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Eating a variety of fruits during and after cancer treatment can be beneficial. Bananas, strawberries, and apples are among some of the fruits that can help relieve symptoms.

Your diet can affect your risk of developing cancer. Similarly, filling up on healthy foods is important if you are being treated for or recovering from cancer.

Certain foods, including fruits, contain health-promoting compounds that may slow tumor growth and reduce certain side effects of treatment to help ease your road to recovery.

But it’s important to remember that cancer treatments may compromise your immune system, so have caution and always wash your raw fruits and vegetables.

Here are the 12 best fruits to eat during and after cancer treatment.

Fruit choices for those with cancer 

When being treated for or recovering from cancer, your food choices are incredibly important.

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can cause many side effects, which can be either worsened or improved by what you eat and drink.

Common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation include:

• fatigue
• anemia
• nausea
• vomiting
• changes in appetite
• diarrhea
• constipation
• painful swallowing
• dry mouth
• mouth sores
• impaired focus
• mood changes

Eating nutritious foods, including fruits, helps supply your body with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants throughout your cancer treatment.

However, it’s important to tailor your fruit choices to your specific symptoms.

For example, puréed fruits or fruit smoothies are a good option if you have difficulty swallowing, while fruits rich in fiber can help if you’re experiencing constipation.

You may also want to avoid certain fruits based on your symptoms. Citrus fruits, for example, may irritate mouth sores and worsen dry mouth.

Whole fruits like apples, apricots, and pears are hard for some people with cancer to eat due to:

• mouth sores
• difficulty swallowing
• dry mouth
• nausea

Also, remember to exercise caution when consuming raw fruits, as many cancer patients are immunocompromised. The American Cancer Society recommends washing and lightly scrubbing any raw fruits or vegetables under running water.

Lastly, you can opt for organic fruits for decreased pesticides.

Some foods can either worsen or improve certain side effects of cancer treatments. It’s best to tailor your fruit choices to your specific symptoms.

1. Blueberries

Blueberries are a nutritional powerhouse. In each serving, blueberries pack plenty of:

• fiber
• vitamin C
• manganese

According to the Obesity Medicine Association, they’re also rich in antioxidants and are one of many fruits thought to be beneficial in cancer protection.

A 2021 review of blueberries found studies on adults and schoolchildren supporting their benefits for brain:

• protection
• health
• function

But a limitation is that the studies included in the review did not specifically test people undergoing cancer treatment.

It’s important to keep the brain functioning as much as possible by eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Blueberries may be beneficial in cancer protection and brain health.

2. Oranges

Oranges are a common type of citrus fruit, favored for their:

• sweet taste
• vibrant color
• nutrient profile

Just one orange can meet and exceed your daily needs for vitamin C, all while supplying other important nutrients like:

• thiamine
• folate
• potassium

According to a 2024 study from New Zealand, ascorbate, another term for vitamin C, levels are low in patients with metastatic melanoma receiving immunotherapy and those being treated with chemotherapy. This suggests that cancer patients may want to supplement or increase their intake of dietary vitamin C to boost immune health.

Research from a 2019 study suggests that vitamin C may also be therapeutic against certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer.

Vitamin C from oranges can also boost the absorption of iron from foods. This helps protect against anemia, a common side effect of cancer therapies.

Oranges are a great source of vitamin C, which can help strengthen your immune function, act as a therapeutic against breast cancer, and increase iron absorption.

3. Bananas

Bananas can be a great dietary addition for those recovering from cancer.

Raw bananas are an easy-to-tolerate food for those with swallowing difficulties and a good source of many important nutrients, including:

• vitamin B6
• manganese
• vitamin C

Additionally, bananas contain a type of fiber called pectin, which can be especially beneficial for those experiencing diarrhea or constipation caused by cancer treatments.

Because bananas are rich in potassium. They can also help replenish electrolytes lost through diarrhea or vomiting.

Furthermore, a 2022 review of animal and human studies found an association between the anticancer properties of pectin and the prevention or treatment of:

• breast cancer
• colon cancer
• gastric cancer
• pancreatic cancer
• hepatocellular cancer
• bladder cancer
• prostate cancer
• ovarian cancer
• leukemia
• myeloma
• skin cancer
• brain cancer
• lung cancer

That said, more research is needed to determine whether the pectin found in bananas could slow cancer cell growth in humans.

Bananas contain pectin, which has anti-diarrhea, anti-constipation, and anticancer properties against several forms of cancer.

4. Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a nutritious fruit loaded with:

• antioxidants
• vitamins
• minerals

In addition to providing a hearty dose of vitamin C, provitamin A, and potassium, raw grapefruit is rich in beneficial compounds like lycopene.

Lycopene is a carotenoid with potent anticancer properties. Some research performed on mice suggests that it may reduce certain negative side effects of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.

A 2021 review of citrus fruit and citrus juices suggests they benefit blood-brain barrier function and integrity, which may, in turn, help chemo brain. More human research, however, is needed to make these claims.

Grapefruit might interfere with certain medications, so it’s best to talk with your doctor before adding it to your diet.

Grapefruit is rich in antioxidants like lycopene, which has anticancer properties and may reduce some side effects of cancer treatments. Lycopene has also been shown to positively effect brain health, which may ease chemo brain.

5. Apples

Each 100 g serving of a gala apple is rich in fiber and potassium — both of which can benefit cancer recovery.

Both the soluble and insoluble fiber found in apples can:

• promote regularity
• ease digestion
• increase satiety

Potassium affects your fluid balance and can help prevent sodium retention, a common side effect of some types of chemotherapy.

An alternative for those with swallowing difficulties is applesauce. And for decreased pesticides, opt for organic apples.

Apples are high in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. They can help promote regularity, reduce fluid retention, and support immune health.

6. Lemons

Lemons deliver a burst of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in every serving. They can be added to water for even more vitamin C.

Raw lemons are especially high in vitamin C but also contain some:

• potassium
• iron
• vitamin B6

A 2022 study in mice found that an herbal blend of lemon and ginger was associated with anticancer effects and decreased the size of tumors.

According to a 2023 human study, inhaling lemon essential oil may also enhance:

• brain activation
• mood
• memory function
• concentration

This enhanced cognitive function may also help alleviate chemo brain, though the study didn’t look specifically at this.

While more research is needed to confirm the effect of lemons and cancer treatment, enjoying lemons in your favorite drinks or desserts as part of a well-balanced diet could be beneficial.

Lemons have been shown to decrease the size of tumors in animal studies. Lemons also contain compounds that may boost your mood and, by association, reduce chemo brain.

7. Pomegranates

Pomegranates are nutritious and brimming with health benefits, making them a great addition to any diet.

Like other fruits, raw pomegranates are high in vitamin C and fiber but also pack plenty of:

• vitamin K
• folate
• potassium

Plus, some research from a 2023 review has found that consuming pomegranates, pomegranate juice, or pomegranate extract may be related to improved:

• working memory
• delayed memory
• immediate memory

This may help those affected by impairments in focus or concentration caused by chemotherapy.

Past studies in this review have also found that pomegranate has anticancer properties.

What’s more, studies have found that pomegranates may help reduce joint pain, another common side effect of cancer treatments like chemotherapy.

Pomegranates may help improve memory and reduce joint pain, both of which are common side effects of cancer treatments.

8. Mulberries

Mulberries are a type of colorful fruit from the same family as figs and breadfruit.

They have been used to treat cancer in many traditional forms of medication, and emerging research has begun to confirm their potential cancer-fighting effects.

Mulberries are one of the few fruits rich in both vitamin C and iron, which may help protect against anemia caused by cancer treatments.

They’re also high in a type of plant fiber known as lignin. Lignins have been associated with health benefits and protect against cardiovascular disease and hormone-dependent tumors in some studies.

Additional studies are needed to evaluate if eating mulberries in normal amounts may be beneficial during and after cancer treatment.

Mulberries are high in vitamin C and iron, which can help reduce the risk of anemia. They also contain lignin, which may have health benefits and anticancer properties.

9. Pears

Pears are highly nutritious, supplying a wealth of:

• fiber
• potassium
• vitamin C
• vitamin K

Like bananas, the potassium content in pears can help restore electrolytes lost from diarrhea during cancer treatment. And similar to apples, they can also help maintain fluid levels.

Pears may also contain powerful cancer-fighting compounds. A 2021 review found that flavonoids and triterpenoids, both of which pears contain, may have anticancer and anti-tumor effects.

Pears are rich in potassium, flavinoids, and triterpenoids, which are associated with reduced cancer growth.

10. Strawberries

Strawberries are rich in:

• vitamin C
• phosphorus
• potassium

In addition to boasting an impressive nutrient profile, strawberries may offer several benefits specific to cancer recovery.

Ripe strawberries are also soft, making them suitable for those with mild swallowing difficulties.

Strawberries contain anthocyanin, which is a potent anticancer antioxidant.

Studies have also found that strawberries may be:

• anti-inflammatory
• anti-microbial
• chemopreventive

Chemopreventive means that strawberries may help prevent cancer from coming back.

A 2022 review included animal studies that found an association between strawberry consumption in combination with other treatments had a tumor-shrinking effect on esophageal cancer.

That said, more high quality studies are needed to determine if strawberries exhibit anticancer effects in humans when eaten as part of a healthy diet.

Strawberries are rich in antioxidants and may help decrease cancer cell growth. Ripe berries are also soft, making them a good choice for those with mild swallowing difficulties.

11. Cherries

Cherries are a type of stone fruit that belongs to the same genus as:

• peaches
• plums
• apricots

Each 100 g serving of cherries supplies a hearty dose of:

• vitamin C
• potassium
• phosphorus

These small fruits are also a good source of health-benefitting antioxidants, like:

• beta-carotene
• lutein
• zeaxanthin

Many studies have found that the antioxidants found in red fruits, including cherries, could have anticancer effects.

One 2023 test-tube study showed that cherry extract may also enhance anticancer therapies. Researchers found that cherry extract was associated with an increased uptake of oral drugs used to treat cancer.

Another 2021 review observed the anticancer effects of cherries in animal studies. Cherries were associated with a decrease in tumor growth and size.

However, additional research is needed to evaluate if these findings also apply to humans when cherries are eaten in normal amounts.

Cherries are rich in antioxidants and have been shown to decrease the growth of cancer cells in test-tube and animal studies.

12. Blackberries

Blackberries are a popular fruit that is high in:

• vitamin C
• manganese
• vitamin K
• potassium
• folate

Blackberries also contain an array of antioxidants, including:

• ellagic acid
• gallic acid
• chlorogenic acid

According to some research, eating berries may help protect against:

• DNA damage
• neutralize free radicals
• slow the growth and spread of cancer cells

Other animal studies suggest that berries may be related to brain health and enhanced memory performance, potentially preventing certain side effects of chemotherapy.

However, further studies are needed to determine if blackberries offer similar benefits in humans.

Blackberries are rich in antioxidants that may help protect against cancer. Animal studies show that they may also promote brain health, which could prevent certain side effects of cancer treatment.

The takeaway

Eating certain fruits can significantly affect your health, especially during cancer treatment. Fruits and vegetables are important to keep the brain functioning as much as possible.

Many fruits provide antioxidants to help fight the growth of cancer cells and may even offer other health benefits to help ease certain side effects of cancer treatments.

Enjoying these healthy fruits in combination with a well-rounded diet can keep you feeling your best and get you started on the road to recovery.