Cancer-Fighting Soup
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Cancer-Fighting Soup (aka Immune-Boosting Soup) is chock full of vegetables, lentils, and black beans that helps fight inflammation in the body. Whether you’re wanting to help someone with a diagnosis or just eat as healthy as possible yourself, this big-batch, freezer-friendly soup fits the bill.
Darcie’s Cancer Story
Cancer. No one expects to hear that diagnosis from their doctor, even though one in three Americans will get cancer at some point. You especially don’t expect it when you’re a 38-year-old seemingly healthy mom of four children.
My long-time and dear friend Darcie received that diagnosis in Fall 2014, after finding a lump in her breast. It was a shock to all of her friends, family and church family to say the least.
Her friends and family quickly gathered like a small army around her and her family. You see Darcie is widely known as one of the most generous, thoughtful, bleeding-heart people around our area. Many lives have been touched by her and her family in some way. Everyone loves Darcie.
A small group of her closest friends gathered a few days after her diagnosis to pray and plan for her. I was awed as I saw each friend in our group using her own particular gifting to serve and encourage her. It’s humbling to watch the church at work as the hands and feet of Jesus during a time of crisis like this.
(Below: Living it up 80’s style with Darcie (on right), me (center) and our friend (Kelley). Can you handle all that blue eye shadow and crimping?)
And what do you think was my first inclination when I heard the news about my friend? To cook!
My mission in the days to follow her diagnosis: How can I make my friend the most nutritious, delicious, cancer-fighting soup possible?
Ingredients
After deep-dive researching the best foods to fight breast cancer and what to eat when you have breast cancer, I came up with these phytochemical-rich, protein-rich, and fiber-rich ingredients for the soup…
- Onion, celery, carrots, garlic – The key to the complex flavor is to saute these ingredients to kick-start their flavor.
- Chicken or vegetable broth – We have three ways to make your own chicken broth.
- Crushed tomatoes and tomato paste – If you want to kick up the flavor more, used fire roasted diced tomatoes instead of crushed.
- Lentils – We used dried quick-cooking lentils (any color will work). If used canned, cooked lentils, just stir them in towards the end of the cook time.
- Black beans – I used pre-cooked, canned black beans.
- Bay leaves, red pepper flakes, Italian Seasoning – All of these pantry ingredients kick up the flavor.
- Zucchini – You can leave this out if you want.
- Mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach – I learned in my research that these veggies along with lentils and black beans are some of the best for fighting breast cancer.
- Frozen green peas
IMPORTANT! Please keep in mind that I am not a dietician or licensed medical practitioner, so please ask your doctor if the ingredients included in this soup are ok for you if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and/or are receiving treatment. I’ve read that some foods like grapefruit and even garlic can interfere with certain medications.
Pro Tip!
Be sure chop all of the vegetables about the same size so they cook evenly and are bite-sized. It’s actually a pet peeve of mine when vegetable soup contains pieces that are too big to enjoy in one bite. It’s worth taking the time to chop them perfectly.
How to Make Cancer-Fighting Soup
It’s important for you to know that this makes a BIG batch. I did that so you can have leftovers to put in the freezer for later. But, feel free to cut the ingredients in half you want.
- Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium-high heat.
- Saute the onions, carrots, and celery for about 4-5 minutes, until tender. Add in the garlic and stir for 1 more minute. Season with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes (to your preferred heat level), and Italian seasoning.
- Stir in the chicken or vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, black beans, lentils, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer (slight bubbling), stirring occasionally. Season again lightly with salt and pepper. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the zucchini, mushrooms, cauliflower, and broccoli and simmer another 5-10 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach and frozen peas and turn off the heat (or turn to low), so they don’t overcook. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasonings. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
- If you like, serve with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese and/or whole grain crackers or crusty bread.
Freezing Soup
This soup is perfect for making ahead and taking to a friend. If you want, just change the name to “Immune-Boosting Soup” if your friend has a cold. 🙂 It has been tested from fresh, reheated from the fridge as leftovers, and reheated after being frozen. It is delicious and works great in all these situations
Freeze For Later: Follow steps 1-5. Let the soup cool completely. Suggestion: divide soup into some shallow pans to put in the refrigerator to cool it more quickly. Divide soup into gallon-sized freezer bags or containers or into 2-cup Pyrex glass containers, squeeze out excess air, seal, and freeze.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw using one of these safe thawing methods. Then reheat gently over low heat on the stove or in a crock pot. Another option is to put the frozen soup block over low to medium-low heat on the stove top or in a crock pot. Add about 1-2 cups of water or broth over the top. Gently warm over low to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Follow step 6 for serving.
If you want to deliver it to a friend as a fresh meal or freezer meal, you can deliver it in a freezer container with lid or mason jars. I love using mason jars, since the soup can be divided into single servings. Just be sure to leave at least 1 inch of headspace at the top if freezing.
My hope is that you can make this recipe for yourself and/or take it to anyone else who is battling cancer or an illness. This Cancer-Fighting Soup fights inflammation in the body and provides warmth and comfort when healing.
More Encouragement for Loved Ones
You may even want to add a word of encouragement to the container you deliver it in, too. I quickly scribbled out a few favorite encouraging Bible verses in sharpie on the freezer containers of the soup for Darcie.
Or you may want to include a set of our printable Truth for Trials verse cards.
I hope this recipe is a blessing to you or someone else. Please leave a comment for me, and I’d love to pray for you or a loved one who is battling cancer.
P.S. Thanks to Darcie for letting me share some of her story. She said to me, “Share on, sister. Hoping it makes a difference, inspiring someone to change one small thing about their lifestyle.”
P.P.S. In case you’re wondering, here is the story of Darcie’s Head-Shaving Party and more about how she’s doing. It’s so encouraging!
P.P.P.S. This post was originally shared February 2015. It has since been updated and reposted. At the time of updating this post on 10/17/24, Darcie is now 9 years cancer-free (“no evidence of disease”) and doing great! Also, her beautiful thick blonde hair is back.
More Vegetarian Recipes You’ll Love
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Cancer-Fighting Soup
This hearty, big batch soup brings a nutrient-dense, tasty dose of vegetables to the table. Make ahead and freeze for later using our freezing instructions.
Ingredients
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2–3 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 cups carrots, diced
- 3 garlic cloves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4–1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (use less if you don’t like heat)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 12 cups (or three 32-ounce cartons) of chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 28–ounce can of crushed tomatoes (look for BPA-free cans)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (15-ounce) can cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup dry, quick-cooking lentils (any color will work; rinse first)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 cup mushrooms, diced
- 1 cup cauliflower, chopped finely
- 1 cup broccoli, chopped finely
- 2–3 cups spinach, chopped
- 1–2 cups frozen green peas
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Instructions
Make It Now:
- Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a large stock pot over medium-high heat.
- Saute the onions, carrots, and celery for about 4-5 minutes, until tender. Add in the garlic and stir for 1 more minute. Season with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes (to your preferred heat level), and Italian seasoning.
- Stir in the chicken or vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, black beans, lentils, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer (slight bubbling), stirring occasionally. Season again lightly with salt and pepper. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the zucchini, mushrooms, cauliflower, and broccoli and simmer another 5-10 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach and frozen peas and turn off the heat (or turn to low), so they don’t overcook. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasonings. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
- If you like, serve with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese and/or whole grain crackers or crusty bread.
Freeze For Later: Follow steps 1-5. Let the soup cool completely. Suggestion: divide soup into some shallow pans to put in the refrigerator to cool it more quickly. Divide soup into gallon-sized freezer bags or containers, squeeze out excess air, seal, and freeze.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw using one of these safe thawing methods. Then reheat gently over low heat on the stove or in a crock pot. Another option is to put the frozen soup block over low to medium-low heat on the stove top or in a crock pot. Add about 1-2 cups of water or broth over the top. Gently warm over low to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Follow step 6 for serving.
Notes/Tips
- It’s a good idea to chop your veggies all about the same size, so they cook evenly and they are bite-sized.
- These sturdy reusable freezer bags work well for freezing and gifting the soup in.
Hi my name is mary my brother was diagnosed with cancer I dont know how to cook for him if u can please send some recipes I would appreciate it
Like he say he cant eat eggs
I dont understand is it the white or yellow part that he cant eat
I thought the protien in the white part of the egg was good
Hi Mary, I’m so sorry about your brother’s diagnosis. I would definitely ask his doctor about how to cook for him (and what foods to avoid), since I’m not an expert. You’re a good sister to help care for him.
I have not tried this recipe yet but I am excited to find it. My husband has leukemia and has been on the chemo pills for 11 months. He goes back to the doctor February 2020. We are praying he will be in full remission. Please pray for his health and our finances. It has really been rough but at the same time The Lord has been good to us. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story and prayer request, Terry. I will pray right now for your husband’s health, your finances, and that you will continue to lean on the Lord and experience his new mercies each day. I wish many blessings to your family in this race He has given you.
This looks really good. I had early stage DCIS breast cancer this summer, and my husband was just diagnosed with full on prostate cancer. (I know, right?) I am looking for foods that will help to fight his cancer before, during and after his radiation treatment. This looks so yummy. Thanks so much for posting.
I’m so sorry to hear that, Karen. I hope this soup brings your family comfort and the nutrition needed to heal. Praying for you both right now!
I have Stage 1 Breast Cancer and am currently in treatment. THANK YOU for sharing this. This is the first thing I’ve eaten that doesn’t taste like metal. God Bless!!
Christina, I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Makes me glad to hear you enjoyed this soup. Many blessings on your journey. May He help you fight the good fight. My friend, Darcie, is several years away from her initial diagnosis now and doing great!
Tried this soup and was very delicious. the only thing I did been a single guy and didn’t feel like standing over a stove.Iflowed the respie but I cheated I used a instant pot and through everything to gether and to me it tasted just fine.Sorry to hear about cancer I am not cancer patient but tried the soup.i had to use a 8quart and a six because didn’t have enough room.
Hi Conrad. I’m sorry that I just now saw your comment. I’m glad you liked the soup. Great idea to use the Instant Pot. I do the same a lot of times. It’s a LOT of soup. Hope you were able to freeze some of it for later.
I am a cancer survivor by the grace of GOD. Thanks to you and Darcie for sharing her beautiful story. Family, friends, healing foods, and Faith. My naturalist friend has reminded me of of God’s great pharmacy of natural food he created for us from the beginning. Im currently going through a lil trial. May have to do chemo, but God is still great. Going to make the soup. Thanks for the recipe and loving spirit. Be blessed.
Thanks for sharing, Doris. So thankful you are here!
This soup is so good! I made it tonight and let my hubby have some, but I’m glad it made a lot because the rest is all mine! I have Stage 1A Grade 1 ovarian cancer (total hysterectomy 3 weeks ago) but haven’t seen the oncologist yet. I’m jump-starting a mostly plant-based diet and hoping I won’t need chemo.
Goodness. You are one strong lady. I hope and pray for the best for you. Glad the soup was helpful. 🙂
Made the Cancer Fighting Soup for my daughter who has breast cancer. Turned out delicious!! Thanks you.
Love hearing that you’re able to use this recipe to bless her!
So glad I found the soup info. Does it work for all cancers? My brother has pancreatic ?
I’m not an expert on all cancers by any means. I just did research on the best cancer-fighting foods for breast cancer. Definitely talk to your doctor about what foods to avoid. We learned the some (like grapefruit) can interfere with certain medications or might taste really bad due to chemo.
My precious other half was diagnosed with a rare cancer. It is a large mass in his back that is thankfully, not attached to any organs. It is low level at this point. Doc said there won’t be any chemo or radiation, but we are waiting for the surgery date to remove it. Meantime, I am working on finding recipes to help him stay strong and to get healthy again. Love this soup recipe except it calls for Cauliflower and Broccoli. EEEUUUUU Two veggies neither of us can swallow 🙂 I wanted to add white beans in place of them, but I have also read the beans are moderately acidic which feeds cancer. We need to keep the body higher in alkaline. Alkaline kills cancer cells. I am going to make this soup for us. Thank you for the recipe and thank you to your followers and their posts. I find them very helpful.
Hi Pat. Oh, I am so sorry to hear of trial for your loved one and you. I’m glad you found our recipe. This soup is very forgiving, so just swap whatever veggies you like in for the broccoli and cauliflower (although the cruciferous veggies are some of the best cancer-fighting ones out there). Would you consider trying cabbage (another cruciferous) in it’s place? It becomes so mellow in soup. Hugs to you!
Thanks for your post. I was very interested to read it as I am making meals for my mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was given a list of ingredients that she can’t have due to harmful interactions with her chemo and garlic is first on the list. It may be good to note that this may not be good for all cancer patients. Just wanted to pass that along!
Oh good to know! I know my friend couldn’t have grapefruit b/c it interacted with her medication. That’s a great reminder to always check with the cancer patient about any foods he/she cannot have. I think different medications can have different interactions.
Thank you for your blog. It has been very helpful! For 14 years now I have researched diet and its relation to disease. I would highly recommend researching and learning about The Gerson Therapy. This is a highly effective healing diet. Chemo and radiation are such poisons to our bodies, but God has given us the perfect foods for our bodies, even that heal us from very serious sickness and disease. There are a number of very informative lectures given by Charlotte Gerson concerning cancer and the healing of the body on YouTube. Thank you again for your encouraging us moms through your blog!
Thank you for sharing this resource with readers, Katherine!
Hi, I too have just had the diagnosis that every woman dreads less than four weeks ago, and just finished surgery two days ago. Thanks for the recipe, just going to make it now. What a blessing you have been to your friend, and what wonderful support she has. We have just moved and I’m all alone, but I can still be encouraged through posts like these.
Oh Tonya, I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I’ll pray right now for God’s help and healing through this process. You might be encouraged to read more about my friend Darcie’s story a year later in this post: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/2015/09/head-shaving-party/
Hey Rachel,
Since you are the Nutrition Helper, I thought I would pass some information I found on to you. I don’t know if you follow Lil’ Blue Boo at all, but she had three rounds of chemo for a very different type of cancer than Darcie, BUT she (read: her mom) was incredibly focused on detoxing following her chemo treatments to help her get back to feeling well asap. Anyway, here is one of her pages where she has some of her detox suggestions: http://www.lilblueboo.com/2012/03/my-lil-list-healthy-living-and-detox.html. Somewhere in her website, and I haven’t been able to find it, is some of the juicing suggestions that she/her mom came up with as well. love you, Devin
Love and prayers to your friend! It is inspiring to see how your network has come up around her.
Thank you! I know she appreciates that!
Love the recipes you’ve amassed on pinterest. I added a couple to my meal planning queue. I noticed the 7 layer taco dip and I wanted to share something we’ve discovered at our house. 7 layer dip and a package of tortillas is like an instant 7 layer burrito meal. When we’re traveling or camping I’ll often make a 7 layer dip and leave a package of whole grain or sprouted tortillas in the sun in the morning. Then we can make instant burritos later on without any fuss or prep. 🙂
I also wanted to recommend another nutritional guide to fighting cancer. It’s more detailed and customized for each person’s genetic makeup. Gives lists of foods that would be most beneficial, foods that are fine in moderation and foods to completely avoid when fighting cancer. And you can get it of $.01 on Amazon these days. It’s been very helpful to me. http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Fight-Blood-Health-Library/dp/0425200078
Blessings to Darcy and your entire network of friends and support. It’s so wonderful to see how the body of Christ comes together in situations like these. How good and pleasant it is…
I love your 7 Layer Taco Dip burrito idea. I often eat this for lunch or even dinner. But, I like the idea of skipping out on the chips in lieu of a whole grain tortilla instead. And, thanks for the book rec!