Chemotherapy is a commonly used cancer treatment that can have many side effects, including effects on eating and nutrition. At a time when an individual needs optimal nutrition to help maintain health, cancer and chemotherapy can present challenges to a patient, the family and the health care team. While there are many options available to help provide adequate nutrition to an individual with cancer, talking to and working with health care professionals can help resolve many nutritional problems a patient may face.
Significance
More than half of all individuals with cancer have chemotherapy at some point during their treatment, says Chemotherapy.com. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to help kill cancer cells and prevent cancer cell growth. Depending on the cancer being treated, the drugs being administered and the overall health of the individual, chemotherapy can be given intravenously, orally or injected into a body cavity.
Features
Chemotherapy can affect nutrition of cancer patients in a variety of ways. Individuals receiving chemotherapy may experience nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, changes in the way food and drink taste, diarrhea or constipation, and mouth or lip sores that make eating painful, says the National Cancer Institute. If an individual undergoing chemotherapy does not receive adequate nutrition, it can result in complications and slower recovery times, as well as weakness and lowered blood counts.
Considerations
Despite chemotherapy's side effects that can hinder proper nutrition, there are several things an individual can do to help relieve symptoms and consume adequate calories and nutrients. The National Cancer Institute recommends eating small, high-protein and high-calorie meals every one to two hours; add extra calories to meals with butter, honey and skim-milk powder; using plastic utensils to minimize any metallic tastes; adding spices and sweeteners to meals; eating soft foods; staying hydrated and eating foods cold or at room temperature. These modifications can lessen side effects and make eating less painful and more tolerable. The American Cancer Society also suggests talking to the health care team about medications to reduce nausea or vomiting, or medications to stimulate appetite if necessary.
Benefits
Good nutrition is important during cancer and its treatment because optimal nutrition helps build the body up. The American Cancer Society states that nutrition can help individuals with cancer feel better, heal faster, build and maintain strength and energy, better tolerate treatment side effects, lower the risk of infection, and recover from treatments faster. Nutrients necessary for these tasks include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water, vitamins and minerals.
Warning
Some individuals may have dietary restrictions, depending on the type of cancer and the specific chemotherapy being given. Prior to making dietary changes, it is best to talk with the health care team about any foods or supplements that should be avoided during and after treatment, and what foods the team suggests that may be beneficial to the patient. This can help reduce the risk of any adverse interactions and help ensure the patient's safety.
