Tuesday, June 14, 2011

info kanser

 People with cancer have different diet needs
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 treatment can cause side effects that lead to eating problems
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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  Things to do and think about before you start cancer treatment
  • 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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 Ways you can get ready to eat well
  • 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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 Not everyone has eating problems during cancer treatment
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, nurse, or dietitian about foods to eat
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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 Ways to get the most from foods and drinks
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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 Taking special care with food to avoid infections
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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 Using food, vitamins, and other supplements to fight cancer
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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 A special note for caregivers
  • 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.