of appetite, particularly during treatment.

Systemic treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy can affect taste and appetite. This can make it harder for them to enjoy meals and get the nutrients they need to recover.

Ways to manage appetite loss with mesothelioma include: 

• Avoiding silverware: Using wooden utensils can help patients complaining of a metallic taste in their mouth.
• Choosing nutrient-packed foods: Protein-rich foods are key to maintaining muscle mass. Besides eggs, yogurt, chicken, and beef, you can also try protein shakes like Boost^® or Ensure^®.
• Eating on a schedule: Don’t wait to get hungry. Eat at regularly scheduled times to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need.
• Trying small portions throughout the day: Instead of having three large meals a day, try eating 6 small meals.
• Using mouthwashes: Mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy can cause changes in taste. To help combat this, rinse your mouth before eating with a baking soda and salt solution, or gargle with club soda or seltzer.

Helping with Weight Loss and Muscle Wasting

Mesothelioma often leads to significant weight loss because it causes the body’s metabolism to run at a higher rate than normal, according to CURE.

As a result, patients may lose muscle mass and suffer from malnutrition, both of which can leave a lasting impact on how they recover from treatment. They could also develop additional health problems related to weight, muscle, and bone loss.

Mesothelioma patients could be at risk for:

• Cachexia: Up to 50% of mesothelioma patients suffer from cachexia, which is marked by malnutrition, inflammation, and weight loss, according to BMJ Open Respiratory Research. Fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, has been studied as a supplement to help manage cachexia in cancer patients.
• Sarcopenia: Even when patients have a normal weight, they could still experience skeletal and muscle loss, which is known as sarcopenia. About 54% of pleural mesothelioma patients suffered from sarcopenia in a study published by the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Mesothelioma patients with sarcopenia have a higher risk of complications and a lower survival rate, according to the medical journal Cancers.

A nutrition plan focused on high-calorie, nutrient-dense foods can help prevent malnutrition. Mesothelioma specialists and nutritionists should closely monitor a patient’s weight throughout treatment.

For patients with pleural mesothelioma, doctors must also consider how pleural effusions (fluid buildup in the lung lining) could add additional pounds to a patient’s weight that’s really not there, per an article in ESPEN.

Managing Mesothelioma Treatment Side Effects

Adjusting diet is a big consideration for patients dealing with severe side effects of mesothelioma treatment. While treatments help to destroy mesothelioma tumors, they can also cause harm to the body’s healthy tissues and organs, leading to uncomfortable side effects.

Making simple dietary changes may allow patients to find relief from some of these mesothelioma treatment side effects and support their recovery.

Nutrition can help with mesothelioma side effects like:

• Constipation: Staying hydrated is key to avoiding issues with constipation, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center dietitians. Tea, water with lemon or lime, and fiber can all help. Eating fiber-rich foods, like whole-grain bread and vegetables, can also help manage constipation.
• Diarrhea: Patients are at a higher risk of dehydration due to diarrhea. Water, tea, and electrolyte-rich sports drinks could be recommended, per MD Anderson Cancer Center. Fibers found in the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet could manage diarrhea too.
• Mouth sores: Dietitians may recommend baking soda and “magic mouthwash,” a solution that helps manage mouth sores, according to the Mayo Clinic. They may also suggest trying soft and moist foods, such as oatmeal. Avoid spicy or acidic foods.
• Nausea: 13% of mesothelioma patients suffer severe nausea due to chemotherapy. Taking anti-nausea medication, eating small meals frequently throughout the day, and choosing carbs or bland foods like noodles can all help, per MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“Make sure you're bringing symptoms or side effects to your team so they can help you with tips on foods to eat and medicines to take.”
– Joanna Myers Casale, Registered Dietitian & CSO

Because each patient may experience unique side effects, it’s crucial for doctors to make specific recommendations to mesothelioma nutrition plans for best results.

How Malnutrition Impacts Mesothelioma Prognosis

Not properly managing a mesothelioma patient’s nutritional needs can significantly impact their ability to fight cancer, make them feel worse, and lead to a poorer prognosis.

A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that 38% of patients with pleural mesothelioma were malnourished. These patients also had a worse health-related quality of life compared to patients with a balanced diet.

Mesothelioma malnutrition can lead to:

• Greater risk of infections
• Higher treatment costs
• Lower performance status (quality of life)
• Post-surgical complications

“If you don’t feel strong, and you’re getting pummeled by your treatment, you’re not really living. You’re just dragging yourself through.”
– Carly Roop, Registered Dietitian & CSO

Nutrition also may play a role in how effective treatments are. For example, the recent MIST4 trial found that a healthier gut microbiome may make mesothelioma immunotherapy more effective.

Improving diet and nutrition could potentially improve the mix of gut bacteria and lead to better outcomes. At Sokolove Law, our team of registered nurses can help you understand what to expect as you navigate a diagnosis and treatment.

Call (800) 647-3434 now to find out if we’re able to assist you or someone you love with mesothelioma. Compensation may also be available for care.

What Is the Mesothelioma Survivor’s Diet?

A mesothelioma survivor’s diet will vary from person to person depending on their unique needs and situation. There is no universally accepted diet plan that will guarantee you’ll survive mesothelioma.

However, changing your diet and nutrition under the guidance of your cancer doctors and registered dietitians could go a long way to supporting your health.

Examples of a mesothelioma survivor’s diet include:

• Adding fruits and vegetables to your diet
• Choosing healthy fats like olive oil, nuts, and seeds
• Consuming whole grains like rice or quinoa
• Eating healthy protein like chicken, fish, beans, and soy

While there are no guarantees, some mesothelioma patients credit adjustments in their diet and nutrition with improving their overall survival and quality of life.

How One Mesothelioma Survivor's Diet Helped Save His Life

Art Putt is an 8-year pleural mesothelioma survivor who had difficulty swallowing due to the extent of his cancer spread. While treatments like chemotherapy kept the cancer at bay, they irritated his throat and made it even harder to eat.

Art trusted the advice of his wife and daughter, both registered nurses, and started on a blend of beetroot powder, cottage cheese, asparagus, and flax oil provided through a feeding tube.

“I still eat at lunchtime and eat in the evening. At one time, doctors told me I'd never eat solid food again, but we showed them wrong.”
– Art Putt, U.S. Veteran & Mesothelioma Survivor

Art credits his mesothelioma diet with helping not only ease his swallowing problems but also his long-term survival. Although he was initially given a year to live, he’s still with us today.

Ways to Supplement Diets for Mesothelioma

Changing your diet is just one important way to help your body fight mesothelioma. Making other lifestyle changes after a diagnosis can support your recovery too.

For instance, exercise was shown to help patients with thoracic (chest-related) cancers like pleural mesothelioma, per Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. However, study authors noted that adding nutritional planning based on a patient’s unique needs could lead to more benefits.

Lifestyle adjustments that may help after a mesothelioma diagnosis include:

• Exercise: Leading specialists like Dr. Taylor Ripley consider nutrition and enough exercise to be the most important considerations for mesothelioma patients. Light exercises, like walking 45 minutes to an hour per day, can help patients recover from surgery and keep their energy up.
• Get mental health counseling: Working with therapists individually or through a mesothelioma support group can help patients cope with issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Quit smoking: Patients should consider quitting smoking or vaping if they’ve been recently diagnosed with mesothelioma. Smoking makes it easier for cancer to spread by suppressing the immune system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Try alternative therapies: While these shouldn’t be substituted for proper treatment, holistic treatments like meditation, yoga, and acupuncture can help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

Mesothelioma specialists and dietitians can give you more comprehensive recommendations that are tailored to your specific diagnosis.

Affording Mesothelioma Diet Changes

For many mesothelioma patients, a cancer diagnosis brings unexpected costs, including treatment expenses and the cost of traveling for care if necessary.

Trying to adjust a mesothelioma patient’s diet after a diagnosis can be another source of financial strain. For many families, mesothelioma is unexpected. Trying to find the right diet, and pay for it, is just another thing to worry about.

It’s also hard to know how much mesothelioma dietary changes could impact families. Fewer than 4% of all oncology nutritional reports have reported costs related to treatments being studied, per the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Insurance may or may not cover medical nutritional counseling.

At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma law firm may be able to help you recover financial compensation to more easily afford treatment plans, nutritional counseling, and other expenses.

Get Help with Mesothelioma Diet and Nutrition

If you or a loved one is living with mesothelioma, building a nutrition plan is just one part of a larger care journey. Registered dietitians at cancer centers can help develop a specific mesothelioma diet, so you’re able to maintain a healthy weight and stay strong throughout treatment.

At Sokolove Law, our registered nurses are able to help patients by reviewing symptoms, answering questions about treatment, and recommending next steps.

Our asbestos lawyers can also help pursue compensation through mesothelioma claims. To date, we’ve retrieved over $5.5 Billion for patients and families.

Many past clients have started to get money for medical bills, nutritional needs, and more in as few as 90 days — but time is limited to file a mesothelioma claim, so don’t wait.

Call (800) 647-3434 now or fill out our contact form to find out how we may be able to help your family get the care and compensation they need for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Nutrition FAQs