A nutritious diet during chemotherapy tends to decrease the severeness of the side effects of chemotherapy. It also increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and thus decreases its duration, because a well nourished body responds well to cancer treatment.
Cancer chemotherapy diet should include foods high in proteins, such as eggs, nuts, dairy and beans. Vegetables, such as pumpkins, sweet potatoes and carrots, and fruits, such as papaya and cranberries, and other such foods high in antioxidants such as vitamin E prove to be beneficial during chemotherapy. Carbohydrate rich foods, such as potatoes and dairy, should also be included in the chemotherapy diet. Last, but the most important constituent is water. The person undergoing chemotherapy should drink lots of water and keep himself hydrated.
There are some foods which should be strictly avoided. For example, eating hot spicy foods can further aggravate the sensitive tissues in mouth and worsen the sores and hence should be strictly avoided. Fried foods as well as foods high in sugar, which tend to affect the body metabolism negatively and lead to weight gain, should also be avoided. During chemotherapy, it's very difficult for the person to keep food in the stomach. Though rich in proteins, meat should also be avoided as it tends to trigger nausea.
You can also consult your doctor to know about the various foods which can be eaten during chemotherapy. Most importantly, small meals throughout the day will help you tackle the chemotherapy side effects.