Eating suggestions when you have cancer

In many instances, loss of appetite, nausea, and other eating problems of cancer patients can be dealt with by changing daily habits and routines. The following tips have worked for many people.

• Plan your major meal for the time of day when you are least likely to experience nausea and vomiting. For many cancer patients, this is in the early morning. Otherwise, eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day.
• Let someone else prepare the food; cooking odours often provoke nausea. Food that is served cold or at room temperature gives off less odour than hot food.
• If mouth sores are a problem, eat bland, puréed foods — for example: custards, rice and other puddings made with milk; eggs; porridge; and blended soups. Avoid salty, spicy, or acidic foods. Sucking on zinc lozenges may speed the healing of mouth sores.
• Try to eat with others in a pleasant social atmosphere. Ask family members to bring home-cooked food to the hospital (but have them check with the dietitian first).
• Get dressed to eat, if possible, and strive to make meals visually attractive. A few slices of a colourful fruit give visual appeal to a bowl of oatmeal; a colourful napkin and bud vase perk up a tray of food.
• To overcome nausea, try chewing on ice chips or sucking on a ginger candy or sour lemon drop before eating. Sipping flat ginger ale or cola may also help.
• Rest for half an hour after eating, preferably in a sitting or upright position; reclining may trigger reflux, nausea, and vomiting.
• Pay extra attention to dental hygiene. If mouth sores hinder tooth brushing, make a baking soda paste and use your finger and a soft cloth to gently cleanse the teeth. Then rinse the mouth with a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Diluted commercial mouthwashes freshen the breath, but avoid full-strength products that can further irritate sores.
• If a dry mouth makes swallowing difficult, liquefy foods in a blender or moisten them with low-fat milk, sauces, or gravies.
• If diarrhea is a problem (as is often the case during chemotherapy), avoid fatty foods, raw fruits, whole-grain products, and other foods that can make it worse. Instead, eat bland, binding foods, such as rice, bananas, cooked apples, and dry toast.

Dealing with chemotherapy and cancer treatment can make it tough to focus on food. But getting proper nutrition is vital in your fight against illness. Follow these guidelines to help you get the nutrition you need.