National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC)

• The cancer itself
• Treatments for secondary breast cancer
• Drugs for pain or symptom relief
• Being less active

• Seek advice from an accredited practising dietitian
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals
• Treatment with drugs such as medroxyprogresterone or steroids

Tips to help with appetite loss

The following tips are based on the experience of health professionals and women themselves:

• eat small meals and snacks as often as you can during the day
• eat a variety of foods and try to include foods that are high in fibre
• choose foods you think you will enjoy and treat yourself when you feel like it
• use ready-made foods if you are too tired to cook
• drink protein and carbohydrate drinks if you find it difficult to eat solid food
• don’t force yourself to eat if you can’t face it but take advantage of those times when you do feel able to eat.