Normal and unusual days for dietary intake during the 12 months after a breast cancer diagnosis in women

Abstract Purpose There are several reasons to report days as being unusual with regard to dietary intake, including special occasions and celebrations. For breast cancer patients during the 12 month post-surgery period, unusual days may also include days that are affected by being a cancer patient. The aim of this study was to study dietary intake on “normal” and “unusual” days, and to study what is reported in “free text fields” of a food diary. Methods Women ( n = 456), mean age 55.5 years newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (stage I/II) were included in this clinical study. “Normal” and “unusual” days in general, over time and during the week and weekends were studied using repeated administration of a 7-day pre-coded food diary. Results The breast cancer patients reported 26% of all days as unusual. The intake of energy, most nutrients, especially alcohol and sugar, red and processed meat, and sweets, cakes, and snacks was 5–126% higher, whereas intake of fiber, fruit and berries, vegetables, and dairy products was 7–17% lower on unusual than on normal days ( P