People with cancer often need to follow diets that are different from
what they think of as healthy. For most people, a healthy diet includes:
- Lots of fruits and vegetables, and whole grain breads and cereals
- Modest amounts of meat and milk products
- Small amounts of fat, sugar, alcohol, and salt
When
you have cancer, though, you need to eat to keep up your strength to
deal with the side effects of treatment. When you are healthy, eating
enough food is often not a problem. But when you are dealing with cancer
and treatment, this can be a real challenge.
When you have
cancer, you may need extra protein and calories. At times, your diet may
need to include extra milk, cheese, and eggs. If you have trouble
chewing and swallowing, you may need to add sauces and gravies.
Sometimes, you may need to eat low-fiber foods instead of those with
high fiber. Your dietitian can help you with any diet changes you may
need to make.
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Cancer
treatments are designed to kill cancer cells. But these treatments can
also damage healthy cells. Damage to healthy cells can cause side
effects. Some of these side effects can lead to eating problems.
Common eating problems during cancer treatment include:
- Appetite loss
- Changes in sense of taste or smell
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Lactose intolerance
- Nausea
- Sore mouth
- Sore throat and trouble swallowing
- Vomiting
- Weight gain
- Weight loss
Some
people have appetite loss or nausea because they are stressed about
cancer and treatment. People who react this way almost always feel
better once treatment starts and they know what to expect.
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- Until
treatment starts you will not know what, if any, side effects or eating
problems you may have. If you do have problems, they may be mild. Many
side effects can be controlled. Many problems go away when cancer
treatment ends.
- Think of your cancer treatment as a time to get well and focus just on yourself.
- Eat a healthy diet before treatment starts. This helps you stay strong during treatment and lowers your risk of infection.
- Go to the dentist. It is important to have a healthy mouth before you start cancer treatment.
- Ask your doctor, nurse, or dietitian about medicine that can help with eating problems.
- Discuss
your fears and worries with your doctor, nurse, or social worker. He or
she can discuss ways to manage and cope with these feelings.
- Learn
about your cancer and its treatment. Many people feel better when they
know what to expect. See the list of helpful resources in “Ways to Learn More”.
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- Fill the refrigerator, cupboard, and freezer with healthy foods. Make sure to include items you can eat even when you feel sick.
- Stock up on foods that need little or no cooking, such as frozen dinners and ready-to-eat cooked foods.
- Cook some foods ahead of time and freeze in meal-sized portions.
- Ask
friends or family to help you shop and cook during treatment. Maybe a
friend can set up a schedule of the tasks that need to be done and the
people who will do them.
- Talk with your doctor, nurse, or
dietitian about what to expect. See the lists of foods and drinks that
can help with many types of eating problems.
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There
is no way to know if you will have eating problems and, if so, how bad
they will be. You may have just a few problems or none at all. In part,
this depends on the type of cancer you have, where it is in your body,
what kind of treatment you have, how long treatment lasts, and the doses
of treatment you receive.
During treatment, there are many
helpful medicines and other ways to manage eating problems. Once
treatment ends, many eating problems go away. Your doctor, nurse, or
dietitian can tell you more about the types of eating problems you might
expect and ways to manage them. If you start to have eating problems,
tell your doctor or nurse right away.
If you start to have eating problems, tell your doctor or nurse right away.
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Talk
with your doctor or nurse if you are not sure what to eat during cancer
treatment. Ask him or her to refer you to a dietitian. A dietitian is
the best person to talk with about your diet. He or she can help choose
foods and drinks that are best for you during treatment and after.
Make a list of questions for your meeting with the dietitian. Ask about
your favorite foods and recipes and if you can eat them during cancer
treatment. You might want to find out how other patients manage their
eating problems. You can also bring this book and ask the dietitian to
mark sections that are right for you.
If you are already on a
special diet for diabetes, kidney or heart disease, or other health
problem, it is even more important to speak with a doctor and dietitian.
Your doctor and dietitian can advise you about how to follow your
special diet while coping with eating problems caused by cancer
treatment.
For more information on how to find a dietitian, contact the American Dietetic Association. See “
Ways to Learn More” for ways to reach them.
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During treatment, you may have good days and bad days when it comes to food. Here are some ways to manage:
- Eat
plenty of protein and calories when you can. This helps you keep up
your strength and helps rebuild tissues harmed by cancer treatment.
- Eat
when you have the biggest appetite. For many people, this is in the
morning. You might want to eat a bigger meal early in the day and drink
liquid meal replacements later on.
- Eat those foods that you can,
even if it is only one or two items. Stick with these foods until you
are able to eat more. You might also drink liquid meal replacements for
extra calories and protein.
- Do not worry if you cannot eat at
all some days. Spend this time finding other ways to feel better, and
start eating when you can. Tell your doctor if you cannot eat for more
than 2 days.
- Drink plenty of liquids. It is even more important
to get plenty to drink on days when you cannot eat. Drinking a lot helps
your body get the liquid it needs. Most adults should drink 8 to 12
cups of liquid a day. You may find this easier to do if you keep a water
bottle nearby. See the list of clear liquids for other ideas.
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Some
cancer treatments can make you more likely to get infections. When this
happens, you need to take special care in the way you handle and
prepare food. Here are some ways:
- Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Put leftovers in the refrigerator as soon as you are done eating.
- Scrub
all raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them. Do not eat foods
(like raspberries) that cannot be washed well. You should scrub fruits
and vegetables that have rough surfaces, such as melons, before you cut
them..
- Wash your hands, knives, and counter tops before and
after you prepare food. This is most important when preparing raw meat,
chicken, turkey, and fish.
- Use one cutting board for meat and one for fruits and vegetables.
- Thaw meat, chicken, turkey, and fish in the refrigerator or defrost them in the microwave. Do not leave them sitting out.
- Cook meat, chicken, turkey, and eggs thoroughly. Meats should not have any pink inside. Eggs should be hard, not runny.
- Do not eat raw fish or shellfish, such as sushi and uncooked oysters.
- Make sure that all of your juices, milk products, and honey are pasteurized.
- Do not use foods or drinks that are past their freshness date.
- Do not buy foods from bulk bins.
- Do not eat at buffets, salad bars, or self-service restaurants.
- Do not eat foods that show signs of mold. This includes moldy cheeses such as bleu cheese and Roquefort.
For more information about infection and cancer treatment, see
Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer a book from the National Cancer Institute. You can get it free by calling 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or online at
http://www.cancer.gov/publications.
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Many
people want to know how they can help their body fight cancer by eating
certain foods or taking vitamins or supplements. But, there are no
studies that prove that any special diet, food, vitamin, mineral,
dietary supplement, herb, or combination of these can slow cancer, cure
it, or keep it from coming back. In fact, some of these products can
cause other problems by changing how your cancer treatment works.
Talk
with your doctor, nurse, or dietitian before going on a special diet or
taking any supplements. To avoid problems, be sure to follow their
advice.
For more information about complementary and alternative therapies, see
Thinking About Complementary & Alternative Medicine: A Guide for People With Cancer. You can get this book free from the National Cancer Institute. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or order online at
http://www.cancer.gov/publications.
Talk
with your doctor before going on a special diet or taking any
supplements. Some vitamins and supplements can change how your cancer
treatment works.
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- Do not be surprised or upset if your loved one’s tastes change from day to day. There may be days when he or she does not want a favorite food or says it tastes bad now.
- Keep food within easy reach.
This way, your loved one can have a snack when he or she is ready to
eat. You might put a snack-pack of applesauce or pudding (along with a
spoon) on the bedside table. Or try keeping a bag of cut-up carrots on
the refrigerator shelf.
- Offer gentle support.
This is much more helpful than pushing your loved one to eat. Suggest
that he or she drinks plenty of clear and full liquids when he or she
has no appetite. For ideas, see the lists of clear liquids and full-liquid foods.
- Talk with your loved one about ways to manage eating problems. Doing this together can help you both feel more in control.
For more information about being a caregiver, see
When Someone You Love Is Being Treated for Cancer. You can get this book free from the National Cancer Institute. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or order online at
http://www.cancer.gov/publications.