The lymph nodes located along the vessels of the lymphatic system filter fluid and store white blood cells. Cancer can spread to different areas of your body through the bloodstream or through your lymph nodes. When lymph node involvement occurs, cancerous cells are more likely to invade other body organs and the cancer may become more serious and severe. The healthier your diet is in the early stages of cancer, the better your chance for minimizing the risk of lymph node involvement.
Cancer, Lymph Nodes and Diet
The lymph nodes are rounded cell masses surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. You have clusters of lymph nodes in your neck, under the arms and in the groin, chest and abdominal area. Different cancers including metastasizing breast cancer are associated with lymph node involvement. According to the Cancer Project website, diet plays a role in cancer progression and the more fat in the diet the shorter the survival rate of cancer. Your dietary needs may vary depending on the stage of your cancer and its treatment but the American Cancer Society emphasizes making healthy dietary changes to help you in the fight to survive the disease.
Fruits and Vegetables
A diet high in daily servings of fruits and vegetables increases your intake of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants are substances that neutralize toxic free radical molecules that promote the spread of cancerous cells. Produce is high in vitamins A and C, which keep your immune system working hard to fight disease, and these foods help you maintain adequate calcium and iron for bone and blood health. Choose leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, mango, citrus and squash varieties to add to your meals. Snack on fresh fruits throughout the day and eat steamed vegetables as a side dish or raw produce in a salad.
Whole Grains, Beans and Fiber
Fiber protects you from cancer by nourishing the healthy bacteria in your colon, which is important for fighting disease. Whole grains and beans are nutrient-rich foods high in fiber. Wheat bread, bran cereal and brown rice are soft foods you can eat during cancer treatment that will not irritate your esophagus if you have swollen neck lymph nodes. These foods may also help prevent inflammation you experience as a symptom of cancer.
Additional Dietary Tips
Replace foods high in saturated fat with lean proteins from fish, baked poultry, soy or nuts. Protein is essential in a healthy diet because it helps keep your muscles strong and repairs tissue to keep your immune system strong. Consume several small meals throughout the day to keep your strength and energy level up but also to prevent excess weight loss, which may result from treatment. Talk to your physician about specific diets if you have serious lymph node involvement that suppresses your appetite or makes eating difficult. Avoid processed and refined foods, which may have additives that promote the spread of cancer.
References
- Cancer Treatment Centers of America: Lymph Nodes
- BreastCancer.org; Lymph Node Involvement; April 16, 2011
- The Cancer Project: Cancer Prevention and Survival
- American Cancer Society: Nutrition for the Person With Cancer During Treatment
- American Institute for Cancer Research: Phytochemicals; The Cancer Fighters in the Foods We Eat
- Cancer Nutrition Center; Fighting Cancer With a Fork; Carolyn Katzin
