Bladder cancer and its treatment can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, eating a healthy diet may help reduce side effects and support your well-being.

There’s no single “bladder cancer diet” that works for everyone because your cancer stage, treatment plan, and other health conditions all play a role. Working with your oncologist (a doctor who specializes in treating cancer) and a dietitian, you may discover that some foods and drinks can help improve your symptoms while living with bladder cancer.

While diet alone can’t prevent or cure bladder cancer, specific foods or eating plans may improve your health and help ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs. Bladder cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, often affect the body’s ability to tolerate and process food. So keep in mind that while these foods are generally suggested to be helpful for bladder cancer, it’s all about your response to them and what your healthcare team recommends.

This article explores the relationship between bladder cancer and diet, offering practical insights into how certain foods may help support your journey. Whether you’re looking to boost your immune system, address chronic inflammation, or improve hydration, here are four foods to consider incorporating into your meals.

4 Foods To Eat With Bladder Cancer

1. Antioxidant-Rich Fruits and Vegetables

Colorful fruits and vegetables like berries, citrus fruits, broccoli, kale, and carrots are rich in antioxidants, which are health-promoting plant components (such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, and flavonoids). These nutrients may help protect cells from damage and keep them healthy.

Cruciferous vegetables, in particular, contain compounds like isothiocyanates, which are natural chemicals that may help protect cells from damage. Studies have found eating cruciferous vegetables is associated with a lower risk of bladder cancer, and there’s ongoing research exploring the effects of these vegetables in people with bladder cancer. Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale.

However, the American Cancer Society states that while some research has suggested that eating more fruits and vegetables can help protect against bladder cancer, other studies have not found these results. This finding likely depends on a person’s specific health condition and other lifestyle factors. However, when it comes to health in general, including cancer prevention, eating fruits and vegetables can be important for overall well-being.

Chemotherapy affects your immune system and its ability to fight off infections. To decrease your chance of foodborne illness while undergoing chemotherapy, the American Cancer Society recommends that you:

• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before peeling or slicing.
• Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub produce with thick, rough skins or rinds.
• Rinse individual leaves of leafy greens under running water.
• Even if labeled “prewashed,” rinse packaged salads, slaw mixes, and other prepared produce.
• Avoid eating raw vegetable sprouts, as they may carry harmful bacteria.
• Discard any fruits or vegetables that are slimy or show signs of mold.
• Skip purchasing precut produce, like melons, at the store.

2. High-Fiber Whole Grains

Foods like oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, and whole-grain bread provide essential fiber, which can help ease the side effects of bladder cancer treatments. Fiber helps maintain healthy digestion and prevents constipation, which is important if you’re undergoing treatments or taking medications that affect your digestive health.

If you’re having trouble with digestion, check with your healthcare provider and consider slowly incorporating fiber into your diet to not overwhelm your system. Whole grains can also help stabilize your energy levels, making it easier to cope with fatigue from bladder cancer treatments.

3. Lean Proteins

During cancer treatment, maintaining muscle mass and strength is critical. Chemotherapy can decrease muscle strength and increase levels of fatigue. The following lean proteins are easier on the digestive system and provide protein to help you maintain muscle during treatment:

• Fish, such as salmon
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Tofu
• Beans

4. Hydrating Beverages

Staying hydrated is important for keeping your bladder and urinary tract healthy. Drinking enough fluids helps dilute urine, flush out toxins, and minimize irritation to the bladder lining, which is particularly important during cancer treatment.

Hydration recommendations vary depending on your environment and health, but a general guideline is to drink the equivalent of about half of your body weight in ounces. According to this rule, if you weigh 180 pounds, it’s good to aim for 90 fluid ounces of fluids per day.

To mix it up, or if water tastes unpleasant or unappealing during your cancer treatment, consider infusing your water with these ingredients for a hint of flavor:

• Fresh ginger
• Mint
• Cucumber
• Cinnamon
• Citrus slices
• Berries
• A small amount of fruit juice

If you’re struggling with diarrhea, sweating, vomiting, or fever, consider adding electrolytes to your drinks.

Foods To Avoid During Bladder Cancer Treatment

In addition to focusing on specific foods for bladder health, it’s beneficial to limit some foods that may be harmful to your health. A research study found Western dietary patterns increased the risk of bladder cancer recurrence (bladder cancer coming back). This type of diet includes high levels of fat, animal meat, processed foods, and added sugars.

The American Cancer Society recommends limiting or avoiding the following for overall cancer prevention:

• Processed or smoked meats (bacon, sausage, deli meats)
• Sugar-sweetened beverages (soda, juice, energy drinks, sweet tea)
• Alcohol (wine, beer, cocktails, spirits)

Certain foods and drinks can irritate the bladder, potentially worsening symptoms like urinary urgency or discomfort. Common triggers include caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks, carbonated drinks like soda and sparkling water, and acidic foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and tomato-based products.

Talk to Your Doctor

Eating a balanced diet with plenty of nutrients can help your body during and after bladder cancer treatment. These tips are a good starting point, but it’s important to talk to your doctor and a dietitian for advice that fits your needs. By choosing healthy foods and avoiding options that might irritate your bladder, you can play an active role in your health and treatment.

Find Your Team

MyBladderCancerTeam is the social network for people with bladder cancer and their loved ones. On MyBladderCancerTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with this condition.

Do you have favorite foods or recipes for bladder cancer? How do you try to keep your bladder healthy? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.