Recovery During Treatment in China: Planning Food and Fluids

First, ask your treatment team to write down what food textures you can eat, what you need to avoid, whether you need to limit fluids, and whom to contact if you have trouble eating or drinking, or develop diarrhea. Once these requirements are clear, the person providing day-to-day care can arrange water, meals, and intake records.

Key points

• Both food safety and your treatment requirements matter. If you have recently had surgery, have difficulty swallowing, or need to limit fluids, general travel food advice alone is not enough.
• Whether water is safe to drink directly depends on the specific location. If you are unsure, use sealed bottled water or properly treated water for drinking, taking medicines, brushing teeth, and making ice.[1]
• If your immune system is suppressed, avoid raw or undercooked meat, fish, and eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products. Follow any additional instructions from your team.[2]
• Do not force yourself to drink large amounts of water because you have a poor appetite, especially if you already have heart or kidney disease or have been told to limit fluids. Contact your team first.

Confirm your personal dietary requirements first

Before leaving the hospital or moving into your accommodation, ask your doctor, nurse, or dietitian: What food textures and portion sizes do I need? Are there any restrictions related to swallowing, allergies, blood sugar, bowel surgery, kidney disease, or fluids? How long will the restrictions last, and who decides when they can be lifted? Ask your caregiver to repeat the instructions back, and record who will buy food, deliver meals, and monitor you.

If your diet changes, also ask how to coordinate medicines with meals and what to record each day. If you cannot eat the foods in your original plan, contact your team or dietitian early to ask about energy, protein, and alternatives. You do not need to cut out broad groups of foods on your own. If you repeatedly cough or choke when eating or drinking, or have difficulty swallowing, stop forcing food or drink and contact your team to assess safe food textures and feeding methods.[3][8]

Choosing water and food

Ask the hospital or your accommodation about the specific drinking water supply. If you cannot confirm the water quality, choose unopened bottled water or properly treated water for drinking, taking medicines, brushing teeth, and making ice. Do not assume ice is made from safe water.[1] If water may contain chemical contaminants, boiling may not solve the problem; use a reliable alternative water source.[4]

Wash your hands before preparing meals and after using the toilet. Handle raw meat separately from ready-to-eat foods. Cook food thoroughly, eat it promptly, and refrigerate it as required. Do not take chances if you are unsure how long food has been stored or at what temperature. When ordering food delivery, choose meals that meet your personal food texture, allergy, and hygiene requirements, and check the packaging and the condition of the food on arrival. If the food is not fresh or its storage conditions are unclear, replace it.[2][3] If you will not eat perishable delivered food or leftovers immediately, divide them into shallow containers and refrigerate them promptly. US food safety guidance recommends refrigerating food within two hours of cooking or the start of storage at room temperature, or within one hour if the surrounding temperature is above 32°C. Delivery does not restart the clock for time already spent at room temperature. If you do not know how long the food has been out, do not eat it.[9]

People with suppressed immune systems especially need to avoid raw or undercooked meat, fish, eggs, and sprouts, as well as unpasteurized dairy products and juices. Follow your treatment team's instructions on washing, peeling, or cooking fruit and vegetables. You do not need to exclude all foods on your own.[2][3]

If you have trouble eating or drinking, or feel unwell

Record food and fluid intake and episodes of vomiting or diarrhea as agreed with your team. If you have a stoma or drain, ask whether to record the output and when to report it. If you cannot meet the intake targets set by your doctor, or continue to be unable to eat or drink, contact your team promptly. Explain when it started, how much you have taken in, and whether you have a fluid restriction. Do not increase your water intake or start antidiarrheal medicines or antibiotics on your own; ask the doctor responsible for your care first.

Seek local emergency help immediately for serious symptoms such as confusion, fainting, or severe weakness. Contact a doctor or local emergency department promptly for changes such as blood in your stool, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, a marked decrease in urine output, or fever. If you are receiving chemotherapy or your immune system is suppressed, report diarrhea or fever immediately through the emergency pathway provided by your treatment team. Do not wait until your next follow-up visit. The CDC recommends contacting a doctor immediately if your temperature reaches 38.0°C or higher during chemotherapy. If your team has given you a lower threshold, follow their instructions. If you cannot contact someone or get assessed promptly, go to a local emergency department immediately. Tell the triage staff about your recent treatment and suppressed immune system.[10][5][6]

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink tap water directly at my accommodation?

First, confirm the specific water supply conditions. If you cannot confirm them, use unopened bottled water or properly treated water for drinking and brushing your teeth.[1]

Are raw vegetables and fruit always off limits?

There is no need for a blanket ban for all patients. Ask your treatment team whether they need to be washed, peeled, or cooked. Following your personal instructions is especially important if your immune system is suppressed.[2][3]

What if hot food has cooled down by the time it arrives?

If you cannot confirm that transport and storage were safe, do not force yourself to eat it. Replace it with food that meets your requirements. Also check allergens and food texture when choosing meals.

If I have a poor appetite, can I just drink lots of water?

Contact your treatment team first. Water cannot replace nutrition. If you already have heart or kidney problems or a fluid restriction, it is especially important to follow your personal plan.[3][7]

Can I take antidiarrheal medicine on my own?

Contact your doctor first. Explain how often you have diarrhea, how long it has lasted, whether you have fever or blood in your stool, and what treatment you are receiving. If your immune system is suppressed, follow the emergency pathway provided by your team.

Does water taken with medicines count toward my fluid restriction?

It may count. Ask your nurse or dietitian to explain your daily fluid allowance and how to measure it based on your personal medical instructions. Do not increase or decrease it on your own.[7]

Who should record how much the patient eats each day?

Before discharge, agree on one caregiver who will be present to keep the record, and arrange a substitute for times when that person cannot be there. Share the record with the team and clarify which changes require contact.

Sources

1. CDC Yellow Book: Food and Water Precautions for Travelers, checked on 2026-11-06.

2. CDC: Safer Food Choices for People With Weakened Immune Systems, checked on 2026-11-06.

3. US National Cancer Institute: Nutrition During Cancer Treatment, checked on 2026-11-06.

4. CDC: Drinking Water Advisories, checked on 2026-11-06; contact the local water supplier if the water source is unclear.

5. NHS: Dehydration, checked on 2026-11-06.

6. US National Cancer Institute: Infection During Cancer Treatment, checked on 2026-11-06.

7. West Suffolk NHS: Fluid Restriction Guidance, checked on 2026-11-06; your fluid allowance must follow your personal medical instructions.

8. NHS: Swallowing Problems (Dysphagia), checked on 2026-11-06.

9. FoodSafety.gov: Four Steps to Food Safety, checked on 2026-11-06.

10. CDC: Fever During Chemotherapy, checked on 2026-11-06; your treatment team must confirm your individual medical circumstances and emergency care pathway.