Dietary Modifications on Chemotherapy Toxicity Management Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background As breast cancer survival rates improve, increased chemotherapy use has heightened the risk of experiencing toxicities. While there is growing interest in implementing dietary strategies to alleviate these toxicities, no established dietary guidelines currently exist. Limited research has explored how breast cancer survivors perceive and use dietary modifications and guidance during chemotherapy. Methods We conducted a qualitative study to explore breast cancer survivors’ perceptions of dietary modification during chemotherapy. Interviews were conducted via Zoom, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative descriptive methodology with conventional content analysis. Results Twenty-one breast cancer survivors participated in the study. Participants were women with invasive breast cancer, predominantly White, well-educated (> high school), and privately insured. Most had triple-negative breast cancer and were receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Four main themes were derived from the data: 1) navigating chemotherapy, 2) dietary support, 3) social and environmental determinants of diet, and 4) perceptions of specific dietary patterns. Conclusions Findings highlight how survivors navigate dietary modification during chemotherapy and the challenges they encounter doing so. The data revealed key gaps in dietary support for survivors. These insights have the potential to inform practical, specific dietary recommendations tailored to the unique needs and lived experiences of patients undergoing chemotherapy.