Toxic agents used in chemotherapy treatment have a negative impact on digestion, food absorption and the body's use of food, according to the American Cancer Society. Included in treatment is increased focus on equipping patients with dietary strategies to cope with changing nutritional needs, loss of appetite, nausea and taste changes to optimize the efficacy of chemotherapy and avoid weight loss and malnutrition.
Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite is a challenge to chemotherapy patients because you need extra protein and calories to support your treatments and prevent malnutrition and weight loss. Eating more cheese and eggs and drinking more milk gives you extra protein, and adding sauces and gravies to food increases your calorie intake even if you have trouble swallowing or chewing. However, the odor of food can be disturbing and off-putting. Plan frequent small meals that smell good and are appealing. For those who need to lose weight safely, eating a balanced diet of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and protein together with a regimen of physical activity is recommended.
Nausea
Many side effects of chemotherapy can be controlled, according to the National Cancer Institute, and nausea or vomiting necessitates creative measures to achieve your nutritional goals. Not lying down in bed for at least an hour after eating, rinsing your mouth frequently, sucking on hard candy or eating dry, bland foods such as crackers or toast may help. Choose liquid meal replacements if your stomach accepts them more easily. If you cannot eat, relax and eat when you can. If you cannot eat for two days, the National Cancer Institute advises notifying your doctor or registered dietitian.
Diarrhea or Constipation
Constipation during or after your chemotherapy can be managed, according to Karen Wagner, clinical dietitian at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, by drinking more fluids and eating more high-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, bran, beans, fruits and vegetables. If fiber makes you feel uncomfortably full, eat small portions hourly and combine other foods easier to digest, such as dry crackers or toast. Diarrhea necessitates plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration and limiting foods containing sorbitol, dairy and gas-forming foods such as baked beans, lima beans and lentils.
Taste Changes
For many people undergoing chemotherapy, food tastes differently than it did before. Adding spices and tasty sauces can make food more appetizing. If it has a metallic taste that bothers you, use plastic utensils. If meat has an off-taste, try combining it with applesauce, stewed apricots or cranberry sauce. Cut food into small pieces so that each bite does not become a chore.
Dumping Syndrome
Chemotherapy can cause the dumping syndrome, in which blood pressure drops suddenly. Palpitations may occur together with the need to sit down. Because drinking the fluids your diet requires can produce this effect, substitute some of them with Popsicles or gelatin and do not drink large quantities of fluids just before or after eating. A sweet taste can sometimes help with this condition.
References
- Cancer Journal for Clinicians: Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: An American Cancer Society Guide for Informed Choices
- National Cancer Institute: Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
- Today's Dietitian: Nutrition Management During Chemotherapy
- The American College of Gastroenterology: Belching, Bloating and Flatulence
- University of California San Francisco Medical Center: Coping with Chemotherapy
- CancerNetwork.com: Nutrition During and After Cancer Therapy
