Ten Tips for Eating Better During Cancer Treatment

If there is any single rule that will help cancer patients maintain weight during cancer treatment, it is the first suggestion here:

1. Don't prepare your own food on the days you have cancer treatment.

Either rely on single-serving meals you buy at the market, or make your own frozen dinners ahead of time, before treatment day roles around, and store them in the freezer. (Or, if you have friends who bring you food when you have to get cancer treatments, count your blessings.) The less time you spend dealing with food on a treatment day, the less likely you are to become nauseous, and the fewer bad food memories you will accrue. This plays a significant role in helping you keep up your weight.

2. Be sure you take any anti-nausea drugs at the right time.

Drugs for preventing nausea won't work if you don't take them before your treatment. Be sure you have discussed your need for and the availability of anti-nausea medications with your doctor before you start a course of treatment, and have the medications on hand before you need them. Then take as directed.

3. Avoid perfumes, cologne, and scented personal care products the days you have chemo or other cancer treatment.

Just about any kind of scent can cause nausea, and if you have nausea on a chemo day, you may have visceral flashbacks when you encounter the same odor later. This can cause you to lose your appetite, which in turn speeds up weight loss.

4. Stock electrolyte replacement products in case vomiting causes you to become dehydrated.

Pure water is not enough to restore electrolytes. To avoid getting too much sugar and salt too fast, try products that are based on rice syrup, such as CeraLyte and CeraSport. The sugar in the product helps your body absorb the electrolytes, so it is important not use the zero-calorie or Splenda-sweetened versions. If you can't find CeraLyte and CeraSport, then Gatorade, Kool-Aid, or Pedialyte may help. You'll feel a lot more energetic once your normalize your electrolyte levels.

5. Don't eat your favorite foods on days you have chemo or interferon treatments.

You will always form strong memories of foods that make you nauseous as you undergo treatment for cancer. Even if it is actually the cancer treatment that makes you nauseous, eating your favorite food on a chemo day can spoil it for you forever.

6. Be careful with foods that have a crunch.

Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy often cause mucositis, a condition in which the lining of the inside of the mouth blisters, peels, and hurts. Any kind of food that has a sharp edge can irritate the lining of the mouth, causing pain that can last for hours. If it is dry, or it is hard, or it has sharp edges, just don't eat it. Examples include muesli, popcorn, nuts, and biscuits.

7. Avoid foods that have strong flavors or strong odors on days you have chemotherapy.

If you develop nausea as a result of the treatment, you will associate the odor or flavor with your gastric distress. Barbecue sauces, fermented foods like kimchi, broccoli, cabbage, fish sauce, oyster sauce, curry, and hard cheeses can become lasting bad memories that leave a lasting impact on your appetite.

8. Avoid xylitol-sweetened chewing gum on days you have cancer treatment.

The xylitol in the gum can slow down the passage of food through your stomach and increase the likelihood of nausea, so even though gum can help you combat a dry mouth, make sure you check the ingredient list.

9. Avoid vinegar and foods that are high in fiber on days you have chemotherapy.

These foods also slow down the emptying of digested food out of the stomach and can aggravate nausea.

10. Remember, your can't live on crackers forever.

Doctors often recommend eating crackers, chips, or melba toast on chemotherapy days. If that is all that works for you, go with it, but make a point of eating high-protein foods, healthy fats (such as those in nuts and avocados), fruit, and vegetables as soon as you can to keep up your general nutrition.