You’ve probably heard the advice: Eat more plants. Cut back on sugar. Avoid red meat.
Those tips show up a lot when you search for endometrial cancer and diet, especially around prevention. But what if you’ve already been diagnosed with advanced disease?
What you eat still matters. A lot.
“People who are better nourished during treatment have better quality of life,” says Mary-Eve Brown, a clinical dietitian with the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. “If you’re able to meet your calorie, protein, and hydration needs, the chances of completing therapy the way it’s planned is much higher.”
And staying on track is key. If you’re not eating well, your care team may need to lower your chemo dose, delay your next infusion, or switch treatments. That doesn’t just affect how well the treatment works, but also how you feel day to day.
Diane Riccardi, MPH, a clinical dietitian at Moffitt Cancer Center, echoes this message. “If you have advanced disease, treatment is often ongoing and may not be stopped entirely,” she says. “And the priority during treatment is preventing malnutrition and avoiding dietary restrictions.”
From managing side effects to staying strong through treatment, here’s how good nutrition can help you feel better and support your care.
Why Protein and Fluids Matter
Cancer treatment doesn’t just go after tumors. It also affects healthy, fast-dividing cells – like the ones in your gut, mouth, and bone marrow. Your body needs extra protein (up to twice as much as usual) to repair that damage.
Without enough, your body breaks down your muscles for fuel. That can leave you tired and unable to keep up with everyday activities.
“If I lose my muscle mass and I’m weak, I can’t spend time doing the things I want to do,” Brown says. “I can’t go on vacation. I can’t spend time with family and friends. And that quality of life piece is huge for people in the metastatic group.”
But staying nourished isn’t just about what you eat. Fluids matter, too. “If you’re dehydrated, pain feels worse, energy levels drop, and appetite goes down,” Brown says. “And most people are dry and don’t even know it.”
To estimate your daily fluid needs, take your body weight in pounds and divide by 2.2. That’s about how many ounces you’ll need each day. Drink more to replace fluid lost through vomiting or diarrhea.
“Anything caffeine-free can count as fluid,” Brown says. Drinks like protein shakes or smoothies are even better – that’s nutrition plus hydration, she says.
What to Eat – When You Don’t Feel Like Eating
Loss of appetite is common in people with advanced endometrial cancer. Sometimes it’s the treatment. Sometimes it’s the tumor. “If the tumor is pressing on the stomach or intestines, people may feel bloated or full quickly,” Riccardi says. “We call that early satiety.”
Pain meds, fatigue, and taste changes can also make eating harder. Riccardi suggests doing a bit of “detective work” to find out what you can tolerate and what actually sounds good.
Here are some tips:
Eat small, frequent meals. Set alarms if you need to. Try smaller portions on bigger plates to avoid overwhelm.
Pack in nutrition. Add calorie-dense ingredients like nut butters, full-fat dairy, or protein powder to boost each bite.
If you’re nauseated. Skip hot, fragrant meals – odor can trigger nausea. Try cooler, low-smell foods like sandwiches or plain pasta.
If you have diarrhea. Cut back on fiber, sugar, and fat. Try easy-on-the-gut foods like white rice, toast, bananas, or potatoes.
If your mouth hurts. Stick with soft, moist, protein-rich foods like scrambled eggs, yogurt, tofu, or cottage cheese.
If you’re constipated. Hydration, gentle movement, and fiber can help. But too much fiber without enough fluid can make things worse.
If nothing tastes right. Find your “flavor profile.” If you like sour, add lemon. If sweet helps, add jam. If savory works, use broths or sauces. And eating with distractions (like a favorite show or loved one) can help take the pressure of food.
Are Some Foods Bad for Endometrial Cancer?
A high-fat diet or being overweight can raise your risk of getting endometrial cancer. But once you’ve been diagnosed with advanced disease, there’s no strong evidence that avoiding certain foods or losing weight will improve your treatment outcomes or help you live longer.
In fact, cutting out food groups after you’re diagnosed can backfire. “That’s going to limit the variety of foods you’re eating, the nutrients that you’re getting, and it’s likely going to impair your tolerance to treatment,” Riccardi says.
Some foods may worsen treatment side effects like nausea, bloating, or diarrhea – especially when your body’s already under stress. A dietitian can help you decide what to scale back.
But the bigger goal is to get enough nourishment, not to eat perfectly. “If the only thing that sounds good is ice cream, eat the ice cream,” Brown says. “But can we make it a little more nutritious? Add some peanut butter? Toss in some berries?”
A Plant-Based Diet Has Benefits, but It’s OK to Be Flexible
You’ve probably heard about the Mediterranean diet. It emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats like olive oil – foods known to reduce inflammation and support long-term health.
Plant foods are rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants, compounds that protect your cells from damage and help calm chronic inflammation.
“Phytonutrients give plants their colors,” says Courtney McGowan, a registered dietitian at Yale School of Public Health. “Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables that offer different colors will provide the widest variety of nutrients and have the biggest impact.”
But what if you’ve already been diagnosed with metastatic cancer – can the Mediterranean diet help you live longer? “We don’t have data to address that question directly yet,” says epidemiologist Leah Ferrucci, PhD, MPH, assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health.
Most research on endometrial cancer and diet is observational and focuses on prevention or pre-diagnosis eating habits, Ferrucci says. So far, no studies have looked specifically at how following the Mediterranean diet after diagnosis affects survival in people with endometrial cancer.
Still, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth following a plant-forward approach. Eating more plant foods during treatment supports your immune system and provides essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. These nutrients can help your body recover and may ease side effects like fatigue or constipation.
Brown adds that some people can’t stand the smell or texture of meat during treatment. They often find plant proteins easier to tolerate. Good options include tofu, beans, nut butters, or smoothies with leafy greens and plant-based protein powder.
Still, if you’re losing weight or struggling to eat, plant foods can be too filling. Animal proteins like poultry, eggs, full-fat dairy, cottage cheese, or fortified shakes with whey protein offer more concentrated sources of protein and calories in fewer bites.
Can you stay vegan during cancer treatment? “Yes, you can. But it requires careful planning and attention, best accomplished with the help of a dietitian,” Riccardi says.
What About Supplements?
A cancer diagnosis often prompts people to reach for supplements. But unless you have a deficiency, that can be risky. There’s little to no evidence that supplements improve cancer outcomes, and some may interfere with treatment.
“Food-first is always best,” Riccardi says. “You need macronutrients – protein, fat, carbs – for micronutrients like vitamins to even work.”
McGowan agrees. “Unlike supplements that often offer individual nutrients one at a time, the nutrients available through food are grouped together to enhance their absorption and utilization in the body,” she says.
In some cases (like if you have bone loss) your doctor may suggest a calcium supplement. And if you’re not actively in treatment, a multivitamin may be fine. But even then, it’s important to check with your care team first.
McGowan adds that too many supplements can strain your liver, which may already be taxed from cancer treatment. “Always let your doctor know if you are taking or plan to take any supplements,” she says.
Work With a Nutritionist
A dietitian can be a key part of your care team. They’ll help create a personalized eating plan based on your treatment, any surgeries you’ve had, and symptoms you’re dealing with.
Some cancer centers include nutrition support automatically. If yours doesn’t, you can still find help. Visit eatright.org to search for a nutritionist who sees clients in-person or via telehealth. Use the filters to find someone with experience in cancer (oncology) nutrition.
You might be surprised at how big a difference the right guidance can make. Brown remembers one client in particular. The woman was recovering from major cancer surgery and could barely eat or drink. “I can’t live like this,” she told Brown.
With a tailored plan of hydration, small meals, and easy-to-tolerate foods, things turned around. The next time they met, she was smiling, wearing makeup, and talking about playing with her grandkids.
“She told me, ‘My surgeon saved my life, but you fixed me,’” Brown says.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: E+/Getty Images
SOURCES:
Mary-Eve Brown, RD, CSO, LDN, clinical dietitian, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Diane Riccardi, MPH, RD, LDN, clinical dietitian, Moffitt Cancer Center.
Courtney McGowan, MS, RD, CSO, CNSC, oncology research registered dietitian, Yale School of Public Health.
Leah M. Ferrucci, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of epidemiology (chronic diseases), Yale School of Public Health.
Moffitt Cancer Center: “Foods That Fight Uterine Cancer.”
The Royal Women’s Hospital: “A Guide To Healthy Eating and Being Active.”
MD Anderson Cancer Center: “6 easy protein sources for cancer patients.”
