Optimize Diet and Exercise During Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treatment
Health ConditionsCancerLymphoma

Your Guide to Diet and Exercise During Treatment for Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Your Guide to Diet and Exercise During Treatment for Large B-Cell Lymphoma
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Published on January 5, 2026
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It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when you’re diagnosed with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and for that feeling to continue as you start treatment. Though a lot of things are out of your control — how often you have chemotherapy or whether you need radiation, for example — you still hold power over key health choices, namely how you approach diet and exercise during your cancer treatment.

“It's important to figure out how to stay on top of your health during treatment and what to do to be able to get back to life afterward,” says Manali Kamdar, MD, an oncologist at UCHealth in Aurora, Colorado.

Proper nutrition is crucial to keep up your strength, maintain a healthy weight, increase your energy, and even decrease your risk of infection, and movement is an important tool to mitigate unpleasant side effects from treatment like fatigue and nausea.

 Plus, getting in the habit of eating a balanced diet and exercising can boost your overall well-being once treatment ends.

Try these strategies to ensure that you’re fueling your body with food and movement while treating LBCL.

How to Adjust Your Diet for Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treatment

LBCL treatment may cause changes in your appetite and sense of taste, as well as other side effects like nausea, vomiting, and changes in bowel movements, which can impact how much and what you want to eat.

Eat Well-Balanced, Nutritious Meals

While there’s no specific meal plan to follow during LBCL treatment, Dr. Kamdar says that it’s vital to eat a nutritious, balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins like fish, chicken, beans, and lentils. If your treatment is affecting your sense of taste and you’re struggling to eat a well-rounded diet, experiment with herbs, spices, and sauces to enhance flavor.

While it’s important to focus on the foods you can eat, there are some foods and beverages you’ll want to limit or avoid to prevent worsening symptoms like dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, and diarrhea:

  • Acidic foods and drinks such as tomato, orange, and apple juice
  • Alcohol
  • Fatty, processed meats and snacks
  • Raw fruits and vegetables
  • Salty foods
  • Spicy foods
  • Sticky, sugary foods and drinks

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration during treatment can cause uncomfortable side effects like dry mouth, dry skin, and headaches.

 Ensure that you’re staying hydrated by taking small sips of water throughout the day, or if that’s too much, suck on ice chips or whole-fruit popsicles.

 You can also add more water-rich foods to your diet, like cucumbers, watermelon, celery, and broths.

 Fizzy drinks and herbal teas can also be helpful if you’re struggling to drink enough due to taste changes.

Discuss Supplements With Your Care Team

Never take supplements without consulting your care team, as they may have unintended consequences. For example, Kamdar warns that turmeric extracts and St. John's wort can cause changes to your metabolism during chemotherapy, resulting in toxicity or rendering it less effective. Additionally, antioxidant vitamin supplements (vitamins A, C, and E) and foods high in antioxidants (like pomegranate juice) can reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.

Go Easy on Yourself

Kamdar urges against crash diets or doing anything extreme, like cutting out all sugar, which she stresses does not cause cancer, despite misinformation around it.

“Focus on eating patterns rather than perfection,” says Kamdar. For example, if you’re feeling nauseous and unable to eat most things but vanilla ice cream sounds appealing, Kamdar encourages having that scoop but warns against making it a daily habit.

How to Stay Active During Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treatment

“Moving your body is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself while undergoing treatment,” says Kamdar. Exercise of any kind can help manage your fatigue levels, reduce your stress and anxiety, and even help ease your nausea. It can also prep your body to bounce back faster once treatment is over.

Aim for 150 Minutes of Movement Each Week

Two and a half hours of moderate activity each week is what you’ll need to keep your body feeling its best during treatment and to minimize your risk of blood clots and loss of muscle mass, two common issues during LBCL treatment, according to Kamdar.

 Kamdar says that you can spend those 150 minutes doing whatever kind of exercise you choose — the important thing is to keep moving in a way that is sustainable and enjoyable for you. If you’re not sure where to start, consider strength training; it’s low impact and can help combat muscle loss.

Build Your Stamina Over Time

Treatment drains your energy and emotional health, making it tempting to lay on the couch all day. Avoid this temptation as much as possible. “People who exercise while going through chemo have less fatigue and less anxiety,” says Kamdar, adding that being sedentary can cause additional issues like loss of muscle mass and even the development of blood clots.

Fight inactivity by making movement a habit, gradually increasing your workout length and intensity to build stamina.

For example, you could start with two 20-minute bike rides this week and increase to 25 minutes the following week. Then you may decide to do three 25-minute bike rides the week after that. Take it slow and take breaks during and after your workout.

Embrace the Mental Health Benefits

Remember that movement can also help your mood, improving symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety.

“With exercising, you're releasing neurotransmitters that make you feel present and like you have better control over the problem,” says Kamdar. Thinking about the benefits may help you feel more motivated to keep at it.

Care for Your Mind and Body During Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treatment

Work with your care team to create an exercise regimen that feels sustainable and a diet plan that will keep you feeling strong, satisfied, and energetic. Key to this plan is that you pick workouts and foods you enjoy.

“Keep moving, listen to your body, practice mindfulness — all of those things are going to be great to get you through your treatments,” says Kamdar.

The Takeaway

  • Diet and exercise can play a key role in helping you feel your best while you undergo treatment for large B-cell lymphoma.
  • Proper hydration and a well-rounded diet are essential for mitigating treatment side effects.
  • Move your body in sustainable ways to boost your energy levels and decrease anxiety during treatment.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Understanding Lymphoma and Nutrition. Lymphoma Research Foundation. 2022.
  2. Diet and Nutrition. Lymphoma Action. July 2025.
  3. Nutrition for the Person Getting Cancer Treatment. American Cancer Society. October 2024.
  4. Dehydration and Lack of Fluids. American Cancer Society. June 26, 2024.
  5. 25 water-rich foods to help you stay hydrated this summer. UTSouthwestern Medical Center. June 26, 2023.
  6. The sugar-cancer connection: Five things you should know. Stanford Medicine. October 21, 2025.
  7. Exercise and Lymphoma. Lymphoma Action. June 2025.
  8. Blood Clots. Lymphoma Action. April 2025.
  9. Lucijanic M et al. More Pronounced Muscle Loss During Immunochemotherapy is Associated with Worse Clinical Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma with Unfavorable Features. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. September 24, 2021.
  10. Packel L. Strengthening During and After Cancer. OncoLink. January 22, 2023.
  11. Exercise and Nutrition. Lymphoma Research Foundation.
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Walter Tsang, MD

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Walter Tsang, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist, hematologist, and lifestyle medicine specialist. Inspired by the ancient Eastern philosophy of yang sheng ("nourishing life"), Dr. Tsang has developed a unique whole-person oncology approach that tailors cancer care and lifestyle recommendations to each patients’ biopsychosocial-spiritual circumstances. He partners with patients on their cancer journeys, emphasizing empowerment, prevention, holistic wellness, quality of life, supportive care, and realistic goals and expectations. This practice model improves clinical outcomes and reduces costs for both patients and the healthcare system. 

Outside of his busy clinical practice, Tsang has taught various courses at UCLA Center for East West Medicine, Loma Linda University, and California University of Science and Medicine. He is passionate about health education and started an online seminar program to teach cancer survivors about nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep health, and complementary healing methods. Over the years, he has given many presentations on integrative oncology and lifestyle medicine at community events. In addition, he was the founding co-chair of a lifestyle medicine cancer interest group, which promoted integrative medicine education and collaborations among oncology professionals.

Tsang is an active member of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society for Integrative Oncology, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He currently practices at several locations in Southern California. His goal is to transform cancer care in the community, making it more integrative, person-centered, cost-effective and sustainable for the future.
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