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Nutrition During Treatment
Introduction
Cancer treatment can greatly affect your nutritional needs. That's why recommendations about food and healthy eating for cancer patients can be very different from the usual suggestions for a healthy, balanced diet. When you are healthy, eating enough food to get all important nutrients is normally no problem. However, during cancer treatment this can become a problem because of the side effects of treatment.
Possible Side Effects of Treatment
Most cancer patients under treatment experience side effects that affect their ability to eat properly. It is important to know about this side effects and how you can deal with them so that you won't loose weight. Always remember that proper nutrition helps your body fight cancer and cope with its treatment!
The most common side effects are:
 Poor Appetite
Sore Mouth or Throat
Dry Mouth
Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
Taste Changes
Nausea / Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
Fatigue
Depression
| Poor Appetite |
| Try eating small, frequent meals and snacks every one or two hours. Keep high-protein, high-calorie snacks and food handy to eat when you are hungry, e.g. hard-cooked eggs, crackers with peanut butter or cheese, ice cream. Avoid food smells caused by food preparation. Also avoid liquids with meals unless needed to help swallow or for dry mouth to keep from feeling full early. Make eating enjoyable: use pretty dishes, decorate your table with fresh flowers, listen to you favorite music, eat with friends or relatives. |
| Sore Mouth or Throat |
| Certain foods will irritate an already sore mouth. Avoid foods such as citrus fruits and juices, spicy or salty foods and rough, coarse or dry foods. Try to eat soft foods that are easy to swallow like bananas, watermelon, yogurt, milkshakes, pureed or mashed vegetables or oatmeal. Mix your food with butter or sauces to make it easier to swallow. Choose cold food or food at room temperature, since warm or hot foods can irritate a tender mouth or throat. |
| Dry mouth and swallowing problems |
| Sugarless gum, especially those that are citrus flavored, can increase saliva formation. Mouth sprays and saliva substitutes can also help. Keep always a bottle of water nearby and take sips often throughout the day. Choose foods that are high in moisture, or add sauces, gravies, or oils. High-calorie shakes and blenderized drinks can also help. Any food can be pureed, mashed, blended, or mixed to be softer and easier to swallow. Prepare soft foods like soups and porridges. Maybe it is easier to swallow thick fluids. If this is the case try buttermilk, milkshakes, thickened milk, yogurt shakes and cream soups with pureed vegetables. |
| Nausea |
| Eat dry foods, such as crackers, biscuits, toast or bread sticks when you wake up and every few hours. Avoid food smelling. Don't cook for yourself. Let fresh air in. |
| Diarrhea |
| Diarrhea can either be caused by treatment, infection, food insensitivity and/or emotional upset. It is important to control diarrhea as soon as possible since it can lead to dehydration and other health problems as a result of water and nutrient loss. Low-residue, low-fiber foods can sometimes offer relief. These can include rice or noodles, white bread, cooked eggs, bananas and canned or cooked fruits without skin. The following foods you should avoid while having diarrhea: raw fruits and vegetables, high-fiber vegetables such as broccoli, beans, cabbage, and peas, strong spices, fatty or fried foods. |
| Constipation |
| Constipation may be caused by your medication, eating mostly soft and liquid foods, which are low in fiber, and/or less physical activity. To prevent and treat constipation try to drink at least eight glasses of liquids, prefer water, herbal tea and fruit juices instead of soft drinks and black tea. Take a hot drink about one half hour before usual time for bowel movement and try to eat high-fiber foods. This includes whole grain products (whole grain bread, brown rice or pasta, oatmeal), fresh and dried fruits, as well as vegetables such as broccoli, peas, beans, and corn. Try to do some exercises every day, e.g. take a short walk in your neighborhood. |
| Different Taste |
| Cancer treatment can cause changes in your senses of taste and smell. If you have the feeling that things do not taste right, try foods and beverages that are different from the ones you usually eat. Try using plastic utensils if you have a metallic taste while eating. Chewing lemon drops, mints, or gum can help you to get ride of unpleasant tastes that linger after eating. Rinse your mouth with tea, ginger ale, or water with baking soda before eating to help clear your taste buds. Serve foods cold or at room temperature, because this can decrease the foodsˇ tastes and smells, making them easier to tolerate. |
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