Stages of Home-Care

At-Home Self-Care for Different Stages of Cancer Recovery

In addition to active medical treatments, at-home self-care plays a crucial role in a cancer patient’s recovery journey. Proper self-care can help speed up the recovery from the side effects of conventional therapies, enhance the immune system, reduce the risk of recurrence, and improve survival rates. More importantly, it often allows patients to regain their quality of life and rediscover the joys of daily living.

Since each person’s constitution, condition, and treatment journey is unique, it is essential to adjust self-care practices according to your specific situation. When possible, consult a licensed TCM practitioner for personalized guidance.

Dietary Recommendations

1. Post-Surgery Dietary Support: Focus on Qi Tonification

After surgery, the diet should focus on tonifying Qi, supplemented by clearing heat and dampness, regulating Qi, and promoting bowel movements.

This phase of dietary support should be tailored to factors such as the type of surgery, location and size of the incision, and healing progress. It is recommended to seek help from a registered TCM practitioner for appropriate adjustments.

  • While in the hospital, consult a clinical nutritionist whenever possible.
  • When the condition allows, consider consuming essence of chicken, chicken broth, or slow-cooked herbal soupsto help rebuild vitality and stimulate appetite.

2. Dietary Support During Chemotherapy: Focus on Nourishment and Appetite

During chemotherapy, the goal is to maintain a nutrient-rich diet and stimulate appetite.

Recommended foods may include:

  • Tomato, hawthorn, astragalus, cordyceps, royal jelly, black fungus, cilantro

Avoid:

  • Fishy or strongly flavored foods that may trigger nausea

For patients with lymphoma or leukemia, consider:

  • Qi- and blood-nourishing, marrow-strengthening foods such as:
    Apples, oranges, monk fruit, red dates, milk, eggs, spinach, walnuts

For lung, stomach, liver, intestinal, cervical, and ovarian cancers, consider:

  • Foods that nourish the liver and kidneys, and regulate the spleen and stomach, including:
    Oranges, finger citron, coconut, pomegranate, hawthorn, black fungus, mushrooms, adzuki beans, black pepper, fresh ginger, honey, carrots, tomatoes, purslane, sunflower seeds

3. Dietary Guidance During Radiotherapy: Moisturising, Cooling, and Hydrating Foods

During radiotherapy, patients are encouraged to eat foods that are light, moistening, mildly sweet, and help generate body fluids.

General recommendations:

  • Water chestnut, water caltrop, Asian pear, fresh lotus root, lotus seeds, winter melon, watermelon, mung beans, shiitake mushrooms, white fungus (tremella)

Avoid:

  • Spicy, aromatic, fried foods, and all forms of tobacco and alcohol

Specific tumor-related dietary suggestions:

  • Head tumors:
    Focus on nourishing Yin, supporting the brain, calming the mind
    → Walnuts, chestnuts, peanuts, green tea, mulberries, pomegranate, mango, ginseng fruit, jackfruit, red dates, sour jujube, kelp

  • Head, face, and neck tumors:
    Emphasize Yin-nourishing, fluid-generating, and fire-clearing foods
    → Asian pear, orange, apple, watermelon, water caltrop, lotus root, pomelo, lemon, bitter melon, honey, green tea, water bamboo shoots, Chinese cabbage

  • Chest tumors:
    Focus on moistening the lungs, relieving cough, and resolving phlegm
    → Winter melon, watermelon, loofah, orange, white pear, lotus root, arrowhead, Chinese yam, perilla seeds, carrot, loquat fruit, apricot

  • Abdominal tumors:
    Emphasize strengthening the spleen and stomach, nourishing blood, and tonifying Qi
    → Mandarin orange, Chinese bayberry, cilantro, hawthorn, coix seed porridge, fresh ginger

  • Urinary and reproductive system tumors:
    Use foods that nourish Yin, clear heat, and support liver health
    → Goji berries, figs, watermelon, bitter melon, sunflower seeds, milk, eggs, Sichuan pepper, fennel, cilantro

4. Dietary Support During the Post-Treatment Surveillance Phase

In the observation/recovery phase, dietary habits should focus on balanced nutrition and moderate intake.

General precautions:

  • During warm/heat-related illnesses: Avoid spicy and heating foods
  • During cold-type illnesses: Avoid raw, cold foods and fruits
  • For patients with skin boils or carbuncles: Avoid seafood and “stimulating” foods (commonly referred to in TCM as “fa wu”)
  • For tuberculosis (phthisis) patients: Avoid spicy food
  • For edema: Minimize salt intake
  • For jaundice and chronic diarrhea: Avoid greasy, fatty foods

How to Prevent Cancer Recurrence – Reducing Carcinogenic Risk Factors

Common Risk Factors to Avoid:

  • Smoking (accounts for ~22% of cancer-related deaths)
  • Obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol consumption
  • Exposure to ionizing radiation and environmental pollutants
  • Overconsumption of smoked, grilled, pickled, or expired foods
  • Chronic sleep deprivation
  • Multiple sexual partners (linked to certain virus-related cancers)
  • Excessive intake of sugar, red meat, and very hot soups
  • Overexposure to sunlight (UV radiation)
  • Infection with certain viruses, bacteria, or fungi
  • Chronic stress and emotional suppression

The Overlooked Role of Chronic Inflammation

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a silent contributor to cancer risk. Address symptoms early:

  • Persistent rashes, skin itching
  • Hay fever, chronic rhinitis
  • Frequent diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation
  • Arthritis, tightness or pain in the shoulders, back, or lower back
  • Recurrent bladder or urinary tract infections
  • Chronic headaches or insomnia
  • Abdominal fat accumulation, overweight or obesity

Home-Based Health Care – Diet

Foods and Habits to Avoid:

  • Pro-inflammatory diets, especially high-sugar intake and overeating
  • Cold and iced foods that may impair digestive function
  • Smoked, grilled, pickled, or expired foods

Reduce Consumption Of:

  • Refined sugars and high-sugar fruits
  • Fried foods, processed foods, and sugary beverages
  • Frequent eating out

Home-Based Health Care – Lifestyle

Avoid Habits That May Trigger Chronic Inflammation:

  • Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
  • Poor oral hygiene and irregular bowel habits
  • Sleep deprivation, chronic stress, emotional suppression, or perfectionism
  • Prolonged use of smartphones and computers

Strengthen Your Body’s Natural Healing Abilities:

  • Regular physical activity
  • Stretching exercises
  • Balanced and anti-inflammatory diet

Home-Based Health Care – Exercise Options

  • Climbing stairs
  • Ping Shuai Gong (Arm Swing Exercise)
  • Tai Chi
  • Qigong
  • Yoga
  • Jogging
  • Brisk walking

Home-Based Health Care – Self-Treatment Methods

  • Origin Point Therapy (manual pressing along pain-related regions)
  • Heat therapy (warm compresses)
  • Ginger tea
  • Pressing or massaging Origin Points
  • Gua Sha (scraping) and cupping therapy
  • Stretching exercises
  • Chang Sheng Xue (Life Energy Learning) – a traditional self-cultivation healing practice