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- Lowered immunity
Lowered immunity
Cancer and some treatments (such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants) can reduce your white blood cell level, making it harder for your body to fight infections. If this happens, you will need to take care preparing and storing food because you are more likely to get foodborne illnesses.
General precautions
- Wash your hands and knives, cutting boards and food preparation areas thoroughly with hot soapy water before and after cooking.
- Take extra care when eating out. Where possible, ask for meals to be made fresh and avoid pre-prepared foods that have been sitting for unknown periods of time.
Make safer food choices
Food type | Safe action | Precautions to take |
chicken |
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meat |
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seafood |
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cold meats |
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sandwiches |
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salad, fruit and vegetables |
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eggs |
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cheese and other dairy products |
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packaged food |
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ice-cream |
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→ READ MORE: Managing loss of appetite
Video: How to eat well after a cancer diagnosis
Podcast: Appetite Loss and Nausea
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
All updated content has been clinically reviewed by Emma Vale, Senior Dietitian, GenesisCare, SA. This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: Jacqueline Baker, Senior Oncology Dietitian, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Lauren Atkins, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, OnCore Nutrition, VIC; Dr Tsien Fua, Head and Neck Radiation Oncology Specialist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Rosemerry Hodgkin, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Clare Hughes, Manager, Nutrition Unit, Cancer Council NSW; John Spurr, Consumer; Emma Vale (see above); David Wood, Consumer.
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