Chemotherapy is a drug therapy treatment used to kill or control the spread of cancer cells in the body. The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the type of chemotherapy drugs that are used and how your body reacts to them. Whether or not you experience side effects, as well as how severe they are, is what influences the nutritional problems associated with chemotherapy.
Difficulty Eating
Chemotherapy can cause mouth and throat sores that make eating painful. The treatment can also cause lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. If you suffer from one or more of these chemotherapy side effects, it will be difficult to get adequate nutrition during your treatment course. In some cases, anti-nausea drugs, laxatives or other medications may help alleviate some of these side effects, making it easier to eat and get the nutrition you require.
Anemia
When not eating enough food is combined with the effects chemotherapy has on your red blood cell count, you may become anemic; that is, the number of healthy red blood cells in your body are too low. Since red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to your organs and body cells, anemia in a body already weakened by cancer and chemotherapy is a serious condition. Increasing your iron intake may help treat anemia, but if you're having trouble eating, you might need iron supplements or red blood cell transfusions to help boost your iron counts.
Neutropenia
Chemotherapy can affect your white blood cells. Because white blood cells are important in fighting disease, a low white blood cell count can lead to infection. If you become neutropenic, a condition in which there are too few of a particular type of white blood cell in the body, your diet will be severely restricted. The restrictions are intended to minimize exposure to bacteria and lower your risk of contracting a food bourne illness. This can make eating a healthy diet challenging. For example, a person with neutropenia isn't able to eat fresh fruits or vegetables unless the items are thoroughly washed and cooked. They also cannot eat certain cheeses, uncooked spices, deli foods and foods from restaurants during busy times. Furthermore, they must avoid eating foods on anything but disposable dishes and utensils.
Prevention and Treatments
Problems getting adequate nutrition during chemotherapy can be controlled through eating a healthy diet. If eating a healthy diet isn't possible, however, artificial nutrition can be received through a feeding tube or through parenteral nutrition. In some cases, these artificial means of nutrition can be obtained for home use with a doctor's prescription, but if the malnutrition or side effects of chemotherapy are severe, hospitalization may be required.
