Lung cancer and its treatment are demanding on the body, and between the physical and emotional stress, patients may not be eating as much at a time when good nutrition is most important for health and healing. Knowing how to adjust the diet to side effects of cancer treatment can help patients get the necessary nutrients. Prior to making any dietary changes, it is best to consult with a health-care professional to ensure these changes are suitable and safe.
Significance
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 222,520 new diagnoses of lung cancer will be made in the United States in 2010 and over 157,000 people will die from the disease that same year. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths, and two out of three individuals diagnosed with the disease are over the age of 65, says the American Cancer Society.
Types and Treatments
There are two main kinds of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the majority of lung cancer diagnoses are non-small cell, or NSCLC, making up approximately 85 to 90 percent of diagnoses. Small cell lung cancer, also called SCLC, is typically treated with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Treatments for NSCLC include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapy. These treatments can interfere with eating and diet at a time when getting good nutrition is crucial.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation kills good and bad cells, and getting radiation to the chest or lungs can cause problems with eating and drinking. The National Cancer Institute lists side effects as including sore throat, dry mouth, changes in the way food tastes and trouble swallowing. Choosing foods that are easy to swallow, such as soups, milkshakes, mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs, can make eating a little easier. The National Cancer Institute adds that cooking foods until they are soft and softening foods with gravy or sauces can make food easier to swallow.
Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy
Chemotherapy is the use of cancer drugs to kill cancer cells, but the drugs also kill fast-growing healthy cells, including cells in the mouth and digestive tract, leading to side effects that may interfere with diet and nutrition. Targeted therapies are drugs that attack certain substances on cancer cells. According to the National Cancer Institute, effects of chemotherapy or targeted therapies that can cause difficulty eating include mouth sores, appetite loss, changes in how things taste, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and weight loss. Ways to alleviate this include adding extra flavor to foods, eating foods that are easy on the stomach, eating small meals throughout the day and taking medication to increase appetite or control nausea.
Surgery
The National Cancer Institute states that surgery can slow digestion and increase the demands for calories and nutrition. After surgery, an individual with lung cancer may not be hungry and may need dietary supplementation through a feeding tube. Eating foods that are high in protein and high in calories can help provide the body with necessary nutrients and enough calories needed to heal. Eating five or six small meals over the course of the day can help an individual consume more calories.
References
- American Cancer Society: What are the Key Statistics about Lung Cancer?
- American Cancer Society: What is Non-small Cell Lung Cancer?
- American Cancer Society: Making Treatment Decisions for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
- National Cancer Institute: Eating Problems and Ways to Handle Them
- National Cancer Institute: Eating Problems that May be Caused by Certain Cancer Treatments
