While you are receiving chemotherapy, you may notice some changes in your appetite and eating habits; many of these changes are due to the medications, but can be related to the disease itself as well. Although eating may be a challenging task during treatment, it is important that you maintain good dietary habits so that you can regain your strength, maintain your weight and heal from your disease. No specific cancer chemotherapy diet exists, but health professionals have some recommendations to help your manage your eating issues.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
You should maintain a healthy diet while taking chemotherapy. Getting appropriate vitamins and nutrients can help your body cope with the stress of chemotherapy and maintaining your calorie intake can prevent or lessen any weight loss. You should try to eat at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables, six servings of grain products, around 6 ounces of low-fat meat or fish, and three servings of low fat dairy products each day, according to NetWellness.org. Drinking plenty of nonalcoholic or non-caffeinated beverages per day is also another important part of a diet during chemotherapy treatment. Removing excess fats, sugars and salt can also be beneficial; some of these substances may worsen some of the food-related side effects associated with chemotherapy.
Managing Calorie Intake
Weight loss is a problem with chemotherapy treatment; you may experience loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores and changes in the way foods taste and smell. These side effects may make it difficult to eat the foods you need to recover. Snacks like applesauce, frozen yogurt, and popsicles are important ways to maintain your calorie intake -- even when you are unable to comfortably eat.
Another way to increase your calorie intake is through additions to the foods that you are already eating. You can add extra calories to soups, cereals, vegetables and rice with a tablespoon of butter or margarine; you can also mix in whole milk. Dried fruit or granola can be mixed into baked goods for additional calories, according to NetWellness.org. Drinking nutritional supplements can also add calories and nutrients. Beefing up the calorie content of your foods may be a good idea especially since you may not be able to eat as much of a specific food as usual. Your doctor and nutritionist can give you additional suggestions for boosting calorie intake.
Eating Extra Protein As Needed
During chemotherapy, your body needs extra protein to repair the damage from the treatment. You have to find ways to increase your dietary protein intake to improve your chances of recovery. High protein supplement drinks may come in handy for people who are having a difficult time with solid foods; smoothies and milkshakes can also increase your protein intake. Examples of foods that you can add to your meals to increase protein content include dairy products like milk, cheese, ice cream or yogurt, eggs, nuts and seeds. You can be creative with what you try and your dietitian can also give you other suggestions.
Avoiding Foods that May Cause Infection
During cancer treatment, you may become more susceptible to infection. Chemotherapy lowers the function of your immune system and the cancer itself may affect the immune system as well. You also may become ill from some of the foods that you eat; you should modify your diet to remove foods that may cause a food-borne illness. Food like raw, unpasteurized milks and cheeses or cheeses with molds should be avoided while on chemotherapy. Raw or undercooked meat, eggs or tofu can also cause problems for people on chemotherapy. Raw fruits can be eaten, but they should be washed well. Well water that has not been tested regularly and unpasteurized fruit and vegetable juices should also be avoided during treatment. The concern about foods and illness may extend past the end of chemotherapy treatment depending on the recovery of the immune system. Your physician may ask that you monitor your food intake for a longer period of time.
Considerations
Maintaining adequate food intake can be challenging for people taking chemotherapy. You may have to balance your calorie intake with any physical ailments caused by chemotherapy. Eat balanced meals when you feel well and substitute other foods that you can tolerate on days when you do not feel as well. Your health care professional and dietitian should be very involved in the management of your diet during chemotherapy.
