Appetite & Nutrition
Proper nutrition is always important, but taking in adequate calories, protein and fluid are essential for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Maintaining weight and muscle mass with a high-calorie, high-protein diet can help increase energy levels, boost the immune system and assist in healing and recovery.
For those cancer patients who cannot keep their weight up, a gastrostomy (feeding tube placed in the stomach) or a jejunostomy (feeding tube placed in the small intestine) may be required for proper nutrition. However, many patients can get enough nutrition without resorting to a feeding tube.
Below are some common side effects of various cancer treatments, with a list of tips to help you overcome them:
Loss of Appetite
- Eat small, more frequent meals
- Take advantage of times when you're hungriest, usually in the morning
- Do some light exercise to stimulate the appetite
- Keep ready-to-eat foods on hand at home and on the road
- Drink oral supplements like Ensure or Carnation Instant Breakfast
- If you just can't bring yourself to eat, ask your doctor for appetite stimulants
Nausea/Vomiting
- For foods with a strong smell, like broccoli, try eating them cold or lukewarm
- Avoid favorite foods--if you try to eat them and get nauseous, you may forever associate that food with getting sick
- Eat dry crackers or toast
- Avoid fatty, greasy fried foods
- Drink liquid between meals rather than with food
- Avoid tight clothing
- Keep a log of when you become nauseous. It may help determine what's making you sick.
- Tart foods or beverages can help settle the stomach
- Ask your doctor for anti-nausea medication
Mouth & Throat Problems
- Avoid tart, spicy or acidic foods
- Avoid rough, coarse foods that can irritate the throat
- Eat foods lukewarm, rather than hot or cold
- Puree foods in a blender
- Use a straw for drinks or soups
- Use anesthetic (numbing) throat sprays or lozenges before eating
- Practice good oral hygiene
Dry Mouth
- Sip liquids frequently to moisten mouth
- Tart or sweet foods and drinks can help ease dryness
- Suck on hard candy or popsicles, or chew gum
- Eat food with gravies and sauces to ease swallowing
- Puree foods before eating
- Ask your doctor about artificial saliva
Change in Taste or Smell
- Eat foods cold or lukewarm
- Rinse your mouth with water, lemonade or ginger ale to decrease bitter taste
- Find protein alternatives
- Try different foods
- Experiment with seasonings
Constipation
- Increase fiber intake
- Drink warm beverages
- Get some light exercise, which may also stimulate the appetite
- Ask your doctor about stool softeners
Diarrhea
- Limit your intake of fiber, high-fat foods, sugar-free items and lactose (dairy) products
- Drink lots of fluids
- Increase your sodium and potassium sources
M. D. Anderson's Clinical Nutrition department provides helpful information regarding nutrition before, during and after cancer treatment. Call 713-792-2254 for information.
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