Eating Right with Neuroendocrine Tumors

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Proper nutrition helps support cancer treatment goals for improving outcomes, improving quality of life, and minimizing nutrition-related side effects.³² What, when, and how you eat can help ease burdensome symptoms associated with neuroendocrine cancer.

Diet choices for neuroendocrine tumors

Diet is important for those with neuroendocrine tumors. Fifty-eight percent of NET patients say they had to make dietary changes as a result of their disease.² As a rule of thumb, choose foods and drinks that are gentle on your digestive system.

What to avoid eating if you have NET symptoms

To reduce the frequency and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms, try to reduce or cut out irritating food. If you’re experiencing digestive problems, avoid eating foods that are:

High fiber (insoluble fiber)
High amine
High fat
High sugar
High salt
High heat/hot spices (capsaicin)
High alcohol content
High in caffeine
Highly carbonated beverages
Highly processed foods

Talk to your doctor about your diet. Maybe even ask for a referral to see a registered dietitian who is well versed in nutrition for neuroendocrine tumor patients.

When and how to eat to help manage symptoms

Minor adjustments in when and how you eat can also help alleviate diarrhea for those with neuroendocrine tumors.
Eat small, frequent meals.
Don’t drink while you are eating. Drink 30-45 minutes before a meal.
Consume six to eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day. Spread fluid out during the day, taking regular sips of water. When you have diarrhea, drink no more than 4 ounces at a time.
Freeze food items right away. Dispose of aged, expired items. Throw out leftovers after 48 hours.
Pay close attention to food safety to avoid food-borne illness.

What foods to eat when you have a neuroendocrine tumor

Work with your doctor, dietitian, and treatment team on a personalized nutritional plan to support your health. Your medical history and any co-occurring conditions will drive your daily food choices. Some of the foods choices others have found helpful are included in the below chart.³⁷

	Eat This	Avoid This
Vegetables & Fruit	Peeled, cooked vegetables potatoes squash carrots parsnips zucchini summer squash turnip	Tomato and tomato products
	Cooked vegetables asparagus string beans peas shallots onions green onions red bell pepper	Corn cruciferous vegetables Broccoli cauliflower cabbage Brussel sprouts
	Raw vegetables Leafy greens celery (with ribbing peeled) cucumber (peeled and seedless)	Raw onions Pickled vegetables
	Peeled fruits apple pear peach nectarine mango papaya	Dried fruit Canned fruit in heavy syrup
	Blueberries Strawberries Grapes Cantalope/Honeydew Melons	Pineapple Overripe Bananas Watermelon
Grains	Oatmeal White rice White Bread Quinoa	Wheat Dried beans Red Black pinto
Dairy	Lactose free if lactose intolerant (rice or almond milk) Low-fat	Aged Cheese
Protein	Skinless chicken Fresh fish, seafood Eggs, egg substitute Lean meats	Bacon, processed meats (luncheon meats) Fatty fish Nuts Smoked meats
Fats and Oils	Unsaturated fats canola Safflower Sunflower	Saturated fats Butter Shortening Coconut oil Fried foods Chips Pastries Avocado
Beverages	Water, flavored water Diluted sports drinks Diluted fruit drinks	Caffinated Beverages like coffee and tea Alcoholic beverages Fruit juice

Leigh Ann Burns, Louisiana State University, MS, RD, LDN

Nutrition for neuroendocrine cancer patients. Watch Video

Greta Macaire, MA, RD, CSO, University of California, San Francisco

Eating for health with NETs. Watch Video

Luz Chavez, RD, University of Chicago

Neuroendocrine for NETs Watch Video

Berkeley Limketkai, MD, Stanford University

Eating for Diarrhea Management Watch Video

²Singh S, Granberg D, Wolin E, et al. Patient-reported burden of a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) diagnosis: results from the first global survey of patients with NETs. J Glob Oncol. 2016;2(1):43-53.

³²National Cancer Institute. Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. https://www.cancer.gov/types/pheochromocytoma/hp/pheochromocytoma-treatment-pdq Accessed October 9, 2018.

³⁷Find Food You Love. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, In. 2017. https://www.foodyoulovebook.com/ Accessed October 31, 2018.