Esophageal cancer is cancer of the esophagus, the part of the body that helps move food from the mouth down to the stomach. Among the challenges of coping with esophageal cancer is the fact that it alters the patient's ability to eat foods and makes chewing and swallowing difficult. Many esophageal cancer patients lose weight because of difficulty eating in addition to the effects of chemotherapy. Re-establishing a healthy body weight can be a challenge for these patients.
Step 1
Eat small, frequent meals so that you get plenty of calories without feeling too full. The Mayo Clinic explains that eating a large meal may be too difficult or too filling for someone who has recently had esophageal cancer. Eating a little something every two to three hours can ensure that you get enough calories without feeling stuffed.
Step 2
Add whole milk and other full-fat dairy products, such as cream, to your soups, smoothies and shakes to increase calories. Since esophageal cancer makes it difficult to eat, the Mayo Clinic points out, it's important to get as many calories and nutrients as possible into each meal or snack. The National Cancer Institute suggests adding butter, honey or brown sugar to foods to increase the calories as well.
Step 3
Choose foods that are smooth and easy to swallow. For some patients, chewing foods such as steak and chicken may expend too much energy. Eating soft foods such as soups and casseroles can help. You can even add pureed or "baby food" meats to your recipes for an easy-to-eat source of protein.
Step 4
Consider additional nutritional support if you are unable to gain enough weight on your own. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America explains that sometimes, cancer patients lose so much weight that they cannot gain it back quickly enough. Particularly in cases of esophageal cancer, patients may have trouble eating even after the cancer is in remission. In cases such as these, enteral or parenteral nutritional support, meaning feeding tubes, can help provide important calories and nutrients.
