Proper nutrition is vital during chemotherapy treatment. Cancer patients who are malnourished or underweight usually can’t get through treatment as easily as patients who are properly nourished, according to the National Cancer Institute. Getting the proper nutrients may be difficult for a chemotherapy patient because chemotherapy treatment may cause decreased appetite, mouth sores, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing that make it hard to eat.
Nutrition Goals
There is no specific diet for a patient who is receiving chemotherapy. The major goals of nutrition during chemotherapy are to maintain nutritional health, prevent nutritional deficiencies and provide any nutrients that are missing. Making sure you are meeting nutrient needs can help keep up your strength, provide energy, reduce side effects, help the body recover and improve quality of life. The specific diet recommendations are tailored to each individual’s needs. Your doctor may recommend a specific medical diet if you have specific eating problems while undergoing chemotherapy, such as difficulty chewing or swallowing or a decreased appetite.
Liquid Diet
Your doctor may recommended a liquid diet if you have difficulty swallowing foods due to mouth or throat pain or an inflamed throat from chemotherapy. A liquid diet consists of all liquids and foods that are liquid at room temperature, such as ice cream, pudding, cream soups, hot cereals, custard, ice pops and milkshakes. Because a liquid diet does not meet nutritional requirements only follow it for a few days until symptoms improve. During days without treatment, when symptoms are not as severe, try to follow a normal diet that supplies all of the recommended nutrients.
Soft Diet
A soft diet is generally recommended if you have difficulty swallowing or if you're undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for throat or neck cancers. A soft diet may also help those on pain medications that cause severe constipation. A soft diet consists of cooked fruits, cooked vegetables, refined grains, broth soups and liquids. Avoid raw fruits and vegetables and foods that contain nuts, seeds or skin. Unlike a liquid diet, a soft diet meets the recommendations for all nutrients. Because of this, you can follow a soft diet indefinitely.
Supplementation
Many patients who are receiving chemotherapy lose a significant amount of weight during the course of treatment. To prevent severe weight loss, you may need to eat high-calorie foods and drinks, like milkshakes, or include nutritional drinks in your diet plan. You may also need protein supplements. It is important you work closely with a dietitian, as well as the rest of the health care team, to develop a proper diet and nutrition plan while you're undergoing chemotherapy.
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