Mesothelioma Diet & Nutrition

Why Are Diet and Nutrition Important for Mesothelioma Patients?

Diet and nutrition can help strengthen the immune system, counter some of the effects of cancer and maintain energy levels. Consuming more proteins, for example, may help restore tissue mesothelioma damages. 

Top Mesothelioma Diet Tips

1. Eat 5-6 small meals or snacks every 2 or 3 hours instead of 3 large meals daily.
2. Choose nutrient-dense foods that are easy to eat. These can include: eggs, fruit, full-fat Greek yogurt, protein powder smoothies, salmon and whole milk.
3. If cooking smells bother you, avoid kitchens and try colder foods such as sandwiches.
4. Experiment with different foods if you have taste changes to help you find more palatable ones.
5. Try a mouthwash of 1 quart water, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda to clear taste buds and relieve dry mouth.
6. Eating at routine times can help keep your energy levels up and prevent malnutrition.
7. Stay hydrated with water, milk, soups and 100% fruit and vegetable juices.

Not only does what you eat matter when managing mesothelioma, but when you eat can also make a difference. Eating smaller portions throughout the day can help you get the nutrients you need without feeling too full or overwhelmed. It’s easy to forget to eat when you’re not feeling well. Setting a timer to remind you to eat a little something every 3 hours can help.

Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce complications from treatment. Certain foods can also help reduce treatment side effects like nausea or mouth sores. Before dietary changes are made, consult your mesothelioma doctor.

How Does Nutrition Affect Mesothelioma Treatment?

A healthy, balanced diet can help you respond better to treatment and reduce its side effects. For example, omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil may help reduce inflammation and improve heart health. This effect can benefit people with a higher risk for heart problems.

People with mesothelioma should consume a balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. Mesothelioma survivors may also be directed to limit whole grains or avoid other types of food during and while recovering from treatment. 

A common dietary concern for people with mesothelioma is eating too few calories, which are essential to aid recovery, support immunity and fight fatigue. It’s important to keep your energy levels up and give your body the nutrients it needs to heal. 

Understanding Nutrition During Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma treatment can affect your ability to eat as you usually do. Alterations to your diet and eating habits can help you cope with treatment and its side effects. Taking proactive measures to meet nutritional needs for each type of treatment can help.

Diet and Mesothelioma Treatment

• Chemotherapy: Liquid or soft foods can reduce chewing if mouth sores develop. Avoiding icy or frozen foods can help with cisplatin-induced cold sensitivity. Chemotherapy can change how food tastes. Eating with plastic utensils can help if food tastes metallic.
• Immunotherapy: Toast, oatmeal, broth and baked or broiled proteins such as chicken or tofu are often recommended for patients experiencing immunotherapy side effects such as nausea. Side effects require immediate attention from your oncologist.
• Pain medications: Certain drugs can decrease appetite, cause nausea and contribute to constipation. Increasing dietary fiber and water can help lessen constipation. Always drink plenty of water when increasing fiber. Without adequate fluids, constipation may worsen.
• Radiation therapy: Receiving radiation therapy around the chest can impact swallowing. While rare for peritoneal mesothelioma patients to receive radiation around the abdomen, this can cause digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, cramps, bloating and diarrhea.
• Surgery: Some people may need to gain weight before surgery. A healthy weight before mesothelioma surgery can improve wound healing, reduce infection risk and aid recovery. Proper nutrition after your surgery will also replace blood loss and increase your energy level.

Some aspects of treatment may affect how you get nutrition. For example, abdominal surgeries can complicate eating and digestion. Some peritoneal mesothelioma patients may receive nutrition intravenously shortly after abdominal surgery.

Foods to Aid Recovery After Mesothelioma Treatment

Some foods contain nutrients that may support recovery after mesothelioma treatment. Speak with your doctor about which foods or nutrients they recommend you add to your current diet.

Foods Aiding in Recovery

• Fiber-rich foods: Vegetables, fruit, beans, potatoes and nuts can balance insulin levels, possibly minimizing cancer cell growth.
• Natural sources of coenzyme Q: The nutrient in beef, chicken, pork, trout, herring, sardines, soybeans, lentils and peanuts may protect the heart from chemo damage.
• Omega-3 fats in fish: May reduce harmful weight loss and inhibit metastasis.
• Spices: Turmeric, basil, oregano, rosemary, mint, dill and others may have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Tea: Green tea is rich in antioxidants. Chamomile, ginger, mint and hibiscus may have anti-cancer properties. Essiac tea and moringa leaf are antioxidant-rich and may have limited anti-cancer actions in the body, but more research is needed to assess potential benefits.

While antioxidants are generally considered part of a healthy diet, they neutralize free radicals. Many chemo drugs use free radicals to attack cancer cells. Chemo patients may be advised to avoid foods high in antioxidants. Speak to your doctor about possible interactions.

Foods to Avoid During and After Mesothelioma Treatment

You may want to avoid certain foods or nutrients that could worsen side effects or weaken your immune system. Foods that are difficult to digest can exacerbate mesothelioma-related or treatment-related digestive problems.

Foods to Avoid With Mesothelioma

• Alcohol: Limiting or eliminating alcohol consumption is advisable as it can harm cells and DNA, possibly interfering with medications.
• Irritating Foods: Acidic, sour and spicy foods can irritate chemotherapy-related mouth sores.
• Processed meats: Cured bacon, sausage, hot dogs and other processed meats can contribute to inflammation.
• Salty Foods: Snacks high in sodium lead to fluid retention that may worsen shortness of breath.
• Sugary Foods: Sweets are often low in nutrients. Excess sugar may contribute to inflammation and reduced immune function.

Some foods, such as grapefruits, can negatively interact with chemo and other mesothelioma drugs. Your doctor will tell you about specific foods that may interact with your medications.

Dietary Supplements for Mesothelioma Patients

Before taking any dietary supplements, it’s important to note that nutritional and herbal supplements usually are less well-researched than mainstream medications. This makes it even harder to predict what problems they may cause when combined with chemo. 

Discuss any supplements you’re considering with your mesothelioma care team before taking them. They can provide guidance on what’s safe to take. They’ll also tell you which ones to avoid during mesothelioma treatment.

Top Supplements for Mesothelioma Patients

• Amino acids
• Beta-carotene
• Minerals like calcium, magnesium, selenium and zinc
• Protein supplements
• Vitamins A, B9 (folic acid), B12, D and E

Dietary supplements can interact with cancer drugs. These interactions may make them less effective or cause harmful side effects. High levels of vitamin C or E can interfere with radiotherapy. St. John’s wort, ginseng and garlic supplements may also interfere with chemo drugs.

Even traditional supplements doctors may recommend can have harmful interactions with mesothelioma therapy. Mesothelioma survivors on chemo are often prescribed folic acid and B12 supplements to reduce toxic side effects but, vitamin B6 supplements can interact negatively with cisplatin.

Meal Planning for Your Mesothelioma Diet

Meal planning can alleviate the stress associated with food shopping. Meal prepping will also make crafting and following your mesothelioma diet easier.

As a caregiver, stock up on your loved one’s favorite foods when food shopping. Buy items essential for meeting their nutritional needs. This can reduce the need to shop often. 

Planning Healthy Portions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture retired the Food Guide Pyramid years ago and replaced it with My Plate. However, My Plate isn’t designed for people with cancer, so the Harvard School of Public Health created the Healthy Eating Plate. It’s a better starting place for developing a diet for people with mesothelioma.

The effects of cancer and treatment can make it challenging to eat. Mesothelioma survivors also have specific nutritional needs. You’ll need to adjust the Healthy Eating Plate guidelines during cancer therapy to find the best mesothelioma diet for you. 

Replace green vegetables, salads and other lower-calorie foods with starchy vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes. For most people with mesothelioma, it’s helpful to increase the protein portion of the plate and decrease whole grains a bit. Sometimes, you may need to add a high-protein, high-calorie liquid nutrition supplement.

Tips to Get More from Your Meals

Eating enough and getting proper nutrition can be challenging if you have mesothelioma. Patients may have difficulty eating and require additional nutrients to maintain their weight and strength.

Tips for Getting Proper Nutrition

• Drink liquids after meals or as snacks, not before or during mealtime. Liquid can fill you up before you have the chance to consume the whole, nutrient-dense foods on your plate.
• Eat multiple small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large ones.
• Include a portion of protein such as poultry, fish, eggs, beans or peanut butter at each meal.
• Juice fresh fruits and vegetables to obtain their nutrients without filling up.
• Snack whenever you’re hungry, even if it’s not mealtime. Enjoy foods that appeal to you at the time.
• Eat your favorite foods any time of day. For example, if you love breakfast foods, enjoy them for lunch or dinner if you’ll enjoy the meal more.

If you don’t own a juicer, you can create a juice with a blender and cheesecloth. Blend fruit or vegetables with filtered water, then strain with a cheesecloth available at most grocery stores.

Try to create a joyful or relaxing setting, enjoying food with friends or family. This may reduce stress around eating and lead to more enjoyment while consuming the foods you need.

Tips for Adding More Protein to Your Diet

People with mesothelioma may struggle to maintain their muscle mass and strength. Eating protein-rich foods regularly is important to maintaining muscle and fighting fatigue. 

Protein examples include: tofu, tempeh, spinach, beans, nuts, Greek yogurt, cheese, eggs, fish, poultry and lean red meat. Try to eat more of these foods if you’ve lost weight or strength.

Tips for Eating More Protein

• Blend nut butter and protein powder into smoothies and milkshakes.
• Add cheese to omelets, sandwiches, soups, salads and casseroles.
• Silken tofu or powdered milk can be added to smoothies, milkshakes, soups and mashed potatoes. 
• Add cooked tofu, tempeh, beans or meats to omelets, soups and salads.

Snacks between meals can include protein like nut butter, roasted nuts,  cheese or sliced meats. Desserts made with eggs such as cheesecake, custard and pudding can increase protein consumption.

Tips for Adding More Calories to Meals

Maintaining a healthy weight as a result of mesothelioma treatment-related side effects can be a struggle. Adding extra calories to meals can be challenging, but you must get the necessary nutrients to help your body fight cancer.

Tips for Increasing Calories

• Add avocado to sandwiches and salads. Eat guacamole with tortilla chips.
• Add Greek yogurt, heavy cream or sour cream to dessert recipes, sauces and soups.
• Avoid foods labeled as low-fat, nonfat and low-calorie.
• Cook with butter and oil and add them to meals when possible, including high-calorie dressings.
• Drink high-calorie beverages like milkshakes with added ice cream or fruit nectars.
• Smear cream cheese onto bagels, sandwiches or crackers.
• Top vegetables with creamy or cheesy sauces.

Maintaining weight and muscle mass helps the body handle the aggressive nature of anticancer therapies. Preparing meals in advance and freezing them into meal-sized portions that are easy to heat can make this less challenging. Talk with a dietitian for assistance with meal planning or preparing a grocery list.

Food Safety and Mesothelioma

For people receiving mesothelioma treatment, food safety is very important. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services highlights 4 key steps to keep food safe: clean, separate, cook and chill.

Food Safety Tips

1. Clean: When washing fruits and vegetables, don’t use soap, detergents or commercial produce washes. Rinse them well under running water. Always wash your hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling food.
2. Separate: To avoid spreading bacteria, always use a clean knife when cutting different foods, especially raw meats. Clean countertops and cutting boards with hot, soapy water or food-safe wipes. Store raw meat sealed and separated from other foods in the fridge or freezer.
3. Cook: Cook meats to the proper temperature to avoid eating raw or undercooked meat. Keep hot foods above 140°F and cold foods below 40°F to prevent bacterial growth.
4. Chill: Refrigerate or freeze perishable foods quickly. Once thawed, use food right away and don’t refreeze it.

Treatments like chemo and radiation often weaken the immune system, making it harder to fight foodborne bacteria, parasites and harmful germs. Following these food safety steps helps protect you during treatment.

Avoiding Food-Borne Illnesses

Foodborne illnesses, often called “food poisoning,” can cause serious health problems. To prevent getting sick from food, people with mesothelioma should avoid raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood and eggs. Unpasteurized or raw milk and cheeses should also be avoided.

Food Poisoning Side Effects

• Abdominal cramps
• Dehydration
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Fever
• Flu-like illness
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Weakness

It’s important to stay informed about food recalls and outbreaks of food-related illnesses. Avoid eating or touching any foods suspected of contamination.

For example, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a recall for 32,000 pounds of meat in August 2025 that bore a false USDA mark of inspection. The meat included chorizo, pork chops and ribs shipped to restaurants and stores across the country. The agency noted in its statement, “Any product bearing the false establishment number ‘Est. 1785’ should be considered misbranded and unsafe to eat.”

Common Questions About Nutrition & Mesothelioma

What is the best diet for mesothelioma patients?

Mesothelioma doctors recommend patients eat foods rich in nutrients such as eggs, fruit and salmon. They also recommend a diet high in protein with starchy vegetables and plenty of water to counter the effects of mesothelioma treatment.

Can a registered dietician help me develop a personalized nutrition plan?

A registered dietitian can assess your nutritional needs and help you develop a personalized mesothelioma nutrition plan. They’ll base a program on your needs, preferences and health status. A registered dietitian can also help you navigate any dietary restrictions or challenges that may arise during your mesothelioma treatment.

Can certain foods or drinks interfere with my medications or treatments?

Yes, some foods may interact with chemo drugs, which can impact their effectiveness or cause side effects. Supplements may also interfere with cancer treatments. A registered dietitian can guide you on potential interactions. Discuss any supplements or dietary changes with your health care team.

Can you cure mesothelioma with diet?

No mesothelioma cure exists yet, but a healthy diet can offset the adverse effects of cancer therapy and improve your treatment outcome. Eating the right foods can make your treatment recovery more manageable.

What diet helps prevent mesothelioma?

Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. While a healthy diet may not be able to counteract all of the risks from heavy, prolonged asbestos exposure, it can improve overall health and strengthen the body’s defenses. 

Does mesothelioma cause weight loss?

Unexplained weight loss is one of the signs of advanced mesothelioma. Lack of appetite or persistent nausea, which are symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, can also cause weight loss.

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