Diet is the major site of intervention in the treatment of cancer. It is important to ensure proper balanced nutrition before, during and after treatment to improve quality of life, ease faster recovery and lower the chances of remission. 30-40% of all cancers can directly or indirectly be influenced by lifestyle and dietary measures alone. Nowadays, we hear of certain special diets often, highly restrictive ones can help treat cancer or keep it from coming back. But there is no good evidence that a restrictive diet can keep cancer at bay. And some might actually be harmful. Better is to stick to a well-balanced diet with lean proteins, low-fat products, and plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. American Institute of cancer research and American cancer society encourage a largely plant-based diet to help prevent and treat cancer. Consuming the right foods can weaken a tumour's metabolism, making treatments more effective.Some common food-related confusions among cancer patients. -Sugar: It is true that because cancer cells grow fast, the cells use more sugar for energy than normal cells. According to studies, its consumption may be a risk factor for a few cancers. But there is no clear evidence to show that eating sugar will make cancer worse, or avoiding sugar will shrink a tumour or make cancer disappear. While limiting added sugars from sweets and desserts is a wise choice. -Red meat and its products: According to AICR, there is convincing evidence linking red meat and processed meat consumption to an increased risk for colorectal cancer. According to a study, red meat has a compound, heme which promotes the formation of potential carcinogenic n-nitroso compounds. Besides, cooking at high temperatures and processing also changes the nature of red meat which may play a role in link to cancer. -Milk and milk products: Many of the milk products contain saturated fats and cholesterol that tend to increase inflammation in the body. Proteins in dairy products are made up of mostly casein, which studies suggest may increase the development and/or metastasis of cancerous tumours. For this reason, cancer patients are usually advised to exclude milk from the diet.