Useful resources > Cancer and nutrition

Cancer and nutrition

Eating and drinking a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight before, during and after cancer treatment can help your body to cope with the treatment better, fight off infections and reduce the risk of chronic health conditions developing such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

What is a balanced diet?

A balanced diet is made up of the five basic food groups – vegetables and fruit, protein, whole grains, milk and dairy, and fats and oils.

Somebody writing in a book in-front of lots of cooking ingredients.

Join our Nourish & Nurture programme

Nourish & Nurture is Big C’s nutrition and wellness programme for all those diagnosed or living with the effects of cancer and those that care for them. The 5 interactive sessions provide advice on healthy eating, how best to manage treatment side effects with diet, practical skills, and physical activity advice. Supported by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Dieticians and Quadram Institute.

Find out more

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“The resources were great, some great recipes and I loved the journal which is now full up! I also enjoyed the exercises with the physiotherapist.”
helen, nourish & nurture participant

Healthy recipes to try at home

Be inspired by some of the healthy recipes the Quadram Institute has created. Whether you’d like to try the lentil, bean and kale salad or the stuffed mushrooms, there’s plenty to whet your appetite.

A picture of some delicious food made by a Big C volunteer.

Lentil, bean & kale salad

A fresh zingy salad, perfect for a light lunch or to share with friends.

Download the recipe

Stuffed mushrooms

Try these mushrooms stuffed with spinach, breadcrumbs, garlic & herbs

Download the recipe

Online support

Our Online Support Hub offers a full range of support virtually, ensuring you can still access our services from the comfort of your own home.

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FAQs

Browse our Frequently Asked Questions about the support we offer. If you can’t see the answer you’re looking for, just get in touch.

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Latest fundraising and event news

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Big C to Hold Jingle Jangle Fun Run at Thetford Forest

Big C is holding its first Christmas Fun Run on Sunday 3rd December at High Lodge, Thetford.

A group of Big C staff and volunteers outside the inflatable Big Bum

Big C Uses New Health Academy to Promote Education around Cancer

Norfolk Cancer Charity, Big C, has launched its own Health Academy as part of the organisation’s Education Division and in line with NHS Core20PLUS5 initiative.

New support for people living with secondary breast cancer

Leading research and support charity, Breast Cancer Now, is launching a new service with Big C in Norwich for people with incurable secondary breast cancer.

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Success with Big C’s National Three Peaks Challenge

Across the weekend of 11th – 14th August 2023, Team Big C took on the National Three Peaks Challenge across England, Scotland and Wales. The last time Team Big C had taken on the challenge was in June of 2017 and the team this year were just as excited to take part six years later!

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At our centres across the region, we offer support to anyone affected by cancer.

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